Thousands of newly licensed nurses gathered at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on 16 December 2024 for the annual Nurse Oath-Taking Ceremony. Most notable of all was the topnotcher’s speech and response by Alexandra Yamson, a graduate of Xavier University and Top 3 of the November 2024 Philippine Nurse Licensure Exam that made this oath-taking ceremony one to remember.
Standing before a crowd of thousands, including PRC officials, the Board of Nursing, and her fellow nurses, Yamson shared a deeply personal story of hardship, perseverance, and finding purpose in struggle.
Far from a story of effortless success, her journey to becoming a nurse was marked by financial difficulties, personal loss, and a profound sense of duty born from a life of poverty. Yamson’s connection to nursing began as a young child wandering the crowded hallways of a public hospital, where her mother worked as a nurse. Witnessing and experiencing the challenges of the healthcare system at a young age, she initially resisted the idea of pursuing the same profession. “I told myself I no longer wanted to be in it, to live in it,” she recalled.
“But life does not always take you where you want to go,” she says. The pandemic, passing of her loved ones, and her mother’s diagnosis with cancer reshaped her perspective. Despite working multiple jobs—including as a freelance writer, artist, call center agent, and virtual assistant—to support her family while in nursing school, Yamson never lost sight of the greater purpose that awaited her.
“Nursing, I realized, was never about me,” she said. “It was about the lives I could touch, the suffering I could ease, and the hope I could bring.” Yamson’s speech was not only a reflection of her own journey but also a tribute to the thousands of nurses who have faced similar challenges: “We didn’t just pass the board exam. We passed through fire, through trials, through moments that tested everything we had. And for this, we came out stronger.”
Her journey from reluctant student nurse, to part-time working student, to an empowered professional serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices and triumphs that define Nursing. Her parting words leave a message of finding meaning in life’s challenges:
“Today, I am proud to say I am a nurse, because it is through my pain that I learned to care deeply, and it is through my struggle that I found my purpose.”
For Alexandra Yamson, and for the thousands of nurses inspired by her story, the oath-taking ceremony was more than just an event—it was a celebration of the unwavering spirit of those who dedicate their lives to the care of others.