Nurse Essentials: A podcast focused on caring for you

Send us Fan MailMany 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

Send us Fan MailSurgical 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.

Send us Fan MailOn 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.

Send us Fan MailTim 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.

Send us Fan MailHealthcare 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.

Send us Fan MailNurses are devoted to caring for others, but they often neglect their own wellbeing. In the latest episode of Nurse Essentials, Holli Blazey, CNP, APRN, shares advice for prioritizing self-care and making good decisions about nutrition, sleep and exercise. “We have to learn to take care of ourselves,” says Blazey, APRN/PA Manager in Occupational Health at Cleveland Clinic.

Send us Fan MailThe Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute is constructing a 1 million square foot building set to open in January 2027. “The building is very much designed with the patient in mind,” says Andre Machado, MD, PhD, Chair of the Neurological Institute. “And our nursing colleagues were really instrumental in being the voices of the patient in the design, not only from the patient experience perspective, but from the patient safety perspective.” In this episode of Nurse Essentials, Machado and Kristen Vargo, DNP, RN, NE-BC, Director of Nursing for Neurological, Orthopedic and Rheumatology Nursing at Cleveland Clinic, discuss nurses’ input in the state-of-the-art building, which will be the largest dedicated neurological facility in the country.

Send us Fan MailBefore Cleveland Clinic Executive Chief Nursing Officer Meredith Foxx, MSN, MBA, APRN, NEA-BC, became a nurse leader, she cared for children with cancer. In this episode of Nurse Essentials, Foxx shares her experiences in pediatric oncology, as well as advice for nurses on selecting a specialty that’s right for them.

Send us Fan MailWith several generations working in healthcare today, it’s easy for misunderstandings to occur as we stereotype co-workers based on age. In this episode of Nurse Essentials, a senior director from Cleveland Clinic’s Mandel Global Leadership and Learning Institute shares thoughts on how to embrace generational differences and create strong teams.

Send us Fan MailWhen nursing veteran Myra King, DNP, APRN-CNS, ACNS-BC, CCRN-CCS, was hospitalized following emergency surgery, she gained first-hand insight into what it feels like to be a patient. In the latest episode of Nurse Essentials, Dr. King shares the lessons she learned and insight into becoming a better caregiver.

Send us Fan MailEarlier this year, the American Nurses Association revised The Code of Ethics for Nurses, the standard for ethical nursing practice. In this episode of Nurse Essentials, Julie Gorecki, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital, shares how nurses and leaders can weave ethics into the fabric of their units and hospital culture. 

Send us Fan MailLeading through change can be challenging, but it’s inevitable. “Change is ongoing, it’s continuous, and we have to be constantly reevaluating, measuring and understanding its impact so that we can make sure we are moving in the right direction,” says Kerry Major, DNP, RN, NE-BC, Regional Chief Nursing Officer, Cleveland Clinic Florida and Chief Nursing Officer, Cleveland Clinic Weston. In the latest episode of Nurse Essentials, Major discusses leading through change, whether it’s something imposed upon the healthcare organization, such as regulatory changes, or a transition implemented with the input of caregivers.

Send us Fan MailNursing retention begins before caregivers even accept an offer to join your team. It starts with how the organization presents itself in the community and on social media and continues through the interview process, into the first year of employment and beyond. In this episode of Nurse Essentials, Clinical Nursing Director Josalyn Meyer, MSN, RN, NE-BC, shares advice for retaining caregivers based on her 20-year nursing career and experience on Cleveland Clinic’s Enterprise Retention Council and Nurse Manager Retention Council.

Send us Fan MailReviewing a patient’s allergies is a cornerstone of providing effective care across the healthcare continuum. Allergies can affect everything from the food and medications patients receive while in the hospital to the devices and implants used in surgery. In this episode of Nurse Essentials, Jeanette Kubicki, CNS, a clinical nurse specialist in Allergy and Immunology at Cleveland Clinic, shares her expertise on managing patient allergies.

Send us Fan MailCare management is a vital nursing specialty. “Our objectives are always to assess patients immediately when they come into the door, and then try to align what their discharge might look like,” says Mark Torok, MBA, BSN, RN, CCMC, Senior Nursing Director for Care Management at Cleveland Clinic Main Campus. In the latest episode of Nurse Essentials, Torok discusses the role of care managers, key components of a discharge plan, the importance of evaluating a patient’s support system and home environment, and more. 

Send us Fan MailNurses don’t just care for patients. They also care for families, which may include patients’ children, grandchildren and siblings. Nurses need to be mindful of the needs of those children. In the latest episode of Nurse Essentials, Molly Gleydura, a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) at Cleveland Clinic Main Campus, shares advice on how to connect with children, ease their fears and anxiety, and help them understand what’s happening to their hospitalized loved ones.

Send us Fan MailIn this compelling episode of Nurse Essentials, Cleveland Clinic's Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Carol Pehotsky, sits down with Danielle Crow, Nurse Manager of the Hospital Care at Home program, to explore a groundbreaking model of healthcare delivery. Danielle shares her inspiring journey from a 20+ year career in emergency nursing to leading an innovative program that provides hospital-level care in the comfort of patients' homes. Together, they delve into the program's transformative impact on patient outcomes, nurse satisfaction, and hospital overcrowding, as well as the challenges of orchestrating care across multiple settings. From leveraging cutting-edge technology to fostering deeper patient connections through virtual care, this episode offers a fascinating look at how the future of healthcare is being redefined. Whether you're a nurse, healthcare leader, or simply curious about innovations in medical care, this conversation will leave you inspired and hopeful for the future of nursing and patient care.

Send us Fan MailAn innovative immersion program at Cleveland Clinic introduces high school students to the nursing profession. As the Howley ASPIRE Program nears its 10th anniversary, its director and a program graduate share what makes it so successful.

Send us Fan MailRita Pappas, MD, FAAP, FHM, was a clinical nurse for 10 years before becoming a pediatric physician. “I really believe being a nurse makes me a better physician,” says Dr. Pappas. In the latest episode of Nurse Essentials, she discusses the transition and shares advice for enhancing collaboration among caregiving colleagues.

Send us Fan MailSimulation extends beyond working with manikins. Cleveland Clinic has used simulation-based learning to train caregivers on the sepsis response process, hone procedural skills,  perform mock operations using virtual reality and more. In the latest episode of Nurse Essentials, Senior Simulation Education Specialist Nichole Brown, PhD, MSN, RN, CHSE-A, discusses simulation and its applications in nursing.

Send us Fan MailWorking the night shift can be challenging, particularly when it comes to getting enough quality sleep. But it offers unique advantages for clinical nurses, including the opportunity to truly work to the top of license and build bonds with other multidisciplinary providers on the team. In the latest episode of Nurse Essentials, an experienced night shift nurse shares advice for making the most of working at night.

Send us Fan MailLicensed practical nurses (LPNs) often work in long-term care facilities, but they can be valuable team members in hospitals, too. Cleveland Clinic Martin North Hospital partners RNs with LPNs on a medical-surgical unit to provide quality care to patients.

Send us Fan MailWith ongoing demand for nurses, attracting people to the profession is important. In the latest episode of Nurse Essentials, Linda Gardner, DNP, MEd, RN, CNOR, shares how Cleveland Clinic Center for Nursing Career Exploration provides programming for school-aged students to adults learners who are interested in the profession.

Send us Fan MailMore than 6.7 million Americans over the age of 20 have heart failure, and that number is expected to rise to 8.7 million by 2030, according to the Heart Failure Society of America. Maureen Schaupp, MSN, APRN-CNP, Executive Director, Associate Chief Nursing Officer for Advanced Practice Nursing and Nursing Quality and Practice at Cleveland Clinic, shares how nurses can help patients manage the chronic disease.

Send us Fan MailShannon Pengel, MSN, RN, NE-BC, Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer for Cleveland Clinic Main Campus, meets representatives from every hospital unit at a monthly meeting to hear their concerns and ideas. It’s led to improvements in areas ranging from patient care to workplace safety, as well as provided clinical nurses with a venue to learn and hone their leadership skills.

Send us Fan MailNursing is all about relationships. But how do you manage the transition and maintain appropriate relationships with peers when you accept a leadership role? In this episode of Nurse Essentials, Kristen Vargo, DNP, RN, NE-BC, Director of Nursing for the Neurological Institute and Orthopaedics & Rheumatology at Cleveland Clinic’s main campus, shares insight on the topic.

Send us Fan MailHealthcare and nursing look quite different around the globe. In this episode of Health Essentials, Margee Pagnucco, MSN, RN, CPHQ, discusses how the Cleveland Clinic Connected global affiliation program shares expertise to enhance patient care, safety and outcomes at international and domestic health organizations.

Send us Fan MailThe journey back to health is often long for patients in the neurological ICU being treated for a variety of conditions, ranging from stroke and seizures to rare disorders, such as myasthenia gravis and Guillain-Barré syndrome. A nurse in the neurological ICU at Cleveland Clinic main campus shares what it’s like to work on the unit and why he loves the specialty – one he never imagined landing in as a nursing student.

Send us Fan MailEndoscopy procedures include much more than colorectal cancer screenings, and nurses are key members of teams that provide advanced endoscopies. In the latest episode of Nurse Essentials, Teresita Foliacci, MSN-Ed, RN, CGRN, Endoscopy Nurse Manager at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital, talks about the responsibilities, skills and training of endoscopy nurses.

Send us Fan MailHandwashing is a simple task, yet the hands remain the most common source of transmission in healthcare. Two infection preventionists at Cleveland Clinic discuss why hand hygiene is important and how to improve compliance.

Send us Fan MailNurses may not be experts in financial spreadsheets or accounting principles, but they can contribute to the fiscal stability of their organizations. In the latest episode of Nurse Essentials, Matt Slife, Executive Director of Nursing Operations at Cleveland Clinic, discusses healthcare finances and their impact on nursing practice.

Send us Fan MailBack injuries are among the most common reported by healthcare workers. But they also suffer from shoulder injury and pain, nerve entrapment, carpal tunnel syndrome and other conditions caused by lifting patients and equipment, as well as other routine work tasks. In the latest episode of Nurse Essentials, two experts share advice on creating an ergonomically safe work environment that benefits caregivers and patients.

Send us Fan MailA 44-year nursing veteran at Cleveland Clinic has developed processes and products to improve practice. She shares her innovation journey and advice for other nurses on how to turn ideas into solutions.

Send us Fan MailAs a new nurse on a recently established trauma ward in London, Georgina Morley, PhD, RN, NEC-C, experienced her share of ethical dilemmas. Today, she shares her passion and knowledge to help caregivers navigate ethical challenges as director of Cleveland Clinic’s Nursing Ethics Program.

Send us Fan MailWith 23 years of experience as a paramedic fireman, Scott Hantz, MSN, MBA, RN, EMT-P, has seen his share of emergencies. In this issue of Nurse Essentials, Hantz, who serves as director of Surgical Services Nursing at Cleveland Clinic, shares his insight on emergency management preparedness.

Send us Fan MailTwo clinical nurse specialists at Cleveland Clinic who specialize in geriatric nursing shed light on misconceptions about older patients and share insight on providing supportive, age-sensitive care.

Send us Fan MailAt least 20% of the U.S. population is neurodivergent. In this episode of Nurse Essentials, two Cleveland Clinic experts discuss how to provide world-class, individualized care to patients who are neurodivergent.

Send us Fan MailMedical-surgical nursing is the backbone of nursing. In the latest episode of the Nurse Essentials podcast, a clinical nurse and CNS in medical-surgical nursing at Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital share their passion for the specialty and advice for leaders to support the field.

Send us Fan MailThe Recovery’s in Reach program at Cleveland Clinic Akron General helped place nearly 700 people with substance use disorder in inpatient and outpatient recovery centers last summer. In the latest Nurse Essentials podcast, Jonathan Sanchez, MBA, BSN, RN, nurse manager of the hospital’s emergency department and lead program coordinator, shares insight on the program’s success.

Send us Fan MailClinical nurse specialists practice withing three spheres of influence – patients, nursing and healthcare systems. In the latest episode of Nurse Essentials, two clinical nurse specialists at Cleveland Clinic provide an inside look at what it means to be a CNS and how they impact patient care, nursing education, nursing-sensitive quality indicators and more.

Send us Fan MailKaren Schaedlich, MSN, RN, innovation coordinator in the Office of Nursing Research & Innovation, believes nurses are natural problem-solvers. In the latest episode of Nurse Essentials, she discusses how they can embrace innovation to create novel products and processes for healthcare.

Send us Fan MailDianna Copley, DNP, APRN-CNS, ACCNS-AG, CCRN, Clinical Nurse Specialist at Cleveland Clinic and Associate Director of the Nursing Ethics Program, discusses second victim phenomenon and the Emerge Stronger peer support program the healthcare system implemented in 2020 to address it.

Send us Fan MailAshley Clifford, RN, a nurse case manager for Cleveland Clinic Hospice Care, shares what drew her to the specialty and provides insight into a day in the life of a hospice nurse.

Send us Fan MailNurses help shape the patient experience. Kelli Saucerman-Howard, DNP, RN, chief nursing officer of Cleveland Clinic Akron General, shares insight on how new nurses, experienced nurses and nursing leaders can positively impact the patient experience.

Send us Fan MailIn 2022, the Joint Commission initiated Workplace Violence Prevention Standards to help curb the rise in workplace violence in healthcare. In the latest Nurse Essentials podcast, Erica Shields, MBA, BSN, RN, NE-BC, associate chief nursing officer of Emergency Services and Behavioral Health at Cleveland Clinic, and Tony Roetzel, deputy chief of Cleveland Clinic Police, share strategies for reducing workplace violence.

Send us Fan MailSkin health, assessment and protection are foundational to what all nurses do, no matter what specialty or setting they work in. In the latest episode of Nurses Essentials, Mary Montague-McCown, DNP, APRN, ACNS-BC, CWOCN, program manager of the wound, ostomy and continence nursing program at Cleveland Clinic, shares her expertise on skin care.

Send us Fan MailSheila Miller, DNP, MSN, MBA, RN, has learned a lot about international nursing during her tenure as CNO of Cleveland Clinic London. In the latest episode of Nursing Essentials, she shares her insight and advice on practicing nursing abroad.

Send us Fan MailA determined nurse shares her journey from working as a transporter in the emergency department to landing the nurse manager position in Cleveland Clinic’s newly opened Mentor Hospital.

Send us Fan MailWith so many avenues to pursue, each nurse’s journey is different. Andrew Warburton, MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, a 20-year nursing veteran, shares insight from his varied professional roles, including stints in emergency medicine, critical care nursing and critical care transport.

Send us Fan MailThe term “evidence-based practice” may be daunting to some nurses, who envision dense journal articles loaded with data and statistics. Nurse Scientist Lorraine Novosel, PhD, RN, APRN-CNP, AGPCNP-BC, NEA-BC, sheds light on EBP and offers input on how clinical nurses can implement it in their day-to-day practice.