Florante Lomibao, BSN, RN
Florante Lomibao, BSN, RN, a nurse on the cardiology intensive care unit, won the 2022 Penn Medicine’s Got Talent contest with his rendition of “Just the Two of Us.” He talked with HUPdate about his nursing career, guitar hobby, and what they have in common.
“I started at HUP in 2018 as a nursing assistant on the cardiac care unit, now the cardiology intensive care unit. I chose this career because of my mom. When I was a child, she was what people would call a ‘frequent flyer.’ Her kidneys were failing and she was always in the hospital.
The nurses who gave compassionate care to my mom in her sickest moments and held my hands when I was crying inspired me to choose nursing. The nurses took care of me and I wasn't even the patient. They gave me snacks, made me laugh, and gave me lots of hugs (I love hugs). My dad was able to give my mom one of his kidneys and today they are in great health. I always think of how supportive and compassionate the nurses were to my family and I, in the moments we truly needed it the most.
I started playing the guitar around 15 years old. I play at my church, but other than that, I truly only play for myself. When I play, it makes me feel calm and free, like none of my problems or anything in the world matters. It helps me unwind and keeps me grounded.
I learned how to play by ear and people have said I have close to pitch-perfect hearing: If I hear something once, I can usually copy it without instruction. I believe my music practice makes me a better nurse. The guitar skills I've sharpened over my years of playing translate well into the hands-on, fine-motor skill tasks I’m called on to perform, such as placing ultrasound-guided IV catheters. I rarely ever miss. Whenever I'm doing IVs, my fingers instinctively know how to position and move themselves to get the best results.
I'm a first-generation immigrant from the Philippines and the first of my family to graduate college. I've always dreamed of being the generational change in my bloodline. The importance of education was heavily instilled by my parents so I could have a better life than they did. My next goal is to go back to school here at Penn for the Doctor of Nursing Practice-Nurse Anesthesia (DNP-NA) program. I want to be the first in my family to have an Ivy League education! I love learning new things and bettering myself every day.”