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I am truly over the moon. Today, I was awarded as one of the Top 15 Nurses in Houston by the Houston Chronicle Salute to Nurses. I still can’t believe it. I am truly honored by this recognition.

A gentle reminder to be fully present in the moment and to appreciate the moments that matter. In the last few weeks, I caught myself moving through life on autopilot. Life had started to feel chaotic and even monotonous as I went from one task to another, finishing one responsibility only to step directly into the next, going through meeting after meeting without pause. When I am not in clinic taking care of patients, I am at home immersed in meetings and building connectio

I’m honored to receive the 2026 Emerging Professional Voice Award from the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL). I won’t be able to attend the conference due to a schedule conflict, but I’m truly grateful for this recognition. This means a lot to me and to the nurses whose voices I continue to represent. Thank you, AONL.

Today marks 9 years of my journey in the U.S. as an immigrant. This is the first of many photos from my journey to the U.S. as an IEN and immigrant. It was taken in San Francisco nine years ago when I first arrived in the country. I felt overwhelmed with emotion because a dream I carried for almost a decade had finally come true. I waited nearly ten years through a complex immigration process. There were many moments when I almost gave up on the dream. I questioned whether it

Back in clinic today after being out the last three days with a viral infection. Low grade fever, nausea, and dizziness that made even standing up difficult. Every time I tried to get up the room would spin, so I had no choice but to call in. Something I am honestly not used to doing. I have always been someone who is constantly on the go. Even at home, doing nothing feels uncomfortable because I have long associated productivity with being busy. In my culture, calling in sic

When I joined the Society of Internationally Educated Nurses and Nursing Allies (SIENNA), my goal was clear. I wanted to continue the work my friends and I started in the Lefora Facebook Group by providing a community for immigrant nurses, elevating their voices, mentoring and supporting them, and advocating for their rights, growth, and professional advancement. As this journey progressed, it became clear that the need extended far beyond what we had built. Lefora has grown

I met Dr. Ofonime Bleess in person for the first time after connecting on LinkedIn. What started as a professional connection turned into a powerful conversation between two immigrants who built their lives through grit and persistence. We spoke about our individual journeys to the United States. Our stories are different, but the emotional weight felt shared. We talked about how many years it took before we could confidently say that we are living the American dream. We did

So I did a thing! Passed the Certified Emergency Nurse exam today. This was long overdue. I gave up pursuing this dream with other priorities getting in the way. I haven’t worked ER since becoming an NP. But with the encouragement and sponsorship of my dear friend, Marvin, I took the challenge. It’s never too late to achieve your dreams! Paul Biluan, CEN 💯

If you've missed my Sigma webinar, here's your chance to watch it. This webinar is truly important to me. As an immigrant nurse, I’ve witnessed and spoken to numerous nurses who were exploited by their employers and recruiters. The primary objective of this webinar is to raise awareness within the nursing community about the trafficking of immigrant nurses and explore ways to support and assist this vulnerable group of nurses. I encourage you to watch this webinar. 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐟�