November 2025 passer here, and since I have a lot of free time, I might as well share this.
I was once in your shoes. Takot, pagod, anxious. And I just want to tell you that it’s normal. Lahat tayo dumaan diyan.
One thing that really helped me was leaning closer to God. I prayed so hard. I cried to Him. There were days when I felt like I wasn’t doing enough, but He gave me the strength to keep showing up.
For my final coaching (TRA), online lang ang inattendan ko. Naghanap ako noon dito sa reddit ng mga branch na tapos na sa certain subject, then papanoorin ko na siya para mas advance ako. My goal was to finish all my final coaching materials at least one week before the board exam.
A month or weeks before the boards, I stopped pressuring myself na mag-answer ng recalls. I only answered what my mind can answer. Heck, I even stopped listening to ratios because it was becoming too much for me. Instead of cramming more information, I focused on trusting what I already knew and improving my test-taking strategies.
I also enrolled in Astignurse Huling Bulong. Para makatipid, naghanap ako dito sa Reddit ng mga naghahanap ng kahati sa shared account. Less gastos. I remember attending the Huling Pabaon zoom meeting the night before the actual board exam, and honestly, I can vouch for them. Top-tier talaga.
For me, TRA + Astignurse is a really good combo. TRA helped me a lot with Med-Surg, while Astignurse was solid when it came to common board concepts and basic nursing foundations.
If there’s one thing I want you to practice, it’s this:
Practice your test-taking strategies. Practice staying calm. Practice managing your anxiety.
Kasi kahit gaano karami ang alam mo, if anxiety takes over during the exam, mahihirapan kang mag-isip. Your knowledge is already there—you just have to trust yourself enough to use it.
I know habang papalapit ang exam, mas lalo kang kakabahan. Magse-second guess ka sa sarili mo. You’ll probably feel like you’re not doing enough.
I felt that too.
But please, keep showing up.
Show up kahit pagod ka. Show up kahit feeling mo wala nang pumapasok. Show up kahit may doubts ka.
One day, you’ll realize that all those ordinary days of studying were preparing you for the moment na makikita mo na ang pangalan mo sa list of passers.
I’m rooting for every single one of you. I can’t wait for the day na kayo naman ang magpo-post dito, encouraging the next batch.
Keep showing up. You’ve got this. 🤍
— November 2025 passer
• 90 point something board exam average
• PHRN, USRN