On February 5 and 6, the BYU College of Nursing hosted its annual poverty simulation—an insightful activity aimed at providing participants with a deeper understanding of life under financial constraints and heightened stress.
During the simulation, 140 nursing students, along with 10 public health students, assumed the roles of 26 distinct families grappling with poverty. The families were grouped in circles of chairs in the center of the room, symbolizing their respective households.
Twenty-eight faculty, staff, and community volunteers, representing various societal authorities, institutions, and essential community resource services, were positioned at tables surrounding the perimeter. These services included a bank, employer, utility company, pawn shop, payday and title loan facility, daycare, school and more.
The simulation lasted for 60 minutes, mirroring a month of life in poverty, with each 15-minute period symbolizing a week. Students engaged in realistic weekly activities that people in poverty experience. Several obstacles were designed to make the tasks more difficult and sometimes impossible. Heather Moulton, a college volunteer, observed students grappling with unexpected emotions. She recalled an instance where a student tearfully expressed that she did not have enough money to bury her mother. Other challenges facing the households included not being able to pay for their electricity or rent, resulting in electricity being shut off or an eviction. In the event of an eviction, households were closed, and the students representing these vulnerable populations were forced to find a place to stand for the remainder of the simulation. As each week ended, families gathered to discuss the upcoming week and how they might confront the difficulties ahead.
Following the simulation, students, volunteers, and faculty members met for debriefing sessions. Dr. Daphne Thomas, a faculty member in the BYU College of Nursing, noted the impact of the simulation on the nursing students in her group: “Many students emphasized the importance of understanding their patient’s story and not being quick to judge or make assumptions.” Dr. Matt Anderson, another faculty member in the BYU College of Nursing, shared, “We can connect and give in our profession and should do our best to see our patients and what is going on in their lives.”
Jessica Miller, volunteer from the Community Action Services and Food Bank (CASFB) explained to the participants, “Close to one in ten Utah residents experiences food insecurity, defined as 'when people can’t access the food they need to live healthy, active lives—either because it isn’t available in the needed quantity or quality or because they can’t afford it.'" The CASFB works to alleviate both food and housing insecurity in Utah, including addressing over 8,000 evictions that took place across the state in 2023.
This annual simulation provides students with an up-close perspective by prompting them to imagine themselves in the same circumstances as the people they represented in the activity—individuals facing similar living conditions to those they will often care for in their careers. Dr. Mike Robinson offered his thoughts on the issue: “Working with others and offering help is so important; I realized I need to be more patient and understanding.”
