Over fifty nursing students attended the Utah Student Nurses' Association (SNA) Convention on Saturday March 1, 2025 at the Wilkinson Student Center on BYU Campus. The event was one of the largest of its kind with around 200 students from across the state attending.
This year, BYU College of Nursing funded the students' attendance.
At the convention, students learned from over 20 sponsors and exhibitors about the nursing profession and skills they may need in their future careers. The keynote speaker and author of “Doing What Must Be Done,” Chad Hymas, discussed nurses finding the “why” behind their work.
Otavio Tobias (BS ’24) functions as the president of the Utah SNA chapter and has been organizing the event for the past year. “The conference offers students a unique opportunity to network with peers and industry professionals,” said Otavio. “Whether they're exploring a specialty or considering further education, participating in professional organizations benefits all students.”
One current College of Nursing student in her fifth semester, Mina Wangsgaard, gained a lot from the keynote speaker. “I have to choose to be a good nurse,” said Mina. “Just because I have the degree doesn't mean I will automatically be the kind of caregiver I want to be. I have to consistently and intentionally choose to be the best nurse I can be. Even though I could work in so many different kinds of nursing, and learn so many new skills, none of it mattered unless I decided I was going to be a passionate and compassionate nurse.”
The gathering provided networking opportunities for the students who attended, but more importantly, it gave them space to reflect on the kind of nurse they want to be in the future.
Another fifth-semester student and treasure of SNA, Celia Taylor, shared that “SNA [and this conference] have really deepened my understanding of what it means to be a healer. It’s not just about providing physical care, but also about being emotionally and mentally present for your patients. I’ve learned that being a healer also involves self-care, so that we, as nurses, can continue to serve others effectively.”
Mina added to that sentiment, saying that “[The convention] is an opportunity to learn how to change yourself and grow as a student to develop a mentality of true compassion for those you serve before you are out in the world making a difference as a nurse.”
Dr. Bret Lyman, the faculty advisor for BYU SNA, enthused that he “hoped students learned that the nursing profession is even more than they imagined it would be when they first applied to the program, and that their potential to improve health and improve lives is even bigger than they expected."
To get involved with BYU’s chapter of SNA, you can join here.