Kate Blaine’s experience in BYU College of Nursing is different than the average student. Beyond training to be a nurse, she is also a member of the Army National Guard. She had to balance military training on the weekend with nursing classes during each week and made the most of both!
While studying to become a nurse, she learned a lot about communication, leadership, and effectively advocating for patients and their needs. Her preceptors have been very helpful in getting her out of her comfort zone to the point where she can make suggestions of how to help. Because of their help, she has developed an ability to take more responsibility in assessing patients.
Her capstone experience in a neuro unit in Murray, Utah has been helpful in preparing her for the transition from student to new nurse. Through their training, she has been able to lead out in the care for patients and practice time management and prioritization of the unit.
She also learned the Healer’s art. “I feel like having that unique perspective allows you to see the patients with a more Christlike approach beyond ‘this person is sick, and we need to treat them better,’” said Kate. “Seeing what [a patient] needs emotionally and spiritually beyond just physically allowed me to step back and see the patient as a child of God.”
In addition to nursing, her military training has taught her discipline. When she started the nursing program, she juggled both basic training and summer term classes. She had to develop her time management skills and became quite disciplined. While it was a heavy load, she feels that this was the right path for her.
“It showed me I could do hard things,” said Kate. “I learned I am not alone either. I feel this was Heavenly Father’s path for me, and I felt very prompted and directed to that path. Because I knew that was what He wanted, I felt more empowered and had the strength to go through the hard things.”
Uniquely, she served a couple of rotations at the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Her military experience helped her care for and bond with the veterans because she could focus on their commonalities and relate to them.
Kate also had an incredible opportunity to serve in Tonga on a Global and Population Health Nursing Practicum. In her words, it was “one of the most enriching things that I did.” One of her favorite experiences was conducting screenings for hypertension and diabetes on the outer islands. To learn more about the practicum in Tonga, read here.
Graduating will only bring Kate more opportunities. She is already lined up with a job in the Air Force as an obstetrics nurse, fulfilling roles in mom and baby, labor and delivery, and NICU departments. She will be working on-base at the military hospital looking after Air Force members and their families. If she is deployed, she will likely serve in med-surg. Kate looks forward to utilizing her experiences as a full-time nurse.
Good luck Kate!