Our First S.T.E.P: Shaping our Tomorrow through Excellence and Passion-filled Nursing with a Heart

Last May 22 to 23, 2025, the University of Santo Tomas College of Nursing Career Ambassadors of Batch 2025 commenced a two-day Career Forum with the theme: “Nursing Awaits: CONquer the Future, Embrace the Calling” at the Medicine Cinematorium of San Martin de Porres Building from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM with an outstanding array of guest speakers lined-up to express and share their own success stories that made them thrive in their respective nursing specialties. The college-wide career activity was geared towards enlightening the minds and engaging the graduating nursing students on the various career pathways available within the nursing profession, even the opportunities for growth beyond it. As the academic year 2024 to 2025 comes to a close, the graduating student nurses take their first steps beyond the mantle of the student nurse life and into the professional nursing workforce, whilst carrying with them four years' worth of knowledge, skills, and attitude, becoming Thomasian nurses. It was essential that the Career Forum 2025 provide insight to these year’s graduates as they branch out and create their blossoming careers beyond the four walls of the college.

The first day of the event, last Thursday, May 22, started with a heartfelt speech by the College’s Assistant Dean, Asst. Prof. Maria Glenda Lee G. Sevilla, MAN, RN, who conveyed to the graduating batch of 2025 the nuance of the phrase ”malayo na pero malayo pa,“ emphasizing how our time as nursing students has indeed come to fruition, but its end comes bearing another bare patch of soil awaiting us to sow our seeds of becoming fully-fledged licensed nurses. It’s no easy task to accomplish, but in the words of our first motivational speaker, Dr. Denise Angelo Prudencio, DNP, MAN, RN, NEA-BC, NPD-BC, PCCN, CGNC, FFNMRCSI, ”if you know your why, you’ll know your way” from his talk entitled “Exploring Career Pathways: Embracing Purpose, Passion, and Possibility.” He grounded us to search within ourselves for the reason we took up nursing and to use it as our compass in navigating the career choices we have to make for the betterment of our own growth and profession. Dr. Prudencio also underlined the statement “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” The midday activities of first day consist of a resume clinic spearheaded by Mr. Anthony Edward G. Guerrero, MAEd, RGC, RPm, LPT who taught the graduating batch of 2025 the how-tos and the no-nos in resume writing—specifying that only an average of less than 10 seconds is what it takes for a resume to be reviewed. The short but substantial discussion on resume writing was an added bonus to the graduating nursing students who are now expected to craft their own resumes once they’re on the hunt for their own spot within the nursing workforce. It was followed by an event called “Many Callings, One Purpose: A Panel on the Diverse Path of Nursing.”

The following segment introduced a quartet of astounding registered nurses thriving in their respective specialties. Firstly, Dr. Alexis Angelo L. Sulit, RN, MD, shared his expertise regarding forensic nursing and the many ethico-legal considerations a nurse should apply when handling delicate cases of patients who are victims of violence or abuse. Secondly, Mr. Gabriel Rom F. Esteban, RN, shared his experience as a neurosurgery nurse and how nerve-wracking it was at the beginning. He also highlighted the crucial role of  the new technological innovations at their disposal, allowing for easier and more effective medical management of more complex neurosurgical cases. Thirdly, Ms. Lizette Angela Avedaño-Ledesma, RN, discussed her windswept journey as a flight nurse under the Philippine Airlines, highlighting the versatility of nursing skills she had in college, which are useful in an entirely different field. Lastly, Mr. Isidor F. Cardenas, RN, MSc, conveyed his career ladder into becoming a nurse informaticist and the beauty of incorporating nursing care with technology, specifically with video games.

After the morning activities have wrapped up, the afternoon activities brought a varied lineup of partner healthcare institutions, namely Asian Hospital and Medical Center, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Makati Medical Center, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Shearwater Health Advisor’s Inc., and University of Santo Tomas Hospital, participating in both the Booths Roaming Activity and the first batch of mock interviews, stirring both an uplifting, joyous air mixed with a bit of nerve-wracking sensation to the Level IV graduating nursing students. 

The second day of the Career Forum on the 23rd of May, doubled down on the electric energy and ensemble of speakers and partner institutions. The President of the Career Planning and Development Committee, Mr. John Carlo Rivera from 4 NUR-5, officially opened the final day of the event with a recap, a sincere remark on the previous day’s success, and his earnest gratitude in being a part of actualizing the career forum alongside the tireless efforts and continued support of his career ambassadors. The second motivational speaker was Ms. Chelsea Nicole P. Pineda, RN, who began her talk entitled “From Classroom to Code Blue: Surviving the First-Year Shock.” As an ICU nurse who graduated during the pandemic, she was shrouded in doubts about her capacity as a nurse. Therefore, she curated a simple set of tips for the graduating nursing students on how to overcome the first year of being a baby nurse within the reality of being a bona fide registered nurse. She shared a statement that still rings true until this day, “Thomasian nurses are forged in challenge, grounded in truth and compassion,” accentuating the resilience being imbued in every Thomasian nursing student who passes the halls of the San Martin de Porres building. She gave 4 tips: (1) Don’t let fear take over—if you can initiate an opportunity and grab the chance, (2) Breathe in the chaos then exhale grace—reprioritize what you must do, (3) Be humble but be assertive—advocate for what’s right for your patient, and (4) Admire, Observe, Absorb—keep the good and leave the rest.The second day midday activities included another panel of nurses and introduced a hexad of exceptional nurses flourishing in their own field of nursing. First, we had Ms. Maria Jessanina B. Mendoza, RN, who shared her journey of learning and becoming. Evidently, she became a school nurse, where she studied for the span of her elementary and secondary education, and what once felt like a dream is now a reality. Indeed, her sentiments were shared by the graduating class of 2025 as they’re dreams of being Thomasian nursing graduates were just around the corner. She realized that the Nursing CAREer: consists of a person’s ability to Collaborate, Advocate, Resonate, and Educate. Second, Mr. Yno Marcel T. Merced, RN, conveyed his knowledge and skill about emergency room nursing. Emphasizing the acronym COUNTS, which a nurse must embody: Confidence, being Observant, Urgent-minded, Nurturing, being a Team leader, and having Self-love. Third, we have Ms. Patricia Candice B. Docos, RN, who conveyed her expertise as an oncology nurse and how vital our roles as nurses are in alleviating the suffering of our patients at the most fragile and crucial moment of their time in the hospital, zeroing in on a nurse’s heart that heals. Fourth, Mr. Renmel F. Solidum, RN, shared his expertise and career pathway into becoming a nurse administrator and the importance of creating a conducive work environment for nurses to be bolstered to stay and choose to work in the country. Accentuating one of the primary roles of nurses being a leader, Mr. Solidum laid out his quick toolkit in achieving it so: (1) Cultivate leadership skills from day one, (2) Embrace lifelong learning, and (3) Be open to opportunities. Fifth, Mr. Elton Ross Candelaria, RN, imparted his experience as a Dialysis Nurse, that although might seem intimidating with the venous lines and skill of inserting an intravenous catheter, it’s a whole new experience from the various specialties in nursing and comes with its own sets of challenges as most clients require renal replacement therapy and most of their access sites are costly and fragile. Thus, he emphasized not to rush gaining experience, confidence, and knowledge about being a dialysis nurse. Lastly, Ms. Myvy Inanuran, RN, expressed her journey as a CCU nurse and how difficult it is sometimes to handle stressful situations wherein your work and personal life begins to mix and thus, keeping a rational but compassionate heart and mind must be practiced to ensure both your own and your patient’s well-being and safety. Leaving the statement “Don’t compare your beginning to some else’s middle; Different doesn’t mean better or worse; It’s just people have different timelines.”

The second day afternoon activities prepared a new array of partner healthcare institutions, namely, Asian Hospital and Medical Center, Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center, Shearwater Health Advisors Inc., The Medical City, and University of Santo Tomas Hospital, participating in another set of booth roaming activity and the second batch of mock interviews for the remaining graduating nursing students. 

Thus, to encapsulate the core message of the Career Forum entitled: “Nursing Awaits: CONquer the Future, Embrace the Calling,” take into heart the words from Ms. Chelsea Nicole P. Pineda, RN, “You don’t have to feel ready to be ready. You just have to be willing to grow.” To the graduating batch of 2025, you’ve sown the seeds of your resilience and determination since you were freshmen, it’s now the time to harvest the first batch of the fruits of your labor. Don’t let the doubts, moments of defeat, and failures weigh down your strength to step into the future you’re meant to be walking on. In a fashion befitting of casting aside our paranoia of being less than what we actually are and what we are capable of doing. Exude the belief of pronoia, which is a state of mind that believes that the world is conspiring to do us good and in our favor. Because truly, what once was a dream is now your reality.

Photos by Jemuel de Leon and Brylle Carillo