From the Philippines to the Poconos – Joan Mae Honrade’s Nursing Journey to LVHN

When Joan Mae Honrade, RN, BSN, landed in the United States in late summer 2024, she was seven months pregnant and stepping into the unknown: new country, new hospital, new life. Today, she is not only thriving in her role in the nursing profession at Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Pocono, Honrade is living what she calls “the life I’ve been dreaming about.”

“I didn’t expect the benefits, the support, the work-life balance,” Honrade said. “It’s gone so far beyond what I imagined.”

Honrade’s story starts in the Philippines, where the nursing profession is more than a job, it is a family tradition.

“My mom is a nurse. My sister and brother are nurses,” she said. “I guess it’s in my blood.”

Initially nudged into a nursing career by her mother, Honrade discovered her own passion for patient care during hands-on training in nursing school. After beginning her career in a high-pressure hospital, managing up to 50 patients with just two other licensed practical nurses, then gaining experience at outpatient and home care, she quickly developed the resilience and clinical judgment that have shaped her nursing practice.

“That experience honed my skills,” she said. “But coming here, I feel safer. My license feels safe. We have the resources, support and safe staffing ratios. It’s such a difference.”

Before joining Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), Honrade worked in Abu Dhabi in an outpatient setting, where she continued to grow professionally. But it was her desire to secure a better future for her family through the nursing profession that led her to the Poconos.

She chose Pennsylvania and was drawn to the Lehigh Valley Hospital’s status as a Magnet®-designated hospital, a marker of nursing excellence.

“I was really impressed by the Magnet credentials and knew this was where I wanted to be,” she said.

Even through the challenges of relocating while expecting her first child, Honrade found strength in her team.

“I started working when I was seven months pregnant and I didn’t expect to feel so supported right away,” she said. “My benefits started immediately, I even gave birth at LVH–Pocono. My manager and colleagues were so kind. That really mattered to me.”

Now Honrade works night shifts, something she once dreaded but has grown to appreciate.

“It actually works out perfectly,” she said. “My husband watches our baby Calla while I’m at work, and I can spend more time with him during the day. The three 12-hour shifts give me a balance I never had before.”

She contrasts her previous experience of 16-hour days and mandatory overtime with the flexibility of LVH–Pocono’s self-scheduling.

“This is the best place I’ve ever worked,” Honrade said. “From my experience in hospital to outpatient to home care, LVHN is where I see my future.”

Honrade is so enthusiastic about her experience that she has already started encouraging other international nurses to consider joining the team.

“When people ask me why I chose LVHN, I tell them, ‘I chose LVHN for the patient safety, the staffing, the support,” Honrade said. “My colleagues and my leaders are amazing, and I want others to know it’s possible to have this kind of nursing career.”

When she reflects on what memory stands out most from her first year, Honrade smiles.

“Sometimes patients will thank me for being here, for leaving my baby at home to care for them,” she said. “It means a lot. I do this not just because it’s my job, but because I love it.”