CEBU, Philippines - Seven students from Cebu schools are among those who made it to the top ten of the Nursing Licensure Examination that was given last July and whose results were released yesterday by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC).
A total of 37,379 or 41.07 percent of the 91,008 passed the test.
Five of seven, who made it to the top are graduates of the Cebu Normal University (CNU) while the University of the Visayas (UV) and Velez College (VC) have one each.
Finishing as number 1 in the examination was Rayan Oliva of the Ateneo de Naga with a rating of 86.8 percent.
A total of 92 made it to the top ten based on the ratings earned.
The top placed graduates from Cebu schools were Merjorie May Malicay Adolfo of CNU and Kris Ray Arcelo Dumaguin of Velez College, who were tied for seventh place with ratings of 85.2 percent.
Two others were also tied for eighth place with ratings of 85 percent. These were Jose Mari Abella Flores of CNU and Marie Kathrina Toralba Tojong of UV.
Tied for ninth was Ivy Barrete Susvilla of CNU with a rating of 84.8 percent.
Tied for tenth with ratings of 84.6 percent were Razel Mae Nacua Libot and Kristine de la Cruz Macasero both of CNU.
The licensure examination was held in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagay an de Oro, Cebu, Dagupan, Davao, Iloilo, La Union, Legazpi, Lucena, Pagadian, Pampanga, Tacloban, Tuguegarao, Zamboanga, and Cebu.
Dr. Daisy Palompon, dean of the CNU College of Nursing, said that the group effort exerted by their school helped ensure the success of their students in one of the most anticipated board examinations of the country.
She said that they have an intensive screening of their students and gave those who took the exam and intensive in-house review.
Palompon also said that they have added some subjects in their nursing program, which is beyond what the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) requires.
“CHED has considered us as one of the excellent programs of nursing here in the Philippines,” the CNU dean said.
Palompon added that the five students, who made it to the top ten will receive recognition from their school and thanked the previous dean, Dr. Ong for helping develop the program that led to this success.
The University of the Visayas will also be giving a financial incentive to the eighth placer from the school.
UV has dangled a house and lot package to any graduate, who would top the Nursing Licensure Examination.
Tojong, who placed eighth, will be getting a cash award from school president Rep. Eduardo R. Gullas, said Yvonne Piñan.
Piñan explained that the UV students, who take the board examinations, are given comprehensive training.
“Aside from that we also have a good line-up of faculty. We don’t accept faculty members without hospital experience; I think mao sad nay one reason why we have good quality of students,” she said.
“Our nursing department started since 1974 up to the present, ug daghan na sad mga examinees nga ni top from UV,” she added.
Tojong, in a talk with The FREEMAN, said that she prepared well for the examinations.
“I read a lot of books, I also gained extra knowledge from taking mock examinations. I also attended review centers in preparation for the examination,” she said.
She graduated on October 2009 and took the July exam since they were not allowed to take the December exam.
She added that the school also helped the nursing examinees by giving them early reviews.
“I’m very glad that I’ve made many people very proud, and especially my school.”
Tojong is now planning to pursue a Masters degree in nursing and might take up further studies abroad.
She, however, said that she plans to work in the country and not in a foreign land.—/NLQ (FREEMAN)