Home⇛Annals of Tropical Research⇛vol. 48 no. 1 (2026)

Reimagining Resilience among Filipino Nurses: A Hermeneutic Eploration of Moral, Emotional, and Professional Horizons

Rheajane Rosales

 

Abstract:

Background: The global nursing workforce faces ongoing shortages, ethical strain, and emotional fatigue—challenges that are especially acute in low-resource health systems. While existing research often focuses on burnout or the intent to migrate, little is known about how nurses who choose to stay in their home countries understand and sustain resilience, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives: To examine how Filipino nurses who continue to serve in local healthcare settings make sense of and sustain resilience amid enduring structural challenges and external migration pressures. Methods: Using Gadamer's hermeneutic phenomenology, nurses active in local practice at the time of the interview were purposively recruited from a range of nursing settings. In-depth semistructured interviews were conducted to explore their lived experiences. Data were analyzed using established interpretive frameworks, with rigor ensured through reflexivity, peer debriefing, and audit trails. All reporting adhered to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR). Results: Three compelling themes emerged. Holding the Line represents moral steadfastness anchored in cultural values such as malasakit and collective solidarity. Bearing the Weight exposes the hidden emotional and ethical labor behind moral distress and organizational silence. Reimagining Tomorrow reflects generational hopes for recognition, professional growth, and a more equitable future. Conclusion: Resilience among Filipino nurses is not simply an individual trait but a dynamic, relational, and future-oriented process deeply shaped by sociocultural context, team belonging, and evolving professional aspirations. While resilience enables nurses to maintain care delivery under resource constraints, it also entails significant emotional and ethical costs that exceed personal coping. Systemic reforms—including supportive leadership, ethical organizational practices, reflective spaces, and sustainable career pathways—are needed to foster nurse retention and well-being.



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