Board Exam

I. Nursing

The nursing profession has brought about an overwhelming business enterprise here in the Philippines through nursing education and preparation for its licensure examinations. Alongside this is the promise of a wealthy life by practicing the said profession in foreign lands, where salary and compensation for nursing services are significantly higher than what is offered locally. Due to the monetary benefit that being a nurse has to offer, parents urge their children to enroll in the said course, or something of equivalent (like caregiving or nursing aide). Other teenagers themselves don’t even require their parents’ urges as they too, crave for the high salary, which would be of great help to their families and themselves.

Every time I see nursing students, I can’t help but deduce that these people took up the course to be rich. Money. Money. And more money. It seems like people’s lives nowadays revolve around it. But I can’t blame them. With the economic condition of the country, it is not surprising that people would prioritize wealth over, say, ambition. Let me clarify that when I say ambition, I mean that thing that you would want to do, something that you would want to achieve; a synonym for dreams, life goals. All those are sacrificed for an easy life. People have already been under the impression that nursing is the solution. They don’t realize that following their dreams can also be the solution.

The number of nursing graduates has boomed since the turn of the millennium. Because of the appeal of the nursing profession, more and more people enroll in its degree course. And every year, more and more nursing students graduate. As of June 2008, there are 27,765 nursing graduates who passed the local licensure exam. But I really feel sorry for these passers (me included). News from all over the country have said that there is a small chance to hook up an internship in local hospitals (something which is necessary for gaining experience). Also, the turn-over rate between new and old nurses is in the 0.00 something level. That means that Filipino nurses today will either be under- or unemployed. There’s just too many inexperienced nurses in the Philippines, less hospitals to apply to (I heard that 200 hospitals closed down last year), and to make things worse, more and more secondary school graduates continue to take up the course. The Philippine Nurses Association (PNA), Inc. have already released a statement that nursing is not the ideal course today. Ha! Ha!

II. Review Centers

Nursing review centers are proof of the over-sensationalism on taking the local board examination. Because of statements from the reviewers and failed board-takers that the board exam is a bloody exam, new graduates instill anxiety in themselves, an anxiety that can only be relieved if they enrolled themselves in a review program. So they are now forced to flock to expensive review centers. Poor graduates.

After finishing my review program in a review center and after taking the board exam, I felt cheated due of the fact that only a fraction of the facts that I have reviewed (and been promised to that would be asked in the exams) actually came out in the examinations. The exam was in fact more of a situational-setting-where-there-can-be-two-correct-answers-and-the-correct-answer-depended-on-the-makers-of-the-exam type of exam. I actually depended more on the review program of my school, rather than on the review center’s. Personally, I wouldn’t have enrolled in a review center if only my school had a more thorough review program. I guess you only get to know better when you experience it first.

III. Board Passer

It was Thursday night. The weather was tranquil. I was on the computer near the living room on the second floor. The whole house was dark, except for the area lit by the light emitting from the computer screen. I was playing spider solitaire. Medium difficulty. My mind was a complete blank. It was 11:27:39 PM.

Then, my phone beeped. It was Sarah. I was taken aback by her text message.

Wake up RN! COngratz!

“Augh!” was the word that came to mind. Mind you, it was not “Aaauuuggghhh…” It was a simple “Augh!” A staccato. Heart pumped a wee bit faster. My body started to get a little tense, but I stopped it. “Impossible,” I thought. It’s just the third week of July, and the news said the results would be out by the last week of the month, or even until mid-August. It took a long while before I replied.

Hay, sana nga. Ang tagal ng results, ‘no?

Sarah’s reply?

MerOn n nga eh,we passd nina marg,vrms,jun,eme,ton,jud…tntgnan k p iba

Suddenly, the lights on the second floor living room went on. The whole place was immediately lit up. I walked around. I don’t believe it! I passed! But I did believe it; I just in a state of elatedness. I wanted to scream but reserved myself not to—so as not to wake my parents up. Then, I noticed I was no longer in front of the computer. I was walking around the living room. Proves that unconsciousness works, huh? I occasionally stared at the living room mirror. It was huge mirror—the kind that you see in department store fitting rooms.

I sent messages to the names that Sarah said had passed. I also texted Estherlyn (whom texted me earlier) that the results were already available.

Su garud, agttxt dan,
ket haan ak meten
makaluwar, ket cka
ngay?
Sender:
Estherlyn M. Magkachi
+63929xxxxxxx
Sent:
11:33:13pm
24.Jul.2008

It suddenly dawned on me that I went out earlier, during the day, and I even went internet surfing. I never bothered to check out the results. Damn it! And like Estherlyn, I also wanted to get out and check the web. (Unfortunately, although I had a PC, it didn’t have an internet connection).

Yehey, cOngrats…ü
magtxt2 bridge na tau,
hahaha
Sender:
Estherlyn M. Magkachi
+63929xxxxxxx
Sent:
11:35:42pm
24.Jul.2008

Ha? Anung
nangyayari? San nyo
nkta?
Sender:
Virmelyn L. Paleng
+63918xxxxxxx
Sent:
11:37:53pm
24.Jul.2008

I guess Virmelyn was in a state of shock.

SeryOso k?kw na
pangalawang
ngsb.kw?cOngrats dn.
Sender:
Margie V. Lasdacan
+63920xxxxxxx
Sent:
11:38:33pm
24.Jul.2008

Even Margie was in a state of shock.

8 s by a blesing!
Whew! Pti dakau,
cgurdo, congrats mt.
hehe
Sender:
Junelyn C. Alawas
+63929xxxxxxx
Sent:
11:38:43pm
24.Jul.2008

I remember Junelyn texting before the results came out that she forgot to shade her set on her last examination answer sheet (If you didn’t shade your set, you’re doomed to fail). Maybe she thought she didn’t shade it? Or maybe, she DID forget to shade it but the exam facilitators found a way for it to be included and checker, so she passed. Either.

Pnu m nlman?net?
Sender:
Margie V. Lasdacan
+63920xxxxxxx
Sent:
11:39:36pm
24.Jul.2008

Gee tlaga.. Wow aga
ng result.. Thankl God
kng ganun.. Yah ktxt
ko rn xa..
Sender:
Virmelyn L. Paleng
+63918xxxxxxx
Sent:
11:40:33pm
24.Jul.2008

By this time, I too wanted to get out of the house and check out the internet at a nearby computer shop. But, sneaking out of the house wasn’t really a hobby of mine.

Aq nga dn eh..grbe.
Sender:
Margie V. Lasdacan
+63920xxxxxxx
Sent:
11:41:00pm
24.Jul.2008

I guess I’m not the only one who wanted to get out of the house.

Thnx tol!-ton e kaw?
Sender:
Juan Anton S. Chichioco
+63922xxxxxxx
Sent:
24.Jul.2008

What’s Ton (full first name: Cleyton) doing with Anton? I have my own assumptions which I’d rather keep to myself. Explicit content, you know.

Since I went out during the day and surfed the net, I cursed myself as to why I didn’t bother to check the results. I really thought the results would be released later.

Kalalabas lng ata
nina.ü
Sender:
Margie V. Lasdacan
+63920xxxxxxx
Sent:
11:53:01pm
24.Jul.2008

Oh, so even if I checked the availability of results earlier, I wouldn’t have found it anyway. Okay…

I turned off the lights, the computer, and laid on my bed. It was just a few minutes to midnight. What a way to end the day!

Ü gOsh,mkk2lg p b tau
ni2.ü
Sender:
Margie V. Lasdacan
+63920xxxxxxx
Sent:
11:58:00pm
24.Jul.2008

Same thought that I had in mind. I was tossing and turning! I texted Sarah to ask when the results were released.

NOw lng
Sender:
Sarah A. Dacquigan
+63921xxxxxxx
Sent:
12:00:41pm
25.Jul.2008

“I can’t sleep,” I thought. My eyes were wide awake. “Maybe I’ll just be awake until the morni…Zzz…zzz…”

IV. Postscript

Taking the licensure examination was nerve-wrecking for most who took it. It will always be. It’s been regarded as “The Greatest Exam in Your Life.” Passing the licensure examination brought great joy.

GUYS! MerOn taung
Lahat na LIMA na TEAM
sa RESEARCH sa
BOARDEXAM! RN na
tayO! MABUHAY ang
PILIPINAS! HOOO!
GRABE TODO NA ‘TO!
Sender:
Venus O. Ponso
+63919xxxxxxx
Sent:
03:46:08am
25.Jul.2008

(This is actually Olga. She just used her younger sister’s phone to send in this message. No airtime load, I presume. What a way to announce good news…)
Finding out that you passed it was one of those “experiences of a lifetime.”

Congratz pow.,RN kna
rw.,uu stay hmble.,
Sender:
Manjeet D. Pintor
+63921xxxxxxx
Sent:
05:01:27am
25.Jul.2008

Waking up to your mom’s congratulatory message felt great, and at the same time, disappointing, especially when you have plans of surprising your parents that you passed but for some reason, they found out earlier before you could tell them.

Hehehe., bsta
congratz.,pg
mgpapakain k sat
ha.,para makapunta
aq.,jeje
Sender:
Manjeet D. Pintor
+63921xxxxxxx
Sent:
05:20:23am
25.Jul.2008

Aq nauna celebration q
kc lcng ap kgabi.,jeje
Sender:
Manjeet D. Pintor
+63921xxxxxxx
Sent:
06:19:52am
25.Jul.2008

Uy friend congrats! Rn
na taung apat. God
bless. J
Sender:
Cherry Ann S. Simbulan
+63928xxxxxxx
Sent:
06:23:20am
25.Jul.2008

Hehe.,
Sender:
Manjeet D. Pintor
+63921xxxxxxx
Sent:
06:29:49am
25.Jul.2008

‘guys,cOngratz.,taas
ratings nyO..’
Sender:
Kris Doneve I. Dagson
+63909xxxxxxx
Sent:
07:12:44am
25.Jul.2008

Kapatid, pamcdo
naman diyan. Gandang
umaga sa nurse.
Sender:
Jemima Dove D. Comila
+63929xxxxxxx
Sent:
07:27:56am
25.Jul.2008

‘guys..Ganda ratingz
ng bsu s bOrd..87%
wid retaker..92 pg
widout..’saya!-txt
sakn..galing!sna ksma
kau s mga nkapasa..ü
Sender:
Gianne Kryzl Hanie Mei B. Wahayna
+63929xxxxxxx
Sent:
07:46:23am
25.Jul.2008

CONGRATULATIONS!
Sender:
Rosaline D. Dongbo (my aunt)
+63918xxxxxxx
Sent:
08:11:32am
25.Jul.2008

Bro, have i
cOngratulated u? SOri, i
4get. So i’ll do it again
to be sure.
ConratulatiOns, and
may ur life be always
as happy and blessed.ü
Sender:
Leonard Isaac M. Baquirin
+63928xxxxxxx
Sent:
08:58:57am
25.Jul.2008

CONGRATULATIONS!! I
know u all did well!!
We thank God 4 HIS
Guidance and
Blessings!
Sender:
Ma’am Susan H. Ong
+63919xxxxxxx
Sent:
09:06:59am
25.Jul.2008

Hi! GOD be praised!
CONGRATS!
Sender:
Ma’am Carol Ruth L. Valles
+63918xxxxxxx
Sent:
09:38:00am
25.Jul.2008

‘,,kelan
blowout?Hehehe
Sender:
Kris Doneve I dagson
+63909xxxxxxx
Sent:
09:45:41am
25.Jul.2008

Congratulations and
jubilations! God bless.
Sender:
Sir Lawrence C. Caranto
+63910xxxxxxx
Sent:
09:46:09am
25.Jul.2008

COngratz RN!
Sender:
Leon C. Saleo-an Jr.
+63918xxxxxxx
Sent:
09:53:47am
25.Jul.2008

Ung mga RN’s pakita
daw kau sa cn hehe.
Kung gus2 daw natin,
mag thanksgiving
party tau, sbi ma’am
valles, hehe!
Sender:
Regienald C. Gayaman
+63910xxxxxxx
Sent:
10:00:42am
25.Jul.2008

congratulations! God
bless u guyz!ö
Sender:
Merville Kay D. Ab-abo
+63929xxxxxxx
Sent:
10:53:59am
25.Jul.2008

Congrats tol..nurse k
n..kelan food trip?
Hehe
Sender:
Jacqueline D. Uyami
+63918xxxxxxx
Sent:
06:09:38am
26.Jul.2008

“we serve people by
preserving and
prolonging lives..we
were blessed w/ caring
hands and heart to
save people..
nursing is not just to
be used to be cool or
to become IN in d
society or to step foot
to foreign countries..
people must realize
that nursing is a high
position of profession
w/ its main purpose..
..that no matter how
hard it is, no matter
how much u r being
paid and wherever u r..
it’s the LIVES, nurses
bring to life.. Ügud
mOrning nurses!
Sender:
Virmelyn L. Paleng
+63918xxxxxxx
Sent:
06:58:11am
26.Jul.2008

Yup, that’s how it should be. Sadly, people only see nursing as a mere key to success. They don’t realize the importance of its role to the nurse’s country and society.

V. Thankyous for the Guidance

A day before taking the exam, I really prayed for GOD’s guidance and that I would pass the exam. All throughout that day, I literally walked with GOD. And, on that same day, I found the sign that I would pass. And because of that sign, even after the exam and before the release of the results, I was already thanking GOD for making me pass.

I wrote this article to serve not just an outlet for my thoughts, but also as proof that genuine FAITH is real and it works. Along with prayer, it can really move mountains. So to those who are about to take the exam, and even to those who dream of distant goals, JUST BELIEVE!

Thank you to those you prayed for my success. Thank you, LORD!

Good afternoon. I
would like to thank
you for your prayers
that helped (us, batch
2008, achieve our
standing/me in my battle). Personally, I
wouldn’t have passed
the local board
without you, and I
thank GOD for leading
me to you. Thank you
po! 😀
Saved:
05:41:07pm
26.Jul.2008

Very tOuching namn..ü
im vry much prOud of
u guys..thank u nd go
RN!Ü
Sender:
Gianne Kryzl Hanei Mei B. Wahayna
+63929xxxxxxx
Sent:
05:43:49pm
26.Jul.2008

Ay, nakaka-touch
naman. You are most
welcome. Nagbunga
ang aking pill-rolling
movements! Haha.
Sender:
Sir Lawrence C. Caranto
+63910xxxxxxx
Sent:
05:48:01pm
26.Jul.2008

COngratz!Im hapi 4
u.Hehe.
Sender:
Elaine May S. Lucas
+63910xxxxxxx
Sent:
05:53:12pm
26.Jul.2008

Yap.CONGRATULATIONS
and hope you wil carry
all the teachings youv
learned fr BSU –CN as
you execute nrsing
profsion.again cöngrts
and BLOW OUT!
Sender:
Ma’am Jonalyn S. Esco
+63910xxxxxxx
Sent:
06:00:14pm
26.Jul.2008

Wow recis, congrats!Ü
Sender:
Jane Marian S. Luis
+63918xxxxxxx
Sent:
06:00:57pm
26.Jul.2008

..congratz friend! Klan
u ngy mgtri2t? Jeje
Sender:
Maricor Macay
+63921xxxxxxx
Sent:
06:01:50pm
26.Jul.2008

Grann,ur welcome. .as
always. Ö and thank
God, rilly. .ces
Sender:
Celeste L. Patacsil
+63915xxxxxxx
Sent:
06:12:37pm
26.Jul.2008

Congratulations,may u
cOntinue what u had
startd with d guidance
of d lOrd.cOntinue
prayng as u gO on
with yOur jOurney..God
bless.
Sender:
Marilou Cadiogan
+63920xxxxxxx
Sent:
06:18:33pm
26.Jul.2008

Just continue praying
and praising Him and
He’ll guide your ways.
Sender:
Ma’am Carol Ruth L. alles
+63918xxxxxxx
Sent:
06:53:46pm
26.Jul.2008

That’s soo kind of u 2
recognize me as part
of ur batch good
performance.Thank u
very much 2.We praise
God 4 all d blessings
he showerd us.Again
congratulations 2 all of
u!
Sender:
Ma’am Susan H. Ong
+63919xxxxxxx
Sent:
06:56:03pm
26.Jul.2008

Hey cOngrats pinsan!
Sb n eh kyng kya mO
eh! Wen s d blow
ouT?U
Sender:
Chrislyn D. Dongbo
+63920xxxxxxx
Sent:
07:26:40pm
26.Jul.2008

You deserve it. And
now that you are a
nurse, remember, with
great power comes
great responsibility.
Congratulations and
Good luck!:D
Sender:
Ma’am Luvim C. Bilango
+63919xxxxxxx
Sent:
09:24:57am
27.Jul.2008

Belated
congratulations!
Sender:
Elvis B. Gabat
+63919xxxxxxx
Sent:
07:08:24pm
30.Jul.2008

Congratulations to all the passers of the June 2008 licensure examinations for nurses! LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!!!