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Mandi Wagner’s path to becoming a healthcare professional was not a conventional one. Originally from San Francisco, California, Wagner began her undergraduate studies at California Polytechnic State Å·ÃÀAƬ-San Obispo with a focus on chemistry and forensics. 

“After two years, I realized that I am not best suited for the lab. I wanted to do something with a lot more people interaction, so I switched gears and thought about pursuing a career in the medical field,” she explained. 

Wagner returned to her hometown and completed the prerequisite courses to apply for a nursing program. She applied to nursing programs across the country, eventually landing at Hawai‘i Pacific Å·ÃÀAƬ in 2014. 

“I didn’t choose Hawai‘i because it was Hawai‘i,” Wagner said. “HPU offered me a quick response and a good amount of financial aid which contributed to my decision.”  

Finding and Fostering Community 

As a transfer student with two years of college complete, and four years removed from her high school graduation, Wagner was initially skeptical about whether or not she would fit in among her peers. But she was pleasantly surprised to discover thÅ·ÃÀAƬ fostered a supportive and tight-knit community both in the nursing program itself as well as in the university’s Human Resources department, where she worked throughout her time as a student. 

“I felt like I got to know people relatively quickly, particularly staff members and professors. There was that intimacy in a sense,” she said, noting that the job helped her to connect with colleagues and students from diverse backgrounds. 

“I was hired on my second day on island and ended up working there for all four years. The HR team never treated me just like a student but also like a professional, which was a fantastic experience.” Her job also serendipitously impacted her personal life. “I met my husband in the HR office,” she laughed. “He was a student employee as well, an assistant coach for the soccer team, and he came in to sort out some paperwork. We ended up becoming friends and after a year started dating, and here we are now, married six years later!” 

Adapting to Adversity 

Wagner initially faced uncertainty after she applied for the nursing program. “I was put on the waitlist, which was disheartening. I thought maybe this just isn’t written in the stars,” she said. 

She considered pursuing a degree in public health instead, with hopes to pursue a bridge program following graduation to pivot back into nursing. But before she committed to an alternative path, she decided to take a break and study abroad in Paris.  

“HPU provides so many opportunities to study internationally. The office that handles study abroad and international affairs is excellent, and they provided me with all of the resources I needed. I went to Paris in 2016, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life,” Wagner explained. 

The semester abroad not only allowed her to improve her French and dive into courses on fashion and European politics, but the experience and the opportunities she had to travel also broadened her worldview.  

All in on Nursing 

Upon her return, Wagner found out she was accepted into the nursing program and began the rigorous two-year program in 2016.  

“It was a very intense, trying, and challenging experience but it was also extremely rewarding. I met some of my best friends through that program, including one of my bridesmaids in my wedding,” she said. 

Wagner also noted that the nursing program’s small size was a benefit because it forced students to interact closely with the faculty, particularly when they visited clinical sites. “You’re in the nitty gritty with them. I gained so much confidence,” she said. 

The faculty, she says, were also heavily invested in the success of their students, encouraging them every step of the way through the program, from teaching students how to “relearn how to learn” to master the material quickly and efficiently to encouraging students to explore different departments during their clinical rotations.  

“Because they too were actual medical professionals, I gained a lot of insight into the actualities of what practicing nursing entailed,” she said. 

While in the program, Wagner also became deeply involved in the Student Nurses Association, where she led the Community Involvement Committee for the last year and a half of her studies. Her leadership helped her team earn recognition for their outreach programs, including their work with AccesSurf, providing water sports access for individuals with disabilities, and supporting medical tents for community events. 

“It was rewarding to be responsible for these events that had an impact on the community, both large and small,” she said. “HPU offers so many different volunteer events for students to go out and interact with organizations as well as their peers. I enjoyed being able to meet people and take part in some really cool experiences that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.” 

Wagner says her time Å·ÃÀAƬ prepared her well for the challenges of nursing, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, which hit just after she moved to Florida following graduation. “I felt very equipped for the job thanks to my clinical experience,” she shared.  

Working in an ICU step-down unit, she quickly found herself on the frontlines when the pandemic overwhelmed Florida’s healthcare system. “COVID was an extremely challenging time, but I always felt like HPU had provided me with the skills and proper mindset that I needed,” she said. 

Going Global 

In 2021, Wagner relocated to Germany to join her husband who was pursuing his career as a European football coach. Initially, she planned to continue working as a nurse in the United States through temporary contracts, but life had other plans. 

“After my first three months in Germany, I actually returned to Florida and completed a three-month travel nurse contract,” she explained. “But the reality of being three months away from your loved one is not ideal.” 

She returned to Europe, and at a backyard barbeque with friends, she started talking with another guest about the hurdles she faced finding a nursing job abroad, from the different licensing and credentialing requirements to her fluency level of the German language. 

“I wasn’t even looking for the job,” Wagner said, describing her current role as a medical device specialist for a company based in Cologne, Germany. 

In her new position, she assists surgeons worldwide with the use of abdominal medical devices, often traveling to countries across Europe and beyond to provide in-person support. “I’m in the operating room anywhere from three to ten hours, assisting with surgeries,” she explained. “I love being the expert in my specific field and working with the surgeons to ensure everything goes smoothly.” 

Despite missing the day-to-day patient interaction of traditional nursing, Wagner has found fulfillment in her new career. “I didn’t plan to move into medical devices, but I love the travel, the challenges, and the opportunity to be a part of the surgical process in a different capacity,” she said. “Nursing provides such a wide array of career paths, and I’m fortunate to have found one that fits my lifestyle and passion for healthcare. 

When she considers the future, Wagner remains open to new opportunities and says nothing is off the table, including graduate school. “Whether we stay in Europe or move elsewhere, nursing will always be there for me, and I am grateful for the flexibility that my HPU education has given me,” she added.  

While she hasn’t ruled out a return to traditional nursing in the future, for now, Wagner is content to continue her work in the medical device field, combining her love of healthcare and travel in a unique way that she never anticipated. 

“The best advice I can give to current students is to be your own advocate and seek out opportunities. College is hard, but HPU gave me the tools I needed to succeed, both during my time there and in my career since,” she concluded.