Change people's lives at home and around the world
July 2024
Easton Andersen, who graduated in April 2024, joined the Church when he was 15 years old. His conversion led him to serve a mission and eventually attend BYU. Andersen’s wife, Felice, is also a graduate of the BYU College of Nursing.
Halfway through his fourth semester, which is the labor and delivery course, Andersen’s wife went into labor with their first child. He had already seen a live birth in his nursing classes, so he knew the process and what to expect. However, there were some minor medical complications. Because of their shared nursing background, the parents-to-be were able to talk directly with the nurses and understand what was going on. This unexpected blessing helped reduce their stress and anxiety, and thankfully their baby was born healthy.
Along with being a husband and a father, working with his wife in the same emergency room, and being president of the BYU Wilderness Medicine Association, Andersen finds time to serve our country in the Utah Army National Guard. Andersen grew up in a military family, with his dad serving 23 years in the army. Andersen says, “I’m in the 144th ASMC, which is the Area Support Medical Company. We are like a mobile ER. I work as a combat medic; it’s part-time service for most of the year, but every summer I do two to three weeks of full-time work.” He explains, “The emergency room and the Utah Army National Guard love that I have experience and skills in both areas. My army unit loves it because I do medical stuff on my civilian job and my civilian job loves that I do medical stuff in my army job.”
While in the nursing program, Andersen received several scholarships from generous donors. He would like to thank those who helped to finance his education. He says, “I want to say thank you for letting me be a father and a husband while being a nursing student. This allowed me to not have to go into work every day and to make my way through college. It may not seem like much, but it is everything in the world to me.”
Recent graduate Megan Parrr works as a nurse in the emergency room at Utah Valley Hospital. She had opportunities to conduct research as a nursing student. “Being involved in research really enhanced the broad spectrum of my education and helped me realize the importance of an evidence-based practice and how it helps create safety,” she says.
Alex Black has represented the BYU College of Nursing on three study abroad programs.
College of Nursing graduate Megan Parr was born with a hole between the top two chambers of her heart, disrupting the flow of blood to her body. This difficulty led her to a career in nursing.
