It is understandable to be concerned about the growing influence of technology on bedside care, especially at the helm of a healthcare landscape that is rapidly evolving. Many nurses—and even healthcare consumers—worry that machines may be replacing the very heart of care: human connection. But what if technology didn’t distance us from our patients, but brought us closer to understanding them more deeply?
There are two visionaries who stand out for their profound impact on how care, technology, and cultural heritage are interwoven into nursing theory and practice. Professors Rozzano Locsin and Tetsuya Tanioka spent their careers reframing this very tension. They are not only theorists but trailblazers of a movement that positions technology as an essential partner in expressing compassion and advancing the art of nursing. Through their scholarship and leadership, they invite us to see a future where science and soul move hand in hand.
A Lifelong Commitment to Human Caring
Dr. Rozzano Locsin’s career began in 1976 after completing his baccalaureate degree in nursing from Silliman University. What followed was a decades-long commitment to nursing education, research, and theory development that spanned continents. With a master’s degree from the same university and a PhD in Nursing from the University of the Philippines Manila, Dr. Locsin has since become a recognized thought leader whose work continues to shape the global nursing profession.
At the heart of his legacy lies the middle-range theory of Technological Competency as Caring in Nursing (TCCN)—a pioneering framework that legitimizes technology as a vital expression of human caring in contemporary healthcare. Published in 1999 and continuously developed, the TCCN theory addresses the long-standing tension between technological proficiency and the compassionate ethos of nursing. Rather than viewing them in conflict, Dr. Locsin emphasizes how the competent use of technology enhances the essence of human care, especially in highly technological environments.
His leadership has earned him numerous awards and honors, including the Julita V. Sotejo Medallion of Honor and the Edith Moore Copeland Award for Excellence in Creativity. He is a Fulbright Scholar and a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. Currently, he serves as an Emeritus Professor at Florida Atlantic University and Tokushima University, continuing to inspire nurses and scholars worldwide.
Bridging Science, Culture, and Caring
Professor Tetsuya Tanioka represents the seamless blend of cultural and academic excellence that defines today’s global nursing scholars. A Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and a visiting professor at multiple international institutions, Dr. Tanioka brings both engineering precision and human compassion into his scholarship. His dual doctorates—one in Engineering from Japan’s Kochi University of Technology and another in Nursing from St. Paul University Philippines—reflect his interdisciplinary approach to understanding and improving nursing practice.
As Director of the Rozzano Locsin Institute for Advanced Practice in Caring Science, Professor Tanioka has championed international research on “human technologies”—a term that underscores the interplay of science, technology, and caring in nursing. He has served as editor and reviewer for various international journals and remains committed to collaborative research that uplifts the theoretical and practical foundations of nursing care.
Professor Tanioka credits both Filipino and Japanese cultural values for shaping his sensitivity to human care. He explains how religious and historical influences have led both countries to adopt American-based nursing theories, with particular emphasis on the philosophy of caring. Through translated works and international outreach, he has helped ensure that the core principles of TCCN and “Nursing as Caring” remain accessible and relevant to nurses across cultural contexts.
Navigating the Future
Together, Professors Locsin and Tanioka offer a hopeful, yet critically informed vision of the future of nursing. Their interviews reveal a deep awareness of the challenges faced by today’s nurses—from global migration and workforce shortages to the ethical risks of under-resourced healthcare systems. Yet, they remain resolute in their message: technology is not the enemy of nursing—it is its ally.
With Japan already integrating robotic technologies into rehabilitation and elder care, both scholars see a future where artificial intelligence and advanced therapies are vital to preserving the quality and dignity of human care. But this progress, they emphasize, must always be grounded in a firm understanding of the patient as a person—not just a diagnosis.
Technology, Care, and the Filipino Nurse
As hospitals worldwide become more technologized—from surgical and rehabilitation robots to AI-assisted diagnostics—the natural fear among nurses is losing the human touch. Dr. Locsin and Professor Tanioka don’t dismiss this concern; they name it. Nurses are right to be wary, they say—not because technology is harmful, but because it demands new forms of competence and compassion.
“We’ve seen it happen,” Tanioka explains. “Early versions of electronic health records disrupted communication. Patients felt ignored. Nurses struggled to keep up.” But today, he notes, improved systems and training have transformed that disruption into collaboration. Multidisciplinary teams work more fluidly. Patients are more satisfied. “Technology became part of care—not a substitute, but a companion.”
Still, the challenges facing Filipino nurses—especially in the global workforce—go beyond machines. Low wages, burnout, and cultural dislocation test the very heart of what it means to care. Many find themselves in systems that value efficiency more than empathy. Here, TCCN becomes more than a theory—it becomes a compass.
“It’s not just about mastering tools,” says Locsin. “It’s about recognizing the person in front of you as whole, dignified, and human—and using everything at your disposal, including technology, to care for them.” Whether in Japan, the U.S., or the Middle East, Filipino nurses carry this commitment with them. It’s both their burden and their gift.
Human Caring in a Technologized World
For many nurses, the rise of healthcare technology has felt like a double-edged sword—useful but emotionally distancing. Dr. Locsin and Professor Tanioka understand this tension intimately. They’ve heard the worry: “Isn’t technology making nursing less human?” Their answer—rooted in decades of research and international collaboration—is both simple and profound: Technology, when used competently, becomes an expression of care.
This belief forms the core of the Theory of Technological Competency as Caring in Nursing (TCCN). It emerged from a critical realization: that nursing has always used tools to serve deeply human ends. From Peplau’s therapeutic communication to today’s AI-supported diagnostics, tools are extensions of intention. As Dr. Locsin emphasizes, “There was even a time when technology wasn’t properly recognized in nursing. It was seen as a barrier to compassion.” The TCCN theory challenges this dichotomy, urging nurses to embrace technology not as a threat, but as a way to see the patient more clearly and care more deeply.
Professor Tanioka adds a global lens to this vision. Shaped by both Filipino and Japanese cultural values, he reflects on how religion, colonial history, and local philosophies influence what “care” means in different contexts. Despite these differences, both cultures—like many others—have come to value caring as a central tenet of nursing. Through the translation and integration of theories like TCCN and Nursing as Caring into Japanese and Filipino practice, Tanioka has helped localize global nursing wisdom while also bringing Eastern perspectives into the global arena.
A Message to Young Nurses and Scholars
To those inspired by their work, the message from Dr. Locsin and Professor Tanioka is both empowering and pragmatic: embrace technology, but never lose sight of what makes nursing a human profession. “We would like to see research conducted on how to utilize technology to improve the efficiency of care services, enabling the provision of high-quality, compassionate care,” they shared.
As nurse scholars and practitioners continue to work across borders, theories like TCCN are becoming more than academic frameworks—they are guiding principles for real-world practice in hospitals and communities from the Philippines to Japan, and beyond.
Honoring Legacies, Inspiring Futures
By honoring Dr. Rozzano Locsin and Professor Tetsuya Tanioka, we celebrate not only their academic achievements but also their deep commitment to keeping the heart of nursing alive in an ever-changing world. Through their work, we are reminded that the most advanced care is not only technical—it is also thoughtful and profoundly human.
