Kathleen Jabasa,
Tonight, we honor a nurse whose compassion, courage, and commitment have touched countless lives — our 2026 Nurse of the Year, Kathleen Jabasa.
Kat’s mother is a nurse; her grandmother is a nurse. As Kat says, “I was born to be a nurse”. Born and raised in the Philippines, Kat graduated from nursing school and began her nursing career at the age of 19, she went straight into the operating room. She later taught at Cebu Doctors’ University and earned her Master’s degree in 2013.
Upon arriving in the US, Kat initially began working in Arizona as a wound care nurse before moving to WA in 2017. After a couple of years as a care manager at a kidney center, she returned to the operating room. From 2019 to 2026, Kat worked at St. Joseph. While there she served as a bargaining team member and grievance officer, helping support her fellow nurses. It was while precepting new nurses that Kat began to question why she was getting paid less than nurses with less experience. At that time, international nurses from countries including the Philippines were only getting half of their work experience counted so they were being placed on lower salary steps – often drastically impacting their income.
Kat brought her concerns to her local unit leadership and WSNA and, with their help, fought to change the policy. They were successful. This change had a profound impact – for example, Kat moved from Step 16 to Step 24. When the hospital initially resisted an immediate re-stepping of all 31 nurses impacted, she once again advocated for herself and her fellow nurses – insisting that the situation be remedied without further delay. Upon reflecting on this fight for equity, Kat said “The victory is more than financial. It’s a restoration of dignity, our pride and our rightful place in the field of nursing.” “We finally feel seen as whole professionals.”
Kat’s advice to new nurses is to “Be teachable”. No one knows everything when they’re just beginning. If you come in willing to learn, your fellow nurses will help you, you’ll find mentors. If you come in arrogant, it will be harder. She’s found this to be true during every pivot and change in her nursing career. Kat recently made another change; she now works at Kaiser Permanente. While still in the operating room, every job transition allows for opportunities to learn and grow.
Kat spends her time outside of work with her husband and her two sons – often cheering them on from the sidelines of the basketball court. Her youngest son is pursuing a career in nursing. She also has a passion for perfume. She likes creating special blends of different fragrances often inspired by time spent in nature. She also describes herself as a bit of a foodie who likes exploring new cuisines and restaurants.
Kathleen reminds us that nursing is more than a profession — it’s a lifelong act of service. Please join me in celebrating her extraordinary dedication and leadership.