by Fatima Villafranca

When I decided to take up nursing, it was just because I wanted to. Not because I wanted to go abroad & earn dollars just like what any Filipino nurse would want. Maybe because I was raised comfortably that I didn’t realize at that time how hard life is especially here in the Philippines. But I was proud of my reason, that I really wanted to be a nurse, a true nurse not a dollar-ish nurse! haha=)
I took the NLE November 2008. I reviewed in SRG manila. I had a really good time during those days & it was true that learning is best when you are having fun. I am also thankful to SRG especially to sir Emerson Aliswag because they moved me closer to GOD. They helped me boost my faith. of all the things that happened, of all the course I’ve been through, my most favorite part was discovering my unwavering faith in GOD…having a relationship with him was the thing I cherish & most proud of…I don’t know & I cant express the feeling…its like you do want things, dreams, success…yet there’s a part of you that feels so complete…& that’s the most wonderful feeling I’ve ever had…=)
After passing the local board, I experienced how hard life is. I mean after all the hardships in school & board exam there’s not even a single decent nursing job waiting for us nurses out there. I tried to cross in different fields but it always slip out of my hands. Either they will not accept me because I’m a nursing graduate or they’re going to hire me but there was this new occurrence that would hinder me from accepting the job. That time was really tough, then I thought maybe its not yet my time, maybe god doesn’t want me to work at that time because there are some things I still need to finish before launching my career.
Then my father called me & said I’m going to take the NCLEX-RN exam. I had mixed emotions during that time. Happy, excited, nervous, anxious. It wasn’t really my dream to become a USRN but what choice do I have? So I pursued the track. with the help of my friend nonoy taclino, rox & I were able to process our papers for free! I know god will bless sir nonoy=)
I recently took the nclex-rn exam (sept 7, 2009 at trident tower Makati city). again I took review classes at SRG manila. Two weeks before that I started reading Saunders comprehensive review 4th edition. I really thought NCLEX was easier than NLE because that’s what most of our college professors have said. But they were wrong because based on my experience & according to my NCLEX review classmates, NCLEX was a lot more tougher. Out of my education days, it was the hardest & most tiring. Unlike NLE where sometimes by just one glance you can already determine the answer, NCLEX requires concrete critical thinking, problem solving skills & full course knowledge. I am grateful for sir jeld yap’s training. Yes it’s hard & tiring but was all worth it (our sessions with him were like 8a-9p, travelling from las pinas to manila! Such a torture!). I can still remember how loren, rox & I were so frustrated during the review because our scores during the exams were at the bottom of the class. We almost backed out of the exam but thanks to sir jeld yap’s advice “hindi wag kayo mgpa move, mawawala ang momentum niyo”. We all decided to just go with the flow, continue with the exam date. Then throughout the program, with god’s help our scores improved! Yay! Then of course we did the traditional ceremonies of church hopping our mother of perpetual help(baclaran) every wednesdays, st jude(malcanan) every thursdays & st claire(katipunan). the judgment day came, sept 7,09, we all met at baclaran church, took the bus ride to makati, arrived there around 7-730am,stayed & eat at mcdo,had our “kwentuhan” sessions for awhile,then aldrin said “tignan natin horoscopes niyo”(he had a free newspaper from mcdo) so we did! mine was hilarious yet inspiring! I can’t remember the exact words but it was like “today is your big day! You’ll succeed in everything work related!yay!” haha!=) then aldrin was saying “mahal for sure usrn kn kc yun ang sabi sa horoscope mo!”. 830am came, it was time to enter the building. we were on the elevator & before it opened to 27th floor loren said “ayan na!” then her fart followed(haha!peace loren!comedy talaga!)=) we started the exam. at first, I was confident because I had innovative questions(4sata,1drag&drop) but then #75 question came. the question was “________________” I was like omg! ____________ of course! it was too easy! before I clicked next I prayed “lord wag muna mg stop ang dali ng question eh” (because they say, if your last question was easy=failed,hard=passed) but the computer stopped & there’s nothing I can do but hope & pray. I went down & texted aldrin to come. then when he came he seriously asked me “lunch break mo?”. omg! I was like “huh?!bakit?mabilis ba yon?2hrs yon for 75 items!hindi mabilis yon!” I feel so stupid during that time, I was bargaining! “if I only spent more time in every question”. I was devastated…I cried for 30 minutes along the streets of makati & in mcdo. we waited for rox & loren. after the exam we went back to baclaran church, because we all knew we need to pray harder! unluckily, a strong rain showered upon us. aldrin & I were wet from head to foot because we had to share on one umbrella!my umbrella! one word to describe NCLEX ?=TRAUMATIC!
Sept 25, 09 I surfed the net for statistics regarding passing rate at 75. then as I read the forums, there were several items about “pearsonvue trick”(to know early if you passed/failed). I got curious so I google-d it. I found a site “allnuses.com”, that has the complete step by step process. I had troubled thoughts whether I should try it or not, so I called aldrin & he said I should give it a shot. as I was following the steps my heart was literally running out of my chest!so I stopped & prayed for awhile at the altar. before I went back to the computer I grabbed my novena booklet of our mother of perpetual help & placed it upon my chest while continuing with the steps…then the last page came & when I clicked the next button I got the infamous pop-out “you cant continue with the registration process..please contact your BON etc..”(it means you passed). then, I was crying…tears of joy…of hope…the fruit of labor…
I called roxanne & the others to spread the trick but I remained silent about it including to my family(except from my nclex classmates) because I still want to wait for the letter confirming that I passed before I spread the word.
after passing the NCLEX it was like everything was falling into its right place. rox & I are going to have our first work!yay!praise god!
throughout my journey, I had aldrin by my side. I am so thankful for his patience because he didn’t leave me during my devil-ish days!haha!he’s my number one supporter, my person, my bestfriend. he gave me strength & hope when I was unaware that I was depressed & I think too low of myself. he’d been my best & true companion all along, my confidant…& truly, I am grateful for his love & passion…I love you soo much mahal!muah!

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