Learning excellence in veteran care from war heroes

BYU nursing capstone students are actively involved in various national and international clinical experiences as part of their public and global health nursing courses. BYU calls this experiential learning, and these nursing initiatives range from completing clinical rotations in hospitals in Guayaquil, Ecuador, to working in ICUs in Taipei, Taiwan, to providing school children with immunizations and lice treatments in Rishikesh, India. Locally, they aid at-risk populations, assist children with mental health concerns and special needs, and visit incarcerated patients. They serve low-income refugee families and staff free volunteer clinics for under-insured individuals who have recently immigrated to the United States.

Through the Utah Honor Flight program, the BYU College of Nursing had the privilege of sponsoring 17 veterans and accompanying them to see their memorials in Washington, DC. Student participants enrolled in a class focusing exclusively on veteran care, created by nursing professors Kent D. Blad and Ron S. Ulberg, both veterans themselves. Similar programs have since been modeled by several other universities. This kind of service opportunity helps open the students' eyes to the real impact they can make in people’s lives and helps them begin a lifelong journey of compassionate service toward others.

Before takeoff, the entire flight began applauding the veterans for their service. People cried while singing “God Bless America” and other patriotic songs. The veterans opened letters of appreciation from their children and grandchildren. Veteran Ora Mae Sorensen Hyatt, who was accompanied by her husband and fellow veteran E. Preston Hyatt, read a deluge of thank-you notes from her posterity (129 great-grandchildren strong) and exclaimed, “It’s like we’re going to heaven!”

The nursing students accompanied veterans to several meaningful locations around Washington, DC, including the World War II Memorial. After visiting Arlington National Cemetery, the veterans were honored in their service regalia at the Heroes Banquet, where the BYU students helped bestow belated Victory Medals on the WWII vets, most of whom had not received the original medal at the end of the war.

“The most touching thing about this was going through the airports and having people clap,” General Robert C. Oaks says. “It’s not just good for the veterans, it’s good for the people of this country—to see these veterans in wheelchairs and know that they served. This is a great endeavor.” Through their service, the students witnessed firsthand the impact veterans have on both bystanders and themselves. Student Emily Ingersoll writes, “I can’t fully understand the things they’ve gone through, but I feel like I have an idea. I know a little bit better how to communicate with them, and I’ve come to really value them—and I think that’s the most important thing.”