For most of the time she can remember, Hannah Poncin has always been curious about systems and how things work. As she raised her four children, she was consistently a person that figured things out and had answers for her family and friends.
Poncin always thought those traits would translate well to nursing, and it was something people said she would be good at doing. When her youngest two children got closer to starting high school, she thought it was a good time to look into pursuing a nursing career path.
“I didn’t go to school because I was a mom and I wanted to make sure I took care of my kids first,” said Poncin. “I always put off my dreams, and finally I decided that I was ready to pursue a nursing career. I started introduction courses and applied to the program and everything else fell into place.”
Poncin mentions that she really loves science and enjoys knowing the why behind medical procedures. She loves seeing babies born and is also is interested watching surgeries to see everything that is being done and the reason behind it.
“When I was taking Anatomy and Physiology before I got into the Nursing program, I was l thinking yes this is what I want to know and learn,” said Poncin. “I wanted to learn about systems, why things are affected and what they do. Just being able to apply that information to help people with problems and knowing what they need is something I enjoy figuring out.”
Poncin appreciated the convenience and flexible course Normandale offered. She was able to balance her pre-requisite and co-requisite classes with online and in-person offerings designed to work for her schedule, before taking all of the nursing courses in-person.
Coming back as a student later in life has also has benefits in modeling what she teaches her children in terms of hard work.
“My youngest daughter mentioned to my mom that I was busy and always studying,” said Poncin. “We told her that is what you need to do. You study hard to learn the material so you know it well. My kids are noticing the work I put into it, and I enjoy that I can be role model in this way to them.”
Poncin has already laid some of the groundwork for what she wants to do after she graduates in May. Her dream is to work in labor and delivery. She has worked as a doula, providing support to families before, during and after childbirth.
“My goal and dream is to work in labor and delivery,” said Poncin. “I love babies and I love seeing them born. It is so magical, and that would be my ideal and dream job. I have been a doula, so I am hoping that experience will help me get into a labor and delivery position. Just being able to know what goes on and helping moms through the process is a help.”
Poncin will graduate in May, before the Center of Interprofessional Education in Healthcare is completed in Fall 2026, but she sees a huge benefit that Normandale is preparing students to collaborate across healthcare professions. Hannah also appreciates that information and training being incorporated into what is already a great Nursing program that has prepared her for the workforce.
“I’ve had a great experience going through Normandale’s Nursing program,” said Poncin. “They have set up the program so well so that each semester builds perfectly into a different level of learning. Having gone through the Nursing program, it is also great to see what is being done with the interprofessional healthcare space. Having everyone work and view things together is a key to healthcare, because we have separated nursing and other areas like dental hygiene in the past. I think it is great that Normandale is changing that narrative to have everyone work together for the best patient outcomes.”
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