Nursing was a natural fit for Bronté. She’s always doing hands-on activities like playing sports and was fascinated by the anatomy and biology classes she took as a new BYU student. So, she quickly realized that nursing perfectly incorporated her intellectual passions and desire to be active.
Bronté made many cherished memories in the program. She reflected on her Global Health Practicum experience in Zambia educating women about reproductive health, where she said she was in constant awe of the amazing geography and culture. She also highlighted her Capstone experience working in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): “It was so neat to be there welcoming new lives into the world.”
However, the emphasis on hands-on work also showed Bronté one of her weaknesses: She’s a natural “freezer.” Talking about her first few experiences in high-acuity settings, she recalled “I was a deer in the headlights. If something scary happens, I stand still and can’t get my words out.”
That’s not ideal when you’re up at bat to save someone’s life in a do-or-die scenario, but Bronté has been able to push past her fear. How? Hour after hour of simulations and clinical practice, all necessary to help her develop bravery and confidence. While she thinks she’ll “never overcome [the fear] completely," her experience has given her the skills and confidence to act.
Focusing on the Savior has also helped Bronté overcome her fears. She loved how Christ-centered the program was, saying that her professors started talking about the Atonement and grace on day one when she first donned her scrubs. For her, this is a crucial part of excellent nursing. “I’ll be with people in the worst pain they’ve ever been; you need to adapt to those situations as the Savior would,” she remarked.
Bronté looks forward to starting a new chapter as she and her husband apply for work. She hopes to do her favorite part of nursing, working in the NICU with newborns.
Good luck, Bronté!