Ron Ulberg
Evaluation of how well the academic objectives of the proposal were met:
The academic objectives of the MEG proposal were met and exceeded. Specifically, students
were exposed to local and national venues in which Veterans and their history are prevalent. Examples
of this include visits by the students and faculty to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center,
Arlington National Cemetery, US Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Memorial, WW I
Memorial, WW II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, Museum of American
History, etc. We also met with Senator Mike Lee from the State of Utah to discuss issues pertaining to
our Veterans.
Students were provided the opportunity to be mentored in this clinical experience by myself
and Kent Blad, both Veterans of Operation Desert Storm and practicing nurses at the VA Medical
Center in Salt Lake City. Students were exposed to the above sites in Washington DC, in addition to
meeting with several panels of Veterans in rural Utah towns.
Students completed assignments in assessing the Veteran population as a whole, a teaching
activity, a reflective writing assignment on their experiences, a presentation on a Veteran of the
student’s choice, a report on a Veteran monument/memorial, and the academic deliverables discussed
below. Through these experiences, the importance of learning unique characteristics and principles in
understanding the diversity of the Veteran population and caring for them was instilled in the students.
The group took part in interviews, clinical experiences, historic Veteran site visits, and a service
project involving the Veteran population.
The culminating experience included being a guardian for a veteran on a Utah Honor Flight.
This experienced allowed students to meet their veteran early in the semester and work with them on
their application and medical form as well as learn about their experiences while serving in the United
States military. The Honor Flight trip consisted of three days where the students were guardians
(escorts) for their veterans as they experienced their memorials and other historic sites in the
Washington D.C area.
Evaluation of the mentoring environment:
The mentoring environment during the entire term was a positive one. Mr. Blad and I were in
direct supervision of all students at all times during spring 2016. Students gained a new-found
appreciation for this population who have sacrificed so much for their country. Students had a strong
desire to learn, especially when gaining more information about this population. The environment was
very conducive to questions, learning, and positive constructive interaction. Students expressed much
joy and satisfaction for their time spent with the Veteran population.
List of students who participated and what academic deliverables they have produced:
In this clinical experience, 12 students participated in creating and producing academic
products for four specific course in the nursing program. These scholarly products were teaching
modules about veterans that were presented to faculty. In consultation with faculty from the related
courses, students prepared modules that included PPT or PREZI presentations, discussion topics, and
questions suitable to be included in a course content.
Through this experience the students had hands on experience of peers teaching peers,
interacting with other faculty, and preparation of material suitable to be used in a college lectures.
Amy Bodily, Christianne Bryner, Marie Duston, Lydia Jorgensen, Amanda Leslie, Ashley Taylor,
Chelsey White, Chelsey Young, Kaeli Thomas, Alexandra Smith, Taylor Lepper, Tonya Alexander
Description of the results/findings of the project:
Many results of this project are easy to describe, many are not. Students did an outstanding job
preparing material for lectures, interacting with other faculty in the college, and teaching one another
throughout the course. Over the past 2 semesters all of the teaching modules have been used in various
course, there have been additional modifications and tweaks done by faculty. Faculty have been
pleased with the effort and professionalism exhibited by the students preparing these modules and
other faculty have requested modules specific to their course from future classes. Their experience on
the Honor Flight and with their veteran is one of those areas that are very difficult to describe.
However, each of the students have remarked how this experience has given them a greater sense of
patriotism and appreciation for those who serve.
A summary account of how funds were used:
The following is the combined account for 12 students from Spring Term, 2016. This budget
reflects the MEG award ($20,000). Since the experiences were accomplished together, Mr. Blad and I
shared responsibility for all students as co-directors of this course. Our total budget came in a little
over the allotted combined $20,000, which the Dean of the College of Nursing covered with College
funds. Having researched and received price quotes on the stated items in advance, we came in very
close to our proposed budgets.
All items are for 12 students:
1. Airfare SLC to Washington D.C. $4,700
2. Housing in Washington D.C. $6,290
3. Metro, in city transportation $1,400
5. Per Diem for Washington D.C. $3,000
6. Uniforms $2,110
7. In-state travel $700
8. Utah Honor Flight $1,800
Total $20,000
I express appreciation for the opportunity granted our students by the efforts and funding of the
MEG office. Their lives will be forever changed due to this experience. Thank you.
Ron Ulberg
Associate Teaching Professor
College of Nursing