Bryce Lewis has had substantial international experience, and his love of other cultures and languages has fundamentally shaped him as a practitioner of the Healer’s art.
He was born in nearby Orem, Utah, but didn’t stay on American soil for long. His father’s work as a diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service has taken Bryce to several countries, and his unique experience with different parts of the world and the people in them influenced his decision to pursue nursing and the way he approaches the practice.
Aside from intermittent stays in the D.C. area while his father prepared for diplomatic tours, Bryce spent his youth in Finland, Turkey, Israel, and Mexico. Not only did this give him unique educational and social experiences, but it also affected his life as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Bryce often attended small congregations that typically only consisted of a few members, several of which were American expatriates. What may have been a challenging environment for a teenager developing his faith affected Bryce for the better by shaping what he called his “service-oriented” perspective. As he saw how each member played a pivotal role in serving and supporting the others, he learned the importance of the one—everyone does their part, and no one goes unsupported.
Those experiences overseas…have given me a unique perspective about the world and about how we really have a lot more in common than we have separating us.
That focus on service is part of what called him to nursing. He also credits his international experience for showing him that people everywhere are valuable and worth caring for. This understanding has served him well in various BYU College of Nursing projects, including his Global & Population Health Nursing experience in Ecuador.
“When it comes to interacting with people from different cultures and different perspectives, just giving them the dignity that they are children of God [is important],” he said. “They’re just like me.”
Regarding his decision to become a nurse, Bryce said “It was a combination of a lot of little impressions.” His first healthcare experience came as a young boy when he went with his father to minister to an older gentleman in their ward. Each Sunday, they travelled to his assisted living home to administer the sacrament and take time to connect. This simple service showed Bryce that caring for someone is more than just going through the motions—it’s taking time to connect and understand.
Bryce further cemented his desire to do nursing during his mission in Boise, Idaho and Cordoba, Argentina. He shared the story of an Argentine woman he met who was a foot care specialist. She told Bryce and his companion about her work and said that “she heals more than just feet.”
This concept of healing more than the physical is very important to Bryce, and he seeks to practice that cultural and emotional healing through the Spanish for Nurses club. Not only do he and other students practice Spanish medical vocabulary, but they learn about cultural perspecitives on medicine. For example, the perception of pain in hispanic culture.
Pondering his favorite part of nursing school, Bryce reflected on how much of a blessing his cohort of fellow students has been. “My cohort has really just become like family,” he remarked. “It’s definitely sad…going our separate ways.”
His ‘separate way’ will soon take him to Minnesota, where he accepted a position with the Mayo Clinic’s Thoracic Surgery Unit. He is also excited to get married!
Bryce is grateful for his stretching experience at BYU College of Nursing that has helped him learn how to rely on Jesus Christ in ministering to and caring for God’s children.