Weber State student accomplishes nursing dream with ‘game-changing’ hybrid program
OGDEN, Utah — Syvanna Murri found family, flexibility and financial aid at Weber State University after being turned away from another institution.
Once a public health major at another university, Murri dreamed of going to nursing school. When her school turned down her application, she wondered if it was the right choice for her.
“While Syvanna was trying to get into another nursing program, I advised her to look past her immediate surroundings and look to Weber State,” said Rob Holt, enrollment director for the Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing. “We house Utah’s largest nursing program and the best program in the Intermountain West.”
Murri’s father, a family medicine physician, inspired her healthcare path. He was diagnosed with cancer when Murri was in junior high. Along with seeing her father practice healthcare, she watched nurses and other providers do their best to help him for three years.
“My dad provided the best care to his patients. I saw the love his patients had for him. Witnessing this is one of the many things that helped me decide to go into nursing,” Murri said.
When she came to Weber State, Murri’s nursing prerequisites transferred easily. “Everything went much better than I expected,” she said. “Weber State made everything so easy.”
Now a newlywed living in Provo, commuting daily to Ogden is out of the question. Thankfully, the nursing program’s hybrid option allows Murri to take courses online and travel to Ogden once or twice per week for clinicals using UTA FrontRunner.
“Their hybrid program has been a game-changer for me. Not only has it accommodated where I live, but it’s also been a family for me,” Murri said. “We all understand where one another is coming from. We have a group chat and encourage each other daily.”
Being a newlywed and starting a family also means funds are tight.
“Syvanna requested more information about Utah Nurses Foundation’s grant-in-aid scholarship,” said Jodi Waddups, an instructor in the nursing school. “I walked her through the process, and she was awarded the scholarship twice.”
Murri graduated last month with her registered nursing degree. She recently gave birth to her baby boy and plans to return to WSU to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Kate Lyons, Dumke College of Health Professions
801-626-7109, katherinelyons@weber.edu- Contact:
Kate Lyons, Dumke College of Health Professions
801-626-7109, katherinelyons@weber.edu