RN
Rodolfo D. Lastimosa Jr. is the RN recipient for the 2025 Nursing Now Ontario Awards. As an internationally educated nurse (IEN), Lastimosa Jr.’s nursing career started in the Philippines in 2004 where he worked with different populations in various practice settings. He moved to Canada in 2011 and practised as an RPN before receiving his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from York University and becoming an RN in 2022. Since then, Lastimosa Jr. has worked at Toronto’s Humber River Health (HRH) as a clinical practice leader, pool nurse and most recently as the clinical manager at its Reactivation Care Centre. He also provided immunizations during the COVID-19 pandemic at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
Nursing has been Lastimosa Jr.’s passion since childhood when he fractured his arm and received care from a nurse. This experience inspired him to pursue nursing with the goal of going above and beyond his training to provide wholistic care for his patients.
When he’s not working, Lastimosa Jr. is involved with various nursing associations and actively supports IENs. He says there are a lot of challenges that IENs encounter when trying to practise in Canada, so he wants to serve as an inspiration for why they shouldn’t give up. He encourages current and aspiring nursing students to reflect on why they chose the profession to keep their minds and hearts focused on their goals despite the challenges they will encounter.
Throughout his career, Lastimosa Jr. has remained committed to making a positive difference in the lives of others, especially his patients, and his colleagues commend him for consistently demonstrating empathy and compassion in his practice.
Nursing now awards.
