When Austin Allen was young, he was in a bicycle accident. An off-duty paramedic happened to see the accident and ran over to help. The paramedic assessed him and sent him to Primary Children’s Hospital. Austin recovered, and what stuck with him was how it felt to be cared for when he was hurt and scared.

“That experience, though frightening at the time, planted the seed for my future career. The comfort I felt from the medical professionals was something I wanted to do for someone else whomight  be scared in a similar situation,” said Austin.

Austin attended Salt Lake Community College’s Nursing Program and completed his rotations at Intermountain Medical Center, the University of Utah, and Holy Cross West Jordan, primarily focusing on surgical services.

One of the most challenging rotations was on the transplant unit. “Transplant is a difficult unit,” said Austin. “Things can change so fast, and managing the medical aspects is hard enough, but what really brought me to love the floor was the emotional side. Being able to be there for someone who’s processing the incredible gift of a second chance at life is something I’ll never forget.”

Months before graduation, Austin was offered a position in the New Graduate Nurse Residency program at Intermountain Medical Center in the Transplant unit, which he is currently completing.

The Nurse Residency Graduate Program at Intermountain is a key resource for helping new nurses transition into their careers. Austin particularly appreciates the focus on coping strategies for nurses, which help process difficult situations, build resilience, and protect mental and emotional well being. He also really likes that the program offers him the opportunity to experience other areas of nursing practice, like ICU, ER and OR.

“My family and I have always gone to Intermountain for medical care,” he said. “I always appreciated the care we received, and I wanted to be part of that for someone else.”