Written by Lee Janssen Nuñez
This year, GRIT Academy became an important aspect of our nursing journey by helping to shape our clinical abilities and our professionalism as future contributors in healthcare.
According to interviews with students who have completed their rotations at GRIT Academy, the institution has one thing in common with the University of Baguio. They both encourage their students to recognize their natural talents and innate abilities. Both places continuously turn into a battleground where students are allowed to refine their clinical reasoning skills, sharpen their critical thinking, and tackle difficult situations head-on. The students were prepared for their future as registered nurses by being in a setting that reflected western standards in providing care. Real-life emergencies were replicated in hospital simulations, which required quick decisions and professionalism in the face of tension. Every step, method, and the details of these were carefully examined. To make sure that students understand the reason behind every action, mistakes were not only corrected but also dissected for better understanding.
For the BLOCK NDF – 4th Year Nursing Students, GRIT Academy wasn’t just a training ground — it became a second home. When they first arrived, most of them were scared and unsure if they were even ready for this kind of intense training. But day by day, experience after experience, something changed in them. GRIT didn’t just teach them skills; it pushed them to see what they are truly capable of. The once unfamiliar hallways, the intimidating simulations – I’m talking about the Mega Code simulation, and the strict evaluations slowly became moments they now cherish. Every mistake they made was a lesson, and every success, no matter how small, built their confidence. By the end of their time there, they didn’t just want to leave — but they wished they could stay longer. Just like one of the students, Yani Ivan Moting said, GRIT Academy didn’t just train them for the revalida; “it shaped them into the nurses they once only dreamed of becoming and they found a sense of pride and belonging that made leaving GRIT surprisingly hard”.
Our students’ stories make it clear that the experience of being in GRIT Academy alone was a life-changing one. It was during intense coursework where boundaries were tested, which continuously enhanced students’ clinical judgment and enabled them to reach their maximum potential. Many were skeptical when they first walked through the EDSA Tower’s halls, but they left with more faith in their ability to treat patients in real-world situations. Looking back, we are thankful that what seemed to be an impassable obstacle became an opportunity for growth. The difficult assessments, challenging simulations, and even self-doubt made us stronger and more capable nurses. Onto the next Grit Journey!
