Biography
Sondra Heaston, Teaching Professor in the BYU College of Nursing, joined the faculty in 2005 after a 20-year career as an emergency nurse at Davis Hospital Emergency Department along with various other emergency departments throughout Utah. She continues to practice as a nurse practitioner at Premier Family Medical Urgent Care, maintaining a strong connection to clinical practice. She has authored or presented over 50 scholarly works, with many involving undergraduate students, and is deeply committed to student mentorship. Her passion for global service has led her to collaborate with nonprofit organizations in Paraguay, as well as Ecuador, to mentor students in global health projects. She is also a member of a team, including students, that plans and implements a bi-annual mass casualty simulation that enhances student leadership and disaster preparedness. For over 35 years Professor Heaston has served in leadership and committee roles at national and state levels with the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA). As a prior 13-year faculty advisor for the BYU Student Nurses Association, her work with ENA allowed her to mentor the next generation of nursing leaders. She has received the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty (2021), the Experiential Learning Award from BYU Careers & Experiential Learning (2024), and most recently the Muriel Thole Teaching and Leadership Fellowship Award. She is a mother of 2 daughters and Nana to 4 grandchildren and lives in a 4-generation household. She is guided by her faith in the Savior and strives to reflect His love through her teaching, mentoring, and service.
Research Interests
Emergency Nursing
Global Health issues
Teaching Interests
Critical Care/Trauma/Global HealthLicenses and Certifications
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Practitioner (2005 - 2030)
- Society for Simulation in Healthcare, Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) (2022 - 2028)
- State of Utah, A.P.R.N. (2005 - 2028)
- Emergency Nurses Association, Certified Emergency Nursing (1994 - 2027)
- National League for Nursing, Certified Nurse Educator (2013 - 2023)
Honors and Awards
- Fellowship in the Academy of Emergency Nursing, Emergency Nurses Association (2020 - 2040)
- Muriel Thole Teaching and Learning Faculty Fellowship, Brigham Young University (2025 - 2028)
- Experiential Learning Award, BYU Careers & Experiential Learning (2024 - 2024)
- Daisy Award for Faculty, BYU College of Nursing (2021 - 2021)
- 2012 and 2013 Distinguised Leadership Award, Emergency Nurses Association (2012 - 2012)
- Karen O'Neil Endowed Advanced Practice Scholarship, Emergency Nurses Association (2003 - 2003)
- Emergency Nurse of the Year, Utah Department of Health Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (2001 - 2001)
Memberships
- Society for Simulation in Healthcare (2018 - Present)
- Utah Nurse Practitioners (2013 - Present)
- Transcultural Nursing Society (2012 - Present)
- Sigma Theta Tau (2006 - Present)
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (2005 - Present)
- Emergency Nurses Association (1992 - Present)
Professional Citizenship
- Committee/Council Chair, Utah Emergency Nurses Association (2020 - Present)
- Member, Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) (2019 - Present)
- Member, Transcultural Nursing Society (2012 - Present)
- Member, Sigma Theta Tau (2006 - Present)
- Member, American Association of Nurse Practitioners (2005 - Present)
- Other, Emergency Nurses Association (2023 - 2025)
- Committee/Council Member, Utah Emergency Nurses Association (2019 - 2019)
- Committee/Council Member, National Emergency Nurses Association (2018 - 2018)
- Committee/Council Member, Utah Emergency Nurses Association (2015 - 2018)
- Committee/Council Member, National Emergency Nurses Association (2013 - 2018)
- Officer (specify in Other), Utah Emergency Nurses Association (2014 - 2014)
- Officer (specify in Other), Utah Emergency Nurses Association (2012 - 2013)
- Other, Emergency Nurses Association (2011 - 2013)