Joe Agresta, RN, EMTP
Assistant Nurse Manager of the Emergency Room
I’ve been at the Clinic about 10 years, and I consider it a great place to work. I have learned so many incredible things here. I love working in the ED because it’s faster paced than some inpatient units and it has something different to present to you every day. I get to work on adults, children, geriatric patients, ICU patients. I love the challenge of something new every day. I would encourage anyone and everyone—if you like a challenge—you couldn’t work at a better place than the Cleveland Clinic.
Julie McNeil, RN
Staff Nurse, Emergency Department
I respond very well to stressful situations so I find the Emergency Department interesting and very challenging. Stress seems to bring out the best in me. I enjoy the challenge of dealing with patients in crisis, getting control of and resolving very challenging situations—everything from gunshot wounds to emergency births.
Diane Legenza, BSN, RN
Assistant Nurse Manager, Clinical Decision-making Unit
The Emergency Department at Cleveland Clinic is all about teamwork. You have patients coming in by squad, or walking in the front door. Even though we are not a trauma center per se, we have people coming in with gunshot or knife wounds.
It can be so hectic, because you never know from day to day and minute to minute what will happen. That makes it very challenging. That’s when everyone—the nurses, the doctors, the technicians and the secretaries—does their part. It’s teamwork, working together as a whole to get that patient the very best care, get them through the emergency department in a timely manner, and get them back home.
I am an assistant nurse manager in the Clinical Decision-making Unit (CDU) and what appeals to me most is seeing the patient go home. From the minute the patient hits the CDU, we begin preparing them to go home and that means a chance to do one-on-one teaching. I do enjoy the chance to have those interactions with patients and family members, to do that one-on-one education.
Prior to being an assistant nurse manager, I was a staff nurse in the CDU for seven years, and prior to that I worked as a Cleveland Clinic hospital nurse for 17 years. My goal is to continue the quality of leadership and carry on the integrity of the management team that was here before me.
Leslie Allen, RN
Assistant Nurse Manager, Emergency Department
The Cleveland Clinic Emergency Department challenges my clinical skills each and every day I come to work. My co-workers and support staff are the best team of professionals I have ever worked with, enabling me to provide world class care to all of my patients.
This Emergency Department provides a safe haven to individuals with very complex medical conditions, and they know we have the knowledge and support to get them through any crisis.
Tish Zielinski, RN
Staff Nurse
I learn something new every day and that is saying something since for 21 of my 24 years at the Clinic I have been on a nursing floor. I have only been on the Clinical Decision Making Unit in the Emergency Department, yet there is always something different to learn. There is a great diversity of patients and that is fun. I haven’t taken care of children since I was in nursing school and now I get to see children and take care of children.
I really like the fact that everybody here works together beautifully and there is great collaboration among professional staff, physicians and respiratory therapy.
Kim DelMonte, RN
Staff Nurse, Emergency Department
I like the wide variety of patients we see in the Emergency Department. I get to see many specialty patients, I get to take care of patients from birth through death. You have to apply critical thinking skills in the ED, and I enjoy that.
As a nurse, I’m able to see patients and assess their complaints and decide the urgency of the care they need and then collaborate with the physicians to get patients the best care possible. I also like the fast pace here that makes time go by quickly. We are so busy that every hour or so I could have a new patient load, with a new set of problems. It is stimulating work.