{"id":4134,"date":"2026-02-16T09:53:22","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T15:53:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.niacc.edu\/niacc-minute\/?p=4134"},"modified":"2026-02-16T09:59:39","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T15:59:39","slug":"growing-through-education-and-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.niacc.edu\/niacc-minute\/2026\/02\/growing-through-education-and-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"Growing Through Education and Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Da\u2019Yona Johnson was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and moved to Mason City with her family in 2016. Her interest in healthcare started early while attending North Technical High School, a vocational school where she spent half her day in traditional classes and the other half in a Health Sciences program. There, she began training as a Certified Nursing Assistant and discovered a lasting interest in anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology. When Da\u2019Yona decided to continue her education at North Iowa Area Community College, she found a learning environment that helped her build on that foundation and take her first real step into a healthcare career.
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Da\u2019Yona earned her Nurse Aide Certificate from NIACC in November 2020, an achievement that marked the beginning of her nursing journey. \u201cNIACC gave me a fresh start,\u201d she said. \u201cThe class sizes were smaller, the instructors were approachable, and I had constant access to labs and resources.\u201d Her success in the Nurse Aide program inspired her to keep going, earning her Associate in Arts in Pre-ADN Studies, Associate in Science in Pre-BSN Studies, and a certificate in Coaching in 2021. In December 2024, she reached her goal of graduating with her Associate in Applied Science, Associate Degree in Nursing.
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Today, Da\u2019Yona works the night shift at MercyOne North Iowa on the medical-surgical unit. She enjoys the challenges that come with caring for patients in a fast-paced environment. \u201cEach day I come into work, I continue to learn and problem-solve,\u201d she said. \u201cBeing able to advocate for my patients and see them improve is what keeps me going.\u201d Like many new nurses, Da\u2019Yona has faced moments of self-doubt. \u201cImposter syndrome was a real challenge at first,\u201d she shared. \u201cAdjusting from student to provider can be overwhelming, but leaning on mentors, supervisors, and coworkers helped me find my footing.\u201d
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Da\u2019Yona credits NIACC\u2019s nursing faculty, many of whom are graduates of the same program, with preparing her for the realities of the job. \u201cThey understand the challenges firsthand and bring real-world experience to the classroom,\u201d she said. Her advice to others considering healthcare: \u201cDon\u2019t be afraid to try something new – whether you\u2019re just out of high school or changing careers. Healthcare offers so many paths to explore. Stay determined, stay curious, and keep learning. The journey can be hard, but you\u2019re capable of doing hard things.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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NIACC’s Nurse Aide Certificate<\/a>, Practical Nursing Diploma<\/a>, and Associate Degree in Nursing<\/a> programs are here to help you start your journey in healthcare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your future can start with a simple conversation. Schedule a campus visit<\/a> and meet with an Enrollment Specialist to explore your options.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Da\u2019Yona Johnson was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and moved to Mason City with her family in 2016. Her interest in healthcare started early while attending North Technical High School, a vocational school where she spent half her day in traditional classes and the other half in a Health Sciences program. There, she […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":4140,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[143,146,148],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4134","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adult-students","category-inspiration","category-niacc-stories"],"yoast_head":"\nGrowing Through Education and Experience - NIACC Minute<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niacc.edu\/niacc-minute\/2026\/02\/growing-through-education-and-experience\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Growing Through Education and Experience\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Da\u2019Yona Johnson was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and moved to Mason City with her family in 2016. 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