Take a moment to think about the underserved communities in the US. Who are they? Where are they? What do they need? Perhaps immigrants came to mind. Maybe those in certain geographic settings, like the extremely rural or overly urban. You likely thought of lower-class families living paycheck to paycheck, or those with life-altering conditions. As you pondered on these groups, did you ever consider the veteran population?
Statistically speaking, probably not; the veteran population is at times forgotten or marginalized. Not only is their incredible service often overlooked, but many return from service at a disadvantage compared to the rest of society. According to Nation’s Finest Veterans Services, a group committed to supporting veterans, an estimated 200,000 veterans are unemployed. What’s more, around 40,000 are reported to be homeless. Furthermore, to get the physical and mental care they deserve, veterans have to machete their way through a dense jungle of healthcare bureaucracy. These men and women put everything on the line for America, and they deserve better. BYU College of Nursing understands this, and a Global and Population Health Nursing Clinical Practicum serving the veteran population gives students the chance to give back.
BYU’s service to veterans took a big leap because of two men: Ron Ulberg and Kent Blad, nursing professors at BYU in the early 2000s. Prior to their teaching, they were both stationed in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm, a pivotal stage of the Gulf War that led to many political shifts in the Middle East. After their time at war and working in the medical field, Ron and Kent found their way to BYU where they felt impressed to give their students the opportunity to work with and learn from war veterans. So, they got to work creating the Global and Population Health Nursing Clinical Practicum for veterans.
On a phone call with Ron, he remarked that his experience as a vet had “everything to do with” the program’s creation. Before teaching at BYU, he worked as a nurse in the veterans hospital in Salt Lake City. Though he didn’t see combat, his experience in a combat zone taught him what it means to be a soldier. His later experiences treating veterans gave him a deeper understanding of veterans’ physical and emotional needs. Needs, it should be noted, that are rarely met. He became passionate about helping them and knew he had to instill that passion in nurses if they were to effectively minister to America’s defenders.
The Veterans Practicum began as part of the Global and Population Health course, now called Nursing 404. Students who take this course have the opportunity to take the skills they’ve learned in nursing school and use them to serve people in different cultures and experience the different medical practices around the world. Students can choose where to focus their efforts, including places like India, Ecuador, and Taiwan. The Veterans Practicum is unique in the sense that students don’t travel internationally.
In an interview with Dr. Blaine Winters , Associate Dean of Undergrad Studies, said that the veteran's practicum is all about helping students understand veteran culture. During the semester, students meet with local veterans and support organizations. They also travel to Washington D.C. to meet national leaders and visit the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The semester culminates with an “Honor Flight.” All of this is done with the end goal of helping nursing students understand and properly care for veterans. Dean Winters emphasized the importance of this understanding: “It would be great if all students could get an understanding of what it’s like to fight for our country and the sacrifices [veterans] make.”
Dean Winters also noted the special skills that BYU’s nurses have because of their foundation in Christ, saying that they “go the extra mile” to treat people as Christ would. A commitment to practice the Healer’s Art as the Savior would changes the way BYU nurses see their patients; there’s no judgment or petulance, just a desire to connect with their patients and support them with pure love. This Christlike care is especially necessary with an often- misunderstood group like veterans, and it's reflected more than anywhere during the end-of-semester Honor Flight experience.
The “Honor Flight” is an event BYU College of Nursing does in conjunction with Utah Honor Flight, a nonprofit organization. Each year, veterans from the Utah area are flown to Washington DC, where they're honored for their service with a banquet, as well as a trip to see the monuments and memorials of the wars they served in. Students from the course are paired with a veteran as their caregiver for the entire two-day process. Cara Wiley, a member of the Utah Honor Flight board, has participated many times and remarked on the profound beauty of serving the veterans.
She recalled a time when she sat by a very elderly veteran on the plane and listened as he told her story after story of his time in combat. At the end, he turned to her and said, “I’ve never told a soul any of that before.” Cara, emotional after recounting such a touching experience, reflected on the joy of serving veterans:
It’s a privilege to help someone feel loved and feel that they matter. That sort of thing happens all the time here.
The program has also had a powerful impact on students. Courtney Mackey, a fifth-semester nursing student who participated in the Veterans Practicum, loved her experience. Coming from a military family, she found her respect and understanding of America’s veterans deepened profoundly. “There’s definitely a stereotype [about veterans,] but the more you spend time with them, the more you realize that each of them has their own story,” she said.
The future is bright for BYU College of Nursing’s Veterans Practicum. In addition to Utah Honor Flight and the current work being done, Dean Winters has high hopes for the program’s expansion, including increased cooperation with local veteran groups, and potentially a chance to give nursing students a glimpse of a real-life military boot camp.
For more information about the Veterans Practicum, see the BYU College of Nursing’s Global & Population Health Nursing Clinical Practicum webpage.