The University of Guam’s nursing program under the School of Health has been known for its rigor. For some nursing majors, the road to acceptance into the program has proven to be a challenging one.

With about 30 students accepted into the nursing program every Spring semester, it has become very competitive for aspiring nurses.

Kaela Panganiban, who had been accepted into the pre-nursing program a few years back, has since switched her major to Health Science. Being able to go that far, Panganiban says that she herself did not find it necessarily difficult.

“For others, it might be challenging as there are a high number of students who try and resister for certain classes that are pre-requisites,” Panganiban said.

What Panganiban did find difficult, however, was the National Entrance Exam, or NLN.

The exam, meant to determine which pre-nursing students would be able to advance in the program based on their grades and scores, is given every Fall semester.

For those who do make it further into the program, it does not get any easier.

For Janice Muna, a Spring 2016 graduate from SOH, still shares the frustration students today feel.

Although the entrance exam was implemented after Muna graduated, she said that the stipulations needed to get in the program, and to stay in, were already demanding.

“It is difficult because the program is selective and competitive. Only a select number of students get accepted into the program due to the limited amount of qualified faculty members,” Muna said.

After making the cut, Muna realized the worst was yet to come.

“It was the most challenging and stressful education experience that I had up to that point in my life,” Muna said.

With a very strict grading system, she tried to keep her grades above a 75%.

“ I also had to complete clinical hours at the hospital and other multiple health facilities,” she said.

These shifts could last anywhere between 8 to 12 hours, sometimes ending at 3 a.m.

“I had to complete these hours while also attending class and maintaining my grades,” Muna said.

Now working as an RN in San Diego, Muna said she feels the nursing program at SOH has not fully prepared her for the nursing field in the states, stating that the practices and information learned in the program were outdated and that she was not familiar with the new technology the stateside hospitals had.

Fortunately, the “old school” methods she learned on island essentially make her a better, more skilled nurse in comparison to the new nurses in the states.

“Working on Guam forces nurses to learn and do things independently and without the help of advanced technology and for that, I have to give credit to UOG and the hospitals on Guam for helping me gain that experience,” Muna said.