Though close to home compared to other Global & Population Health Nursing projects, Global Health Utah gave students a cultural experience that was just as unique and impactful as anywhere else on the planet.
Students focused their work in two towns—Moab and Blanding, which lie about four hours south of the BYU campus. A difference of only 200 miles led to completely different communities. Not only did they look different from Provo, but many residents faced unique challenges.
“The whole point of [the experience] was to be a little bit different,” said sixth-semester student Jacob Page. Professors Cynthia Johnson and Brandon Thatcher accompanied 10 nursing students like him to these locations, and the group participated in several projects that they otherwise would never be exposed to during school.
After a road trip in a 12-seater van, they began their work in Moab. Because it is so remote, many residents lack proper access to regular dental check-ups and oral hygiene resources.
In past years, BYU College of Nursing has worked closely with the town’s Grand County Public School District, providing dental education and care for children who would otherwise go without. This has typically been done by Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) students, but BYU College of Nursing’s undergrads got to take a turn doing oral assessments, fluoride varnishes, and more.
Next, they turned their attention to the homeless population in Moab. Working in tandem with several local organizations, they prepared a luncheon where people could congregate and enjoy a substantial meal, something they didn’t get every day.
As people arrived and sat down to eat, the BYU students spent time getting to know them, listening to their stories. As they talked with the homeless community, they gave them various survey questions that would be used to assess their needs and whether or not those needs were being met.
For Jacob and his peers, spending the day with the people experiencing homelessness “wasn’t really something they had on their radar.” For some, it was hard to avoid being judgmental at first.
It’s not my place to throw that judgement onto them...I can and I should be the person to say, ‘let’s talk and let’s see where you’re at.’
However, Jacob’s mindset changed as he actively listened to the people and sought to understand their circumstances. He began to see them for who they really were—children of God who have been dealt a difficult hand.
Students got involved with several other groups in Moab, including Grand County Children’s Justice, a center that provides care for children who have been abused.
Following completion of their work in Moab, they traveled to Blanding for another highly unique, highly novel experience: working with the Native American population.
Blanding is situated right next to a Navajo Reservation. Like in Moab, access to healthcare and health education is extremely limited there, especially among members of the indigenous community. Students sat down with several medical professionals in the community in a “focus group” setting to learn what the peoples’ needs were and how they could help.
They identified a prominent need for increased health education regarding infant dental health, as well as breast and bottle-feeding practices.
In an effort to help the community learn proper practices, especially for young children, the students worked to implement culturally sensitive videos for new mothers about how to care for their infants’ oral health, shown to them prior to being discharged after delivery. They talked about what drinks to give them, the benefits of practices like breastfeeding, and other ways to keep their children healthy.
To conclude the Global Health Utah practicum, students participated in Utah’s Honor Flight program. This yearly endeavor flies elderly veterans from the Intermountain West area to Washington D.C. to visit their war memorials and be commemorated for their selfless service.
Each student was assigned a veteran to care for during the trip. Not only was this a meaningful way to enhance their ability to serve the elderly, but it also helped them learn about veteran culture — the mindsets, struggles, and values of the veteran population.
In future Global Health Utah projects, students will continue learning to serve, love, understand, and appreciate those close to home.