“FROM DREAMS TO DESTINATIONS: A STUDENT NURSE’S

JOURNEY TO BECOMING A REGISTERED

NURSE OVERSEAS”

In Partial Fulfillment of the Academic Requirements for the

Subject NUR 311-Nursing Research 1

Group 5A

Bauit, Angela

Bermudez, Jazer

Cadavona, Maridel C.

Cadiz, Janelle V.

Calangan, Ashley T.
Researchers

Bachelor of Science in Nursing-Year Level 3

Isabela State University-Echague Campus

College of Nursing

Richmond M. Perez

Decent Work

December 15, 2025

ABSTRACT

This study explores the journey of a Filipino nurse from being a student nurse in

the Philippines to becoming a Registered nurse abroad. The purpose of this paper is to

understand the challenges, motivations, and experiences encountered during her

academic years, professional practice, and migration overseas. A qualitative interview

method was used, wherein a semi structured questionnaire interview was conducted with

a registered nurse currently working abroad. The results revealed academic struggles,

perseverance, family motivation, financial consideration, and professional growth lead

her way into success. The study concludes that despite difficulties in nursing school, and

the challenges from working in the Philippines to abroad, shows that with continuous

determination and learning can help Filipino nurses succeed globally.

INTRODUCTION

Nursing journey is characterized by its demanding nature that involves lot of

coursework, clinical training, and rigorous examinations. According to Aryuwat et al.,
2024 resilience is a crucial attribute for nursing students to successfully navigate every
challenges arrived, fostering both personal and professional development. Nursing
education provides a combination of theoretical and clinical learning experiences to train
students with knowledge, skills, and attitude for post graduate professional practice.

According to the World Health Organization (World Health Organization, 2020),

nurses are the key to achieving health coverage. However, nursing shortage is a global
challenge, and the health care systems need more nurses with high professional
competence to handle the escalating epidemic of communicable and non-communicable
diseases appearing in a rapidly ageing population (Catton, 2020, OECD, 2019). Nursing
as a profession is both fragmented and complex. A successful academic programme
should promote students’ confidence in their ability to master educational and clinical
requirements (Hatlevik, 2014). However, a successful learning process is not only about
acquiring knowledge and skills, but it also involves a process of growing into a
professional healthcare community (Taylor and Hamdy, 2013).

Nursing students experience stress related to their academic and clinical settings,
and a lack of preparation is associated with an increased risk of clinical and academic
failure. Accordingly, by acquiring different skills, students can develop a repository of
coping strategies that can position them to be more successful (Beanlands et al., 2019).
The most common sources of stress and anxiety identified in nursing programmes were
related to a high amount of academic-related work, assessment, clinical learning
environment, fear of unfamiliar situations, harming patients, handling technical
equipment, and lack of pre-clinical preparation. Also to personal stressors (e.g., financial
stress) contribute to a more demanding academic experience (Dwyer and Revell, 2014,
McCarthy et al., 2018, Pulido‐Martos et al., 2012).

"From Dreams to Destinations: A Student Nurse’s Journey to Becoming a

Registered Nurse Overseas" explores this transformative process, highlighting the
dedication, perseverance, and resilience required to transition from a nursing student to a
licensed professional working abroad. From the first day in a nursing uniform, filled with
excitement and curiosity, to the countless hours spent in classrooms and hospital wards,
the journey of a nursing student is both challenging and rewarding. For some, this
journey carries a dream that reaches beyond their homeland—the aspiration to become a
registered nurse overseas.

This study captures not just the steps required to achieve this dream, but the lived
experiences, motivations, and challenges that shape the student nurse into a competent,
confident, and globally-ready professional. Through this, readers gain insight into the
determination, preparation, and perseverance needed to turn the dream of becoming a
registered nurse overseas into a reality.
PROBLEM STATEMENT

This study aims to examine the journey of the student nurse from struggles faced in
nursing school and in transitioning to a nursing career abroad.

Specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What is the demographic characterstic of the registered nurse in terms of;

1.1 Name
1.2 Age
1.3 Marital Status
1.4 Educational attainment
1.5 Occupation

2. What are the challenges experienced by the Filipino nurse during her student years?

3. What are the strategies she used to succeed academically?

4. What are the experiences of the nurse as a registered nurse in the Philippines and
abroad?

5. What are the advice and inspiration for current nursing students?

OBJECTIVES:

This study aims to examine the journey of the student nurse from struggles faced in
nursing school and in transitioning to a nursing career abroad.

Specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions:

[Link] identify the demographic characterstic of the registered nurse in terms of;

1.1 Name
1.2 Age
1.3 Marital Status
1.4 Educational attainment
1.5 Occupation
2. To describe the challenges experienced by the Filipino nurse during her student years

3. To identify the strategies she used to succeed academically

4. To explore the experiences of the nurse as a registered nurse in the Philippines and
abroad

5. To provide advice and inspiration for current nursing students

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is beneficial to the following:

Nursing students: It provides real life lessons, guidance, and motivation in

nursing journey to keep pushing in achieving the nursing degree. They can have the idea
about the real happenings and expectation inside the healthcare facility

Educators: This offers insights to students who struggles and need learning
advice. The educators can have an idea on how they motivate every student nurses as
they push through from nursing school to becoming a registered nurse.

Nursing School: They can use the results to improve curriculum, establish some
programs for student support, and help them evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum,
teaching strategies, and support system.

Future researchers: this serves as a reference and additional information for

studies on nursing journey. By documenting the challenges, motivations, and success of
individuals who transitioned from nursing school to becoming registered nurse.
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
METHODOLOGY

Research Design: [Explain your research approach.]

Participants: [Who is involved in your study.]

Tools/Instruments: [List and describe your tools or methods.]

Procedure: [Step-by-step process of your study.]

Data Analysis: [Explain how you will analyze the results.]

Research Design
Participants

Tool/Instruments
Procedure
Data Analysis
RESULT DISCUSSION

1. ACADEMIC CHALLENGES
- During the student years, the participant encountered that nursing journey was
really difficult.

Present and explain your findings using tables, charts, or text.]

JAZER: Good evening ma’am, we are BSN 3–3 students, and we have prepared some questions
for you. You will just answer them based on your experiences when you were still a student until
you graduated and became a Registered Nurse, as well as your life experiences.

QUESTIONS:

JAZER: Hello ma’am, I’m Jazer. Can you tell us about yourself?

MA’AM MICHEL: I am Michel Del Rosario Aspa, 37 years old. I am Filipino and I’m from
Marikina City. I studied at Far Eastern University and graduated in 2007, and I also became a
registered nurse in 2007.

ASHLEY: Hello ma’am, I’m Ashley. How was your experience as a nursing student?

MA’AM MICHEL: When I was a nursing student, it was really difficult. There was one subject
I really struggled with—algebra—because I wasn’t good at math. I had to retake it during the
summer, and thankfully I passed. Some nursing subjects were also difficult, like pharmacology
and maternal care. I’m a perfectionist when it comes to studying, so I felt like I needed to learn
everything right away. In FEU, we had a green RLE uniform, and whenever I wore it, I really felt
the exhaustion because duty hours were the whole day. I lived alone at that time because both of
my parents were working abroad to support my studies. I felt ashamed to fail because I was in a
big school like FEU, and I didn’t want to disappoint my parents. So my advice, especially now
that you’re in second year, is to keep doing your best. Even if it’s hard, just keep going so you
can graduate. Make your parents your inspiration because earning money nowadays is not easy.

Follow-up Questions
ANGELA: Hello ma’am, I’m Angela. What subjects did you find difficult? And how did you
overcome them / what strategies did you use to study well for four years?

MA’AM MICHEL: Probably the major subjects—like maternal and child, and pharmacology.
Pharmacology is really difficult because it involves memorization, and you also need to compute
medication dosages. The math is basic computations, but still, you need to understand the
questions during exams. So yes, pharmacology was the hardest because of the computations. But
all you need to do is read and study regularly.

FAST FORWARD (Already Graduated)

MARIDEL: Hello ma’am, I’m Maridel. When you became an RN, how was your first day as a
nurse?

MA’AM MICHEL: I don’t remember much about my first day, but maybe this instead: When I
became an RN, it felt different doing duty as a registered nurse compared to being a student. The
responsibility was bigger because you're already an RN. But once you learn to love what you do,
it feels lighter. The feeling that you helped a patient recover makes all the fatigue, sleepless
nights, and sacrificing your own health worth it. We all know how hard nurses’ jobs are. That’s it.

Follow-up Question

MARIDEL: Did you work abroad? And why?

MA’AM MICHEL: Actually, my father didn’t want me to work in Saudi. But nurses’ salaries in
the Philippines at that time were really small—not enough for me. The salary back then was only
around 9,000 to 10,000 pesos. So I decided to work abroad because nurses there are well-paid. I
worked in Saudi for 11 years, then I moved here to America, where I’m now living with my
family.

JANELLE: Good evening ma’am, I’m Janelle. In what countries have you worked?

MA’AM MICHEL: I worked in the UAE for 11 years, then I went home to the Philippines right
before the pandemic. In 2022, I came here to the US with my family. I worked as an on-call nurse
during the pandemic because I had just undergone surgery and I really needed to work to support
my family.
JANELLE: Is working abroad harder than working in the Philippines?

MA’AM MICHEL: For me, working in the Philippines is harder, but when it comes to skills and
education, the Philippines is superior. In the Philippines, for example, I handled around 15
patients—sometimes a ratio of 1:20—so it was very exhausting.

JANELLE: What requirements did you need before you were able to work abroad?

MA’AM MICHEL: You need at least 1 year and 6 months to 2 years of experience. Get your
nursing license in the Philippines, then take the required exam if you want to work abroad. My tip
—if you want to come to America, try your best to learn and practice speaking English because
there are many English exams. It’s very important.

JAZER: Additional question ma’am, did you experience any discrimination while working
abroad?

MA’AM MICHEL: Not really, because most of us there were Filipinos. What exists is hierarchy
—since when you're new, they might think you don't know anything. But over time, once they get
to know you, their treatment becomes good.

JANELLE: During the pandemic, what was its effect on you and your work? How did you
handle the struggles, especially since many nurses passed away?

MA’AM MICHEL: As I said earlier, I’m thankful that I wasn’t in the hospital. I had already
returned to the Philippines before they implemented travel bans. And I was with my family
during that time. I worked from home during the pandemic. My job was as a pre-authorization
review nurse—we were the ones who approved the medications to be given to patients, even
while working from home.

JAZZER: Lastly ma’am, what is your message to us or to those studying Nursing?

MA’AM MICHEL: What I can say is: study hard. Read a lot—just keep reading. Always ask for
guidance from the Lord because it helps a lot, especially during exams. Study well for the people
who support you. Don’t give up—soon you will graduate too. Studying is hard, but everything
will be worth it in the end. Just be patient.

Tagalog version

JAZER: Good Evening po maam, we are BSN 3-3 students po, so may mga hinanda po kaming
mga katanungan po na aming itatanong sainyo and sasagutin nyo lang po sya based po sa
karanasan ninyo noong studyante pa lamang po kayo at hanggang sa nakapagtapos at naging
Registered Nurse na po kayo at mga ilang karanasan po ninyo sa buhay.

QUESTIONS:

JAZER: Hello po maam, Ako po si Jazer. Can you tell us about yourself po?

MAAM MICHEL: I am Michel Del Rosario Aspa, 37 years old. I am filipino and i am from
Marikina City, I studied at Far Eastern University and I graduated year 2007 and became a
registered nurse in the year of 2007

ASHLEY: Hello po, ako po si Ashley, Kamusta po yung pagiging nursing student?

MAAM MICHEL- Nung nursing student pa ako Nahirapan ako before syempre then may subject
na nahirapan talaga ako which is yung algebra kasi hindi naman ako kagalingan sa math then
tinake ko ulit sya ng summer and napasa ko na din so far, and yung ibang subjects din ng nursing
which is yung pharmacology, maternal ganon. ako kasi is perfectionist ako nung nagaaral pa, na
dapat maaral ko agad tong ganito ganyan. and sa FEU meron yung uniform na rle, yung color
green. pag suot ko yon feel na feel ko talaga yung pagod as in kasi whole day nasa duty and i
lived alone that time kasi both of my parents is nag tratrabaho abroad para masustentohan ako sa
studies ko kasi nakakahiya naman nasa big school ako which is sa FEU nga syempre nakakahiya
naman sa parents ko kung hindi ko gagalingan diba. So ayon advise ko lang lalo na ngayon na
nasa second year na kayo is galingan nyo pa kahit na nahihirapan abutin lang ng abutin para maka
graduate and make your parents as your inspiration kasi hindi biro maghanap ng pera ngayon.

(follow up questions)

ANGELA: Hello po, ako po si Angela, Anong mga subjects po kayo nahirapan?At paano nyo po
nairaos/ano pong mga strategies na ginamit po ninyo para po makapag aral po kayo ng mabuti sa
loob ng apat na taon?
MAAM MICHEL: Siguro, yung mga major subjects, like maternal and child, pharmacology, yan
mejo mahirap talaga ang pharmacology, kasi memorization yan eh, and kailangan nyong mag
compute ng medication, pero basic computation lang naman, pero syempre, kailangan mong
intindihin yung questions kapag ka sa exams , yun lang naman , ang mejo mahirap, yung
pharmacology kasi may computation yun, so yun lang, and kailangan lang na magbasa- basa
kayo…

FAST FORWARD ( GRADUATE NA)

MARIDEL: Hello po, ako po si maridel, Noong RN na po kayo, kumusta po ang 1st day
experience as a nurse?

MAAM MICHEL: Hindi ko na masyadong maalala yung first day experience ko, pero siguro eto
nalang, nung RN na ako, syempre iba talaga yung feeling na nag duduty kana as a Registered
nurse na talaga kaysa sa duty mo noong student nurse ka palang, although mas lumaki yung
responsibilidad kasi nga RN kana eh, pero once na minahal mo naman yung ginagawa mo wala
nalang yon, yung feeling na nakapag pagaling ka ng patient bawing bawi talaga yung pagod,
puyat at pagsasakripisyo ng sarili mong kalusugan, alam naman natin kung gaano kahirap ang
trabaho ng mga Nurses, ayun.

(follow up question)

MARIDEL: Nag-ibang bansa po ba kayo? At bakit?

MAAM MICHEL: Actually yung papa ko, ayaw niya na magtrabaho ako sa saudi, pero yung
sahod sa Philippines that time is sobrang katiting lang, hindi yun enough para sa akin, ang sahod
ng nurses that time is 9 thousand to 10 thousands only, kaya I decided na mag work abroad kasi
well payed ang mga nurses duon. Bale 11 years akong nag work sa saudi at lumipat ako dito sa
america at kasama kona din ang family ko dito.

JANELLE: Good evening po, ako po si Janelle. At saang mga bansa na po kayo nagtrabaho?

MAAM MICHEL: 11 years ako sa UAE then sakto nakauwi ako ng Philippines before mag
pandemic. Tapos 2022 kasama ko na family ko dito sa US pero naging oncall nurse ako during
pandemic kasi bagong opera ako non at need talaga para may pang buhay sa family JANELLE:
Mas mahirap ba ang trabaho sa ibang bansa kumpara sa pinas?
MAAM MICHEL: For me, mas mahirap sa philippines pero pag skills ang usapan at sa education
mas lamang ang philippines. Sa Philippines kasi for example ako tapos ang hawak kong mga
patient nasa 15. Ano siya one is to twenty ganon kaya nakakapagod

JANELLE: Ano pong mga requirements kinuha niyo bago po kayo nakapunta sa ibang bansa?

MAAM MICHEL: Need mo ng 1 year and 6 months o kaya 2 years na experience. Go get the
license sa Philippines tapos take ng exam kung gusto niyo mag ibang bansa. Pero tips ko lang
kapag gusto niyo dito sa america try to learn to speak in english, try to practice english kasi
maraming english exam kaya super important non.

JAZER: Additional question lang po, may naexperience po ba kayong discrimination nung
nagtrabaho po kayo sa ibang bansa?

MAAM MICHEL: Wala naman actually, kase halos lahat naman kami dito filipino. ang meron
yung hierarchy kasi syempre pag bago ka iisipin nila hindi ka marunong pero overtime pag
nakilala ka na nila okay naman na pakikisama nila sayo

JANELLE: Nung pandemic po, ano po naging epekto sayo at sa trabaho niyo? Paano niyo po na
handle yung struggles? lalo na maraming nurses ang nawala.

MAAM MICHEL: Gaya ng sinabi ko, thankful ako dahil hindi ako sa hospital. Nakauwi na ako
ng Pilipinas bago pa sila nag-ban ng travel. And nakasama ko rin yung family ko during that
time. Work from home ako nun. Ang trabaho ko during pandemic is pre-authorization review
nurse kumbaga kami yung nag-aapprove ng medications na ibibigay sa patient kahit na nasa
bahay lang kami.

JAZZER: Lastly po, ano po ang message ninyo saamin o sa mga nag- aaral po ng kursong
Nursing?

MAAM MICHEL: Ang masasabi ko lang para sa mga estudyante na katulad nyo, mag-aral
kayong mabuti. Sipagan nyo lang magbasa, basa lang nang basa. Saka lagi kayong humingi ng
guidance kay Lord kasi malaking tulong yon lalo na kapag mga exams. Mag- aral nang mag- aral
para sa mga sumusuporta sainyo. Huwag kayong susuko, onting panahon nalang makakagraduate
na rin kayo. Mahirap talaga ang mag-aral pero worth it naman yan pagdating nyo sa dulo, tiyaga
lang.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Conclusion: [Summarize what you discovered.]

Recommendations: [Suggest future actions or improvements.]

REFERENCES

Torbjørnsen, A., Hessevaagbakke, E., Grov, E. K., & Bjørnnes, A. K. (2021). Enhancing
students learning experiences in nursing programmes: An integrated review. Nurse
Education in Practice, 52, 103038. doi:10.1016/[Link].2021.103038

Pan American Health Organization. (n.d.). Nursing.

[Link]
APPENDICES

Include questionnaires, raw data, or supporting documents.]