Feeling very out of place, Rylie Rasmussen, a fourth-semester BYU College of Nursing student, listened to conference presenters share their research findings. After months of conducting studies and analyzing data, she was mentally preparing for her own research presentation. She felt like the youngest and least experienced person there, and she probably was.
On September 26-28, nursing professionals from around the world gathered at the Westin Galleria Hotel in Dallas, Texas for the Association for Leadership Science in Nursing (ALSN) International Conference. While most presentations are given by experienced professionals, at this conference, eight BYU College of Nursing students had the opportunity to present their research findings to seasoned healthcare leaders and academics.
To prepare, Rylie and her team decided to practice in their assigned room before it was their turn to present. This temporarily calmed her nerves, but only until people started to arrive and take their seats. Then Rylie’s mentor, BYU College of Nursing professor, Matt Anderson, stood up and introduced the rest of the research team: nursing students Pyper Schmutz, Rylie Rasmussen, and Calvin Reed, as well as fellow faculty members Adrianna Watson, Sondra Heaston, and Jeanette Drake.
His introduction of the team’s research about the value of large-scale mass casualty simulations in developing disaster-competent nurse leaders helped put Rylie and her team at ease.
“[Dr. Anderson] helped set the tone in a way that made me reflect on the more fun aspects of the research. It shifted from a starchy research manuscript presentation to an engaging discussion about the importance of emergency preparedness and how a mass casualty simulation can truly help our students foster leadership skills in a way that they wouldn’t be able to before,” Rylie reflected. “We were also able to show just how amazing BYU students and faculty are. The scale and depth of our [mass casualty simulations] are truly impressive and incredibly realistic, which is something that many of those nurse leaders hadn’t seen before.”
Fellow research team member Pyper Schmutz, a fifth-semester nursing student, commented about how presenting research at conferences has shaped her confidence. “As a student, I feel like it's provided me with a unique opportunity to experience the professional world firsthand while under the supportive hand of professors and mentors. Throughout this process, I've gained skills, abilities, and a new-found confidence I know will benefit me throughout my career.”
BYU College of Nursing faculty members Denise Cummins and Marie Prothero also attended the ALSN conference with recent graduates Alisa Morrell and Megan Esplin, who presented research on caregiver support and healthcare leaders’ perspectives on medical errors.
Dr. Prothero shared her perspective as a mentor saying, “Both [Alisa and Megan] have been involved in this research project from the beginning. They were able to see the process of getting the research approved, recruiting participants, interviewing participants, and analyzing data. They have also been involved in writing manuscripts and presenting findings at research conferences. Attending the conference was a culmination of all their hard work. Mentoring students in the research process and allowing them to be leaders and see the potential impact of research is very rewarding.”
Dr. Cummins commented, “I believe that the [conference] attendees find meaningful student engagement in our BYU projects and presentations refreshing and engaging. There’s a sense that the students are the nursing leaders and academics of the future and will carry the baton forward.”
BYU College of Nursing seeks to promote student-centered mentoring and scholarship. During the 2023-2024 academic year, 36 undergraduate and eight graduate students co-presented their research with faculty members at 48 conferences. In an effort to strengthen the student experience, the college aims for each nursing student to have an inspiring learning experience outside of their coursework.
One of the greatest outcomes of Rylie’s mentored learning experience has been the realization that she can make a difference in the field of nursing. “I’ve been inspired to continue learning and asking questions. I feel confident that I ask good questions and have good ideas.”
![BYU nursing student, Rylie Rasmussen speaks into a microphone while standing in front of a large blue screen displaying the words "Student Voices". Bullet point 1 "I learned that 90% of the effectiveness of the response comes down to leadership, delegation, and strong infrastructure." Bullet point 2 "I was the ER Charge nurse which was an amazing experience. I learn[ed] about resource management, . . . allocation, . . . delegation and communication between teams." Bullet point 3 "Teamwork is vital. In order to have good teamwork, we needed to have effective communication. I loved working as the charge nurse and [with the] house supervisor to coordinate during the ER.".](https://brightspotcdn.byu.edu/dims4/default/8e4c00d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1398x801+0+0/resize/840x481!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbrigham-young-brightspot-us-east-2.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fc9%2F83%2Fb536319b4a959be7ea48065c02f6%2Fgetattachmentthumbnail.jpg)