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Patient care nursing assistants provide invaluable care at the bedside alongside clinical nurses. “I’m very passionate about our PCNAs, especially on medical-surgical units,” says Barbara Zinner, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CENP, Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer at Cleveland Clinic Marymount Hospital and Marymount Sports Health. “I’ve put some focus and some energy into making sure that they are recognized, rewarded and developed.” In this podcast episode, Dr. Zinner shares strategies and initiatives that support PCNAs.

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While lung cancer is among the top three most common cancers in the United States, research has led to new understandings of the disease and new treatments for it. During her two years in thoracic medical oncology with the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center, Alexandria Jordan, PA-C, has treated many of the same patients – some who have lived with metastatic lung cancer for a decade. In this episode of Nurse Essentials, she discusses the latest science behind lung cancer, as well as the role of nurses on her interprofessional team and how they support patients.

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The first year in nursing practice can be awe-inspiring and joyful, but it’s also mentally and emotionally taxing. In this episode of Nurse Essentials, Kathryn Stuck Boyd, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, Nursing Education Manager and Nursing Residency Director at Cleveland Clinic, shares strategies for new nurses to help smooth the transition. “The nurses that really thrive are curious and coachable,” she says. “[They] ask questions and embrace those opportunities to learn.”

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During her 40-plus-year nursing career, Sue Behrens, DNP, RN, ACNS-BC, NEA-BC, has cared for patients in their most vulnerable moments, including running medical clinics in Haiti and working in a homeless clinic in Illinois. “What fills my cup is helping others that are truly in need,” says Behrens, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest and Mentor Hospitals. In the latest episode of Nurse Essentials, she talks about the importance of finding joy in the workplace and how to foster it among bedside nurses and nursing leaders.

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Angela Milosh, DNP, APRN-CRNA, FAANA, calls the nurse anesthesia practice the “epitome of critical care nursing.” It combines technical skills, critical care knowledge, critical thinking and judgement in a dynamic, rapidly changing environment. Dr. Milosh, program director of Cleveland Clinic's Nurse Anesthesia Training School, explains what it’s like to be a certified registered nurse anesthetist and offers advice for nurses thinking about the three-year graduate program.

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Many nurses are influenced by family members to join the profession. Amanda Hancock, a pediatric clinical nurse at Cleveland Clinic main campus, is no exception. Her mother is Kelly Hancock, DNP, RN, NE-BC, FAAN, Chief Caregiver Officer at Cleveland Clinic. “Hearing all her stories and the impact she’s made on people throughout almost 35 years of being a nurse was really inspiring,” says Amanda. “I wanted to have the same impact on others.” In this episode of Nurse Essentials, the mother-daughter duo shares what it means to work in the same profession and healthcare system

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Surgical nursing can be daunting, whether you're a student exploring specialties or an experienced nurse seeking a new position. The role demands efficient teamwork in a fast-paced setting to achieve optimal patient outcomes. But it’s also incredibly satisfying. “I've seen patients who have been turned away from another institute, come here, have a successful surgery, and go home to their family, and that is just so rewarding to me,” says Shanon Schady, MSN, RN, CNOR, lead perioperative educator at Cleveland Clinic. Schady presents an inside look at surgical nursing and how Cleveland Clinic prepares caregivers for the OR through its Perioperative Nurse Residency.

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On the third anniversary of the Nurse Essentials podcast, Cleveland Clinic’s Chief Caregiver Officer Kelly Hancock, DNP, RN, NE-BC, FAAN, discusses the health system’s power of purpose movement. She shares the importance of understanding why caregivers choose their professions, how the ‘why’ changes over time and the connection between individual purpose and an organization’s mission, vision and values.

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Tim Tibbitts, BSN, RN, became a clinical nurse at age 55 after spending time as an English teacher, freelance writer and stay-at-home parent. During the COVID pandemic he thought, “There’s got to be something more I can contribute.” He enrolled in an 18-month accelerated BSN program, then joined the inpatient solid tumor oncology unit at Cleveland Clinic main campus after graduation. In this episode of Nurse Essentials, Tibbitts shares his experience of starting a nursing career later in life.

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Healthcare is inundated with new technologies, from workflow and documentation tools to virtual patient companions and AI-enabled medical devices. “We’re seeing technology evolve faster than ever, and nurses are right at the center of that change,” says Matthew Shesko, MSN, NI-BC, NE-BC, Nurse Manager for Nursing Informatics at Cleveland Clinic. In this episode of Nurse Essentials, Shesko discusses how nurses can continue to provide compassionate patient care while embracing technology.