Welcome to my week 2 daily blog!
Nursing is one of the hardest professions in college. Nurses provide care and support to individuals throughout their health journeys. It was founded by Florence Nightingale, often called "The Founder of Modern Nursing." Nursing requires a blend of technical expertise, critical thinking, and empathy, as nurses often serve as the first point of contact for patients in distress. The profession demands continuous learning, as nurses must stay updated with medical advancements and evolving healthcare practices. Ultimately, nursing is a calling that combines science with compassion to enhance the lives of others.
In this blog, I want to share my journey as a 4-year nursing student at the University of Cebu Banilad Campus. Through this, I hope to deepen your understanding of what a student nurse experiences during 4 years in nursing school. Is it hard? Is it the right course to take? Or is it just peer pressure because your friends or family want you to pursue it?
During my first year in nursing school, I was very hesitant because I didn't know what a nursing student should do. I wasn't ready to take my decision-making to the next level, and I wasn't prepared to face the future pressure. I had no idea what I was getting into. At the back of my mind, I wanted to become a doctor, but I didn’t know at the time that becoming a doctor requires completing a four-year pre-med course. Actually, my first choice was to become a doctor, then psychology, then medtech, and last was Chemical Engineering. I didn’t know how I felt at the time because I chose nursing out of nowhere, my senior high school friends enrolled in nursing, and I followed them—even though my father didn't want me to become a nurse because he thought it was too expensive, well he’s right. Living with strict parents and in a rural, province-like environment, I was culture-shocked when I arrived in Cebu City. In short, I wasn’t prepared at all. I was the black sheep of the family—what I wanted was what I got. I went to nursing school with very little money. My allowance was 1,000 PHP per week, which had to cover my food, photocopies, and other school necessities. I rented a boarding house, and it was my first time living far from home. As time went by, I enjoyed it so much. It felt like my first year made me very independent already.
I thought nursing would be like high school, but I was very wrong. There were adjustments everywhere, pressure, and I didn’t even have time management. The first year was hell for me—very tiring, draining, and stressful. Every major subject, which had a 5-hours lecture, covered almost 2 to 5 different topics. After that, I had to study all the topics for a 30-item quiz the next day. It felt like hell, right? Very stressful. I even forgot to sleep and eat during that time. Coffee became my life, and I also took brain vitamins like Memory Plus, hoping that what I studied wouldn’t disappear. As an academically inclined student, I cried every day and night. For the first time in my life, I felt drained, had breakdowns, and failed some of my major exams. Luckily, I didn’t fail any subjects. I tried and pushed myself even harder so I could excel in my first year and be able to join the Capping Ceremony in my second year. The first year was more enjoyable during the second semester. I adjusted a little and learned to handle my stress better. That’s when our lectures and return demonstrations started to overlap—memorizing all the steps, studying for exams, and everything else.
During my 2nd and 3rd years, the pandemic happened. Cebu City went into lockdown; they said it would last only a month, but it ended up being two or three years, which was really hard. I went back to Danao City before the lockdown was enforced. During the pandemic, a lot happened, but I also learned many new skills. For instance, I learned how to bake cakes and bread, and I spent most of my time cooking for the family. For the first time, I experienced homeschooling. It was a big change, right? From face-to-face nursing school to online nursing school—shock! It was really hard, especially during online return demonstrations. I didn't have the necessary materials since many of them are found in hospitals, and we couldn’t go outside because it was still quarantine. That’s when I realized that "nursing is an art." I improvised with whatever materials I had at home so I could still complete the return demonstrations. It was very difficult, and when it came to lectures, it wasn’t easy due to internet connection issues on both the clinical instructors and the students' sides.
In my 3rd year, second semester, we finally had a blended face-to-face setup. Also, who would have thought that I would end my 2nd and 3rd years as a Dean's Lister? It was such a fulfilling feeling, knowing that my tears and sleepless nights had finally paid off. And of course, I was qualified for my Badging and Capping Ceremony, which made me eligible to start my internship. I felt both excited and afraid—what if I wasn't able to perform my duties and responsibilities?
Also, during my 3rd year, that was when I decided to try working as a call center agent for the first time. At first, it was bearable—new people and a new environment. However, as the months went by, it became too difficult. I had a 12-hour internship and 8 hours on duty as a call center agent. My work and school schedules always overlapped. There were times when, after work, I would go straight to my boarding house to rest for 20-30 minutes before preparing for my internship.
Internship and completing the required cases to graduate is tiring, yet very fulfilling and intimidating. Being a doctor's assistant during surgeries is such a valuable experience. Seeing the organs with my own eyes, observing the body, and witnessing how the patient is sedated and operated on is incredible—an unforgettable experience.
After 1 year and 2 months in the call center industry, I decided to resign and focus on my nursing school. It was a big decision I made for myself, also to get enough rest since I was in my 4th year at the time. We were exposed to work in different departments, such as the Operating Room, Delivery/Labor Room, Oncology Unit, Ward, Emergency Room, Cardio Unit, ICU, Dialysis Area, and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
One of my favorite departments is the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The babies are very fragile. They are so cute and also very adorable to care for. I love taking care of the babies—feeding them, changing their diapers, and just being with them. Babies helped ease all the stress. I also enjoyed taking their vital signs and giving them vaccines. In the back of my mind, I thought, "When I become a doctor someday, I want to be a pediatrician or, perhaps, an OB-GYN." It was very fulfilling every time I was assigned to the Delivery/Labor Unit or NICU. It felt like I was in my "adulting" stage. I saw how mothers delivered their babies and witnessed the hardships and complications that can arise during labor.
Every time I see a patient flatlining, doctors trying to revive them, and families crying, it shatters me. It feels like too much pain for them. I really can't imagine that every day people may die and every day babies are born. Listening to the doctor's declaration of “time of death” brings back memories of how I lost my father. That’s why it’s really hard to be a nurse, you see everything: fun, enjoyment, pain, and tears. All you can do is be strong for them, and family members can't see you cry.
People always mock nurses, don't they? They think we are just like maids for doctors. Our job is often compared to that of janitors, we clean urine and feces, change linens, assist those who vomit, and more. While there is some truth to this, they don't understand the full scope of a nurse's role. We are the ones who empathize with patients, administer medications, monitor vital signs, clean there wounds and most importantly, provide aftercare following surgeries to prevent complications. We also assist doctors in reviving patients when necessary. We work 12-hour shifts every day and are often underpaid, or, in the case of interns, work 12-hour shifts without pay plus when we go home we don't sleep instead we finished our requirements in a handwritten form to be submitted on the next day.
After all the sleepless nights and days, I was finally a candidate for graduation. Wow! What a rollercoaster ride it has been. Completing my 4 years of nursing school is unbelievable. I did it! I finished all my required cases for PRC, completed all lectures and laboratory sessions, paid all the expenses, and finished my research paper as well. Wow! Who would have thought that the first-year me, with no idea what nursing was about, would finally graduate with a full package of knowledge? You know who did? GOD did! Thank you Lord so much.
To everyone who feels afraid or uncertain about pursuing nursing, nursing doesn’t require perfection. It doesn’t require you to have all the answers or to never make mistakes. It requires you to be compassionate, resilient, and willing to keep learning. The most effective nurses are those who learn from challenges, who ask for help when they need it, and who rise to meet tough situations with empathy and skill. I encourage you to take that first step, even with the fear. You’ll learn along the way, and you’ll find strength in places you didn’t know existed. There will be moments where you surprise yourself with how much you can handle. And trust me, your fears will transform into confidence as you gain experience and knowledge. Nursing is not easy, but it is worth it. If you have the heart to care for others and the determination to rise above your doubts, then you have everything you need to succeed. Take a deep breath, embrace the unknown, and trust that you are more capable than you realize.
You’ve got this!💪
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and connect with my thoughts today. I’m excited to continue sharing my journey with you, and I hope you found something here that resonated or sparked an idea. This blog is a space for growth, inspiration, and conversation, and I’d love to hear your thoughts, feedback, or experiences in the comments. Feel free to share if something stood out to you. Here’s to many more stories, lessons, and moments of connection ahead! See you in the next post!