Nathan Pontillas, RN

Some battles leave marks. All of them teach us something.

2016

I arrived in Canada with a dream and not much else

I had my Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Philippines, earned in 2013. I believed nursing was my calling. But when I landed in Calgary, I quickly learned that believing in something and living it are two very different things.

I worked retail. I worked fast food. There is no shame in honest work, and those jobs taught me things a classroom never could. But I would be lying if I said it was easy. The stress, the pressure, the weight of starting over in a new country, it all took something out of me.

There were days I wondered if the dream was slipping away. There were nights I sat alone, exhausted, asking myself if I had made a mistake. But I kept going. Not because I was brave, but because I did not know how to quit.

2019

Finally, a breakthrough

In 2019, I completed my Practical Nursing Diploma and began working as an LPN in seniors living. The relief I felt walking onto that first unit is something I will never forget. I was back where I belonged, caring for seniors who reminded me of my own grandparents.

I grew quickly. Within a few years, I became Associate Director of Health and Wellness. Three months later, I was promoted to Director. I thought I had made it.

But something was missing. So I made a choice that surprised everyone, including myself. I stepped down and went back to the bedside. Back to acute care as an LPN. People doubted me. Honestly, I doubted myself. But I needed to reconnect with why I became a nurse in the first place.

That decision changed everything. In December 2023, I passed the NCLEX-RN without any formal review, despite graduating over a decade earlier. The bedside work had prepared me in ways no leadership role ever could. They even hired me as an RN right there in acute care.

The path forward

Every step taught me something I needed for the next one

2024

Program Manager / RN

Supportive Living · Present

Less than six months after becoming an RN, I was entrusted to lead. Now I coordinate clinical nursing functions, promote quality improvement, and build a culture of safety. It still humbles me every day.

2024

Registered Nurse

Acute Care

Finally practicing as an RN in Canada, over a decade after earning my BSN. They hired me in the same unit where I worked as an LPN. That moment meant more than I can put into words.

2023

Licensed Practical Nurse

Acute Geriatrics

I returned to the bedside after leaving a director role. The hardest decision I ever made, and the one that changed everything. This is where I earned my RN without reviewing.

2022

Director of Health & Wellness

Seniors Living

Promoted from Associate Director after just three months. I directed the nursing program, coordinated interdisciplinary care, and learned what leadership really means.

2021

COVID-19 Case Manager

Pandemic Response

Managed pandemic response operations during Alberta's most challenging healthcare period. We were all learning to be brave together.

2019

Licensed Practical Nurse

Seniors Living

My Canadian nursing career finally began. After years of waiting and working other jobs, I was back where I belonged, caring for residents who felt like family.

What I do now

As Program Manager, I coordinate clinical nursing functions for a supportive living unit. Every day, I work to ensure safe and compassionate care for our residents while building a team that feels supported and empowered.

Clinical Leadership

I coordinate and monitor our palliative care program, skin wound assessments, and fall prevention efforts. I try to be a resource for our nursing staff whenever they need guidance, and I work to maintain consistency so that every resident receives the same standard of care.

Quality Improvement

I track and evaluate the care we provide, always looking for what is working and where we can grow. I complete monthly and quarterly reports that help me stay focused on continuous improvement and keep our team moving forward.

Infection Prevention & Control

I am the IPC resource nurse for our unit. I do my best to stay on top of everything, from coordinating outbreak protocols to making sure we follow best practices every single day. When something needs attention, I address it right away.

Team Development

I support staff through performance reviews and orientation, but more than that, I try to be someone my team can come to for direction, support, and encouragement. I want everyone to feel empowered to grow and to know that their work matters.

Person-Centred Care

I attend care conferences and collaborate closely with case managers, families, and our nursing team. My focus is always on the resident, making sure every decision we make puts them and their unique needs at the centre of everything we do.

Policy & Standards

I develop and update policies, especially around infection prevention and control. I hold myself and our team to high standards, and when concerns come up, I address them immediately. How quickly we respond to problems says everything about who we are.

Always learning

Healthcare is changing fast. I believe the best leaders are the ones who stay curious, who are not afraid to learn new things even when it feels uncomfortable. That is why I am diving into artificial intelligence and technology.

Before nursing, I studied computer hardware servicing and programming in the Philippines. That background gave me something I did not expect to use again. Now I am building on it, exploring how technology might help us work smarter and care better.

Away from work, you will probably find me volunteering in my community, spending time with family, or geeking out over the latest tech tutorial late at night. Staying curious and giving back are non-negotiables for me.

Currently Exploring

Prompt Engineering

Learning how to communicate effectively with AI tools, getting better outputs by asking better questions.

Python Programming

Building skills through online courses, YouTube tutorials, and hands-on projects. There is something satisfying about making things work.

Cloud Tools & Automation

Exploring how technology can simplify everyday tasks and free up time for what really matters: people.

Not the end. Just the beginning.

If you have read this far, thank you. Truly. I shared this story not because I think I am special, but because I know there are others out there fighting their own battles, wondering if the dream is worth it.

It is. Keep going. The hard parts do not last forever, but what they teach you does.

I am still learning. Still growing. Still making mistakes and trying to do better. That is the whole point, is it not? We do not arrive. We just keep moving forward, one kind choice at a time.

"Choose kindness, even when it is hard."

Let's connect

I welcome connections with fellow healthcare professionals who care about innovation, excellence, and making a real difference. I am also eager to meet others exploring the intersection of healthcare and technology. If my story resonates with you, I would love to hear from you.

nathan@programmanager.cc

nathanielpontillas

Location

Calgary, Alberta

Care is a calling, not a career.