Career Path | Cleveland Clinic

Overview

Nursing is a profession with many possible career paths. Cleveland Clinic’s Stanley Shalom Zielony Institute for Nursing Excellence offers nurses a Professional Nurse Career Pathway that allows them to identify opportunities, explore nursing specialties and create a plan for lifelong learning. Nurses in their first year of employment at Cleveland Clinic have many professional development opportunities that help them acclimate to their department and participate in available programs and initiatives. This allows them to determine areas of interest and get involved. After the first year, there are four career tracks as follows: Leadership, Clinical Expert, Advanced Practice, and Beyond Bedside Care. Each track features developmental courses, experiential learning, and supporting activities.

Year One

Whether you are a new graduate beginning your career as a professional nurse or an experienced nurse beginning your first job with Cleveland Clinic, the first year involves many adjustments as you learn a new culture and organizational structure, department expectations and new patient populations. This is also the time to develop relationships with peers and members of the interdisciplinary team and to begin your professional development journey as a Cleveland Clinic nurse.

In addition to completing orientation and residency (for new graduates), the Nursing Career Path guides first year nurses to professional development opportunities that help them acclimate to their department and available programs and initiatives, allowing them to explore, determine areas of interest, and get involved.

Leadership Track

The leadership track is for aspiring nurse leaders at all levels of leadership. Within this track, staff/clinical nurses, assistant nurse managers, nurse managers and other nurse leaders can browse through all of the educational offerings and leadership experience/exposure opportunities to create a plan that meets their professional leadership goals.

Clinical Nurse	Assistant Nurse Manager	Nurse Manager/ Nursing Operations Manager (NOM)	Directors
Enterprise Education	Enterprise Education	Enterprise Education	Enterprise Education
Nurse Leadership Development Checklist for Clinical Nurse Leaders Recommended Courses in 6 Months Preceptor Training Options Elective Courses Better Conversations: Shift your focus Healthy Teams - Are you an Ideal Team Player? Mindfulness	Nurse Leadership Development Checklist for Assistant Nurse Managers ANM Resource Center Recommended courses in 6 months HR Fundamentals for Leaders Preceptor Training Options Recommended Courses 7 to 24 months Non Series Interprofessionalism Elective Courses Better Conversations: Get Out of the Drama Better Conversations: Shift your focus Healthy Teams Series: Are you an Ideal Team Player? Healthy Teams Series: Cultivating Trust for a Healthy Team HR Deep Dives Mindfulness	Nurse Leadership Development Checklist for Nurse Managers Recommended courses in 6 months HR Fundamentals for Leaders Recommended Courses 7 to 12 months Non Series Interprofessionalism Elective Courses from GLLI Better Conversations: Get Out of the Drama Healthy Teams Series: Are you an Ideal Team Player? Healthy Teams Series: Cultivating Trust for a Healthy Team HR Deep Dives Mindfulness	Recommended courses in 6 months Leader Development in Learner Connect Request access to LinkedIn Learning Review Leader Behavior Resources Review Leadership Skills Maps Elective Courses from GLLI Better Conversations: Get Out of the Drama Healthy Teams Series: Cultivating Trust for a Healthy Team Mindfulness
Ohio Region Education	Ohio Region Education	Ohio Region Education	Ohio Region Education
Recommended Courses in 6 Months Shared Governance Boot Camp Preceptor course Advanced Preceptor Training Lead the Super Charge Magnus Elective Courses Personal Mastery and Professionalism Part 1 Personal Mastery and Professionalism Part 2	Recommended courses in 6 months Shared Governance Boot Camp Preceptor course Advanced Preceptor Training Lead the Super Charge Basic Strategies for New Nurse Leaders Personal Mastery and Professionalism Part 1 Personal Mastery and Professionalism Part 2 Nursing Finance and Productivity for the New Inpatient Nurse Leader Recommended Courses 7 to 24 months Building an Empowered Team Managing Relationships Elective Courses Guiding Interactions	Recommended courses in 6 months Basic Strategies for New Nurse Leaders Managing Relationships Building an Empowered Team Personal Mastery and Professionalism Part 1 Personal Mastery and Professionalism Part 2 Nursing Finance and Productivity for the New Inpatient Nurse Leader Recommended Course 12 to 24 months Guiding Interactions Transformational Leadership	Recommended courses in 6 months Attend Transformational Leadership
Florida Region Education	Florida Region Education	Florida Region Education	Florida Region Education
Indian River Nursing Professional Development Class Schedule Martin Health - Nursing Professional Development Class Schedule Weston - Staff Development Calendar	Indian River Nursing Professional Development Class Schedule Martin Health - Nursing Professional Development Class Schedule Weston - Staff Development Calendar	Indian River Nursing Professional Development Class Schedule Martin Health - Nursing Professional Development Class Schedule Weston - Staff Development Calendar	Indian River Nursing Professional Development Class Schedule Martin Health - Nursing Professional Development Class Schedule Weston - Staff Development Calendar
Experience/Exposure to Leadership Activities	Experience/Exposure to Leadership Activities	Experience/Exposure to Leadership Activities	Experience/Exposure to Leadership Activities
Caregiver Development in Learner Connect Active involvement in Shared Governance Continuous Improvement project Quality audits Obtain professional certification Preceptor Training NUR1108 Acuity & volume management Lead Huddles Apply for the Professional Ladder Become a Clinical Expert Participate in Rounding Caregiver Well-Being The Office of Caregiver Well-Being Take5 Caregiver Resources Resume building- set yourself apart from other candidates	Leader Development in Learner Connect Support Shared Governance Obtain feedback from others - see this great discussion on requesting feedback! Unit-based finance/budget meeting Participate in Leadership Rounding Lead unit-based project Participate in interviewing Performance appraisals Event follow-up Apply for Professional Ladder Obtain Professional Certification Lead unit-based education/team meetings Investigate the Toolkit for Leading Change Caregiver Well-Being The Office of Caregiver Well-Being Take5 Caregiver Resources Resume building- set yourself apart from other candidates	Leader Development in Learner Connect Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams Mentor ANM in Finance, APR, Interview, and rounding Leadership networking - Read this great networking article! Encourage innovation Succession planning Business planning Budget planning to include Capital Purchasing Lead team meetings Lead change management Development a Work-Life Integration Plan Community involvement Utilize the Toolkit for Leading Change Caregiver Well-Being The Office of Caregiver Well-Being Take5 Caregiver Resources Resume building- set yourself apart from other candidates	Mentor a nurse manager in a leadership skill Explore Mentoring Resource Center Network with other CCF Leaders networking article! Utilize leader behaviors skills maps for development Participate in succession Planning Encourage innovation Lead through Change Lead change management Caregiver Well-Being The Office of Caregiver Well-Being Take5 Caregiver Resources Resume building- set yourself apart from other candidates

Clinical Expert

Clinical nurses serve on the frontline of healthcare, leading and coordinating the care of multiple patients. At Cleveland Clinic, clinical nurses are encouraged to engage in professional development activities and to consider opportunities to become unit-based experts. With training offered in more than 10 different areas of clinical expertise, nurses have a wealth of training options open to them. For nurses seeking to challenge themselves by exploring a different clinical specialty, Cleveland Clinic offers an abundance of specialties from which to choose. See below for a sampling of clinical specialties available.

Clinical Expert
Education	Exposure/Experience Activities
Attend training to become a Clinical Expert, Resource Nurse or Unit Champion in the following: Pain Management Diabetes Mentor Vascular Access Resource Nurse (VARN) Ohio Vascular Access Resource Nurse (VARN) Class Schedule Skin Care Resource Nurse (SCRN) Geriatric Resource Nurse (GRN) Stroke Resource Nurse Technology Superuser Blood Borne Pathogen Specialist Certified Lactation Counselor International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator Palliative Care/End of Life Resource Nurse Become a Preceptor for new nurses and/or student nurses Preceptor Foundations Course Experienced Preceptor Development Course	Obtain professional certification Obtain mentor Shadow clinical expert Lead a performance improvement initiative in your area of expertise Develop a research proposal in your area of expertise (with research mentor) Submit an innovation idea Conduct quality audits on your unit Join the hospital or Cleveland Clinic Nurse Practice Council Join or chair your unit shared governance council
Learn about Different Clinical Specialties
Ambulatory Ambulatory Surgery Nursing Critical Care Nursing Critical Care Transport Nursing Emergency Nursing Forensic Nursing Home Health Nursing Hospice Nursing Imaging Nursing Inpatient Antepartum Nursing and Electronic Fetal Monitoring Inpatient Obstetrics Nursing Interventional Cardiology Nursing Medical/Surgical Nursing	Mother/Baby Nursing Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing Neurology Nursing Oncology Nursing OR Nursing Orthopedic Nursing Pediatric Intensive Care Nursing Pediatric Nursing Peri-Anesthesia Care Nursing Rehabilitation Nursing

Advanced Practice Nursing

The Advanced Practice Nursing track is for nurses who are or are aspiring to be advanced practice nurses. This track provides advanced practice nurses with professional development activities that support their ongoing growth and development. It also provides nurses who may be interested in becoming an advanced practice nurse with resources to understand the different types of APRNs, educational requirements, and roles and responsibilities.

Professional Development Opportunities for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
Are You A Current APRN?	Are You Aspiring To Be An APRN?	Are You A Recent APRN Graduate?
Explore the APRN Council and Related Subcommittees Join your APRN professional organization and consider serving in a leadership position Continuing Education to meet certification requirements APRN Professional Development Pathway Community Standard Care Arrangements APRN Clinical Preceptors APRN Professional Development Courses Building an Empowered Team Managing Relationships Non Series Interprofessional Workshop Guiding Interactions Personal Mastery & Professionalism Part 1 Personal Mastery & Professionalism Part 2 Transformational Leadership	Tuition Reimbursement EdAssist Bright Horizon Affiliated schools APRN Clinical Preceptors Professional Development Opportunities for Aspiring APRNs Professional Development courses Nursing Professional ladder Shared Governance Are you back to school for a DNP or PhD degree? Since most graduate nursing and other programs require students to develop and implement a capstone/final/EBP/QI project or research study, it is important that you plan ahead. Contact the Office of Nursing Research and Innovation when you begin the first semester related to the “project”. Cleveland Clinic has policies regarding collecting and using data, human subjects protection (including employees as participants) and “risk” to participants. We will assign a mentor who will help to ensure you follow Cleveland Clinic student expectations and policies If your project is research, we help guide you through the Institutional Review Board process.	Tall Rounds November APRN Past, Present, Future (to be recorded) Resume building- set yourself apart from other candidates What to APRN Managers look for in candidates? Where to look for jobs (One HR career tab)
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Roles
Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP or CNP) Certified registered nurse practitioner’s work in collaboration with physicians, to provide preventive or primary care services to patients of all ages in a variety of settings both in the hospital and out. Nurse practitioners can specialize in a variety of areas including neonatology, pediatrics, family, adult, women’s health, mental health, geriatrics, and acute care. The nurse practitioners specific scope of practice is based upon their area of specialization and certification. Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) Clinical Nurse Specialists are advanced practice nurses who provide and manage the care of individual patients or groups of patients with complex health problems. They are clinical experts in a specific patient population such as acute care/critical care, community health, gerontology, neonatology, occupational health, oncology, women’s’ health, medicine/surgery or psychiatry/mental health. Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) Certified Nurse Midwives provide preventative and primary care services to adolescents and women. They may follow women prior to, during and after pregnancy and delivery. They manage and care for women during the normal birthing process and post partum period. They may also provide gynecologic and primary health care to women of all ages. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) CRNAs administer anesthesia under the collaboration and supervision of a physician in a variety of settings. They provide comprehensive care for the patient from the pre anesthetic evaluation through the post-operative period. CRNAs provide anesthesia care in multiple settings including hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, and physician offices. Additionally, CRNAs manage acute and chronic pain in the perioperative period, though they are not eligible to prescribe.
Responsibilities of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
Advanced Practice Nurses at Cleveland Clinic provide the following services (based on role): Complete history & physical exam Develop a plan of care in collaboration with a physician Order and interpretation of diagnostic tests and therapies Prescribe medications, within the guidelines of law Coordinate care Reassess and revise plan of care Provide patient and family education Consult with other members of the healthcare team in the development and management of a plan of care These services are provided according to a standard care arrangement (SCA) developed between the APRN and their collaborating physician(s). This SCA is a formal written agreement and is required by Ohio law. It must be reviewed and signed every 2 years.

Beyond Bedside Care

The Beyond Bedside Care Track is for nurses who aspire to specialize in an area of nursing practice outside of direct patient care.

Beyond Bedside Care Nursing Track
Specialties	Exposure/Experience Activities
Nursing Education and Professional Development	Shadow Nurse Professional Development Specialist (NPDS) Seek NPDS mentor Participate in unit training program Host a journal club Offer to teach a class Serve as a preceptor for new nurses Research MSN in Education programs and requirements Join hospital or Cleveland Clinic Nursing Professional Development Council
Nursing Informatics	Shadow Nurse Informatics Specialist Join hospital or Cleveland Clinic Nursing Informatics Council Become an EPIC super user Volunteer to be a super user for rollout of new technology Investigate MSN in Informatics programs and requirements
Nursing Quality, Risk Management, and Accreditation	Shadow a Nurse Quality Program Manager Conduct unit audits Participate in Stroke Certification, Joint Commission, or other accreditation surveys Participate in a quality improvement project Join hospital’s Nursing Quality Committee Attend Enterprise Quality Council meeting Serve as reviewer for local policies and procedures Participate in a clinical case review
Infection Prevention	Shadow an Infection Preventionalist Become a CAUTI/CLABSI prevention champion Become a Blood Borne Pathogen Unit Specialist Attend continuing education courses in infection prevention Participate in infection control audits
Care Management	Shadow Care Manager or Social Worker Learn about patient resources in the community Participate in interdisciplinary rounds Participate in discharge planning
Nursing Research	Complete CITI training and other requirements for conducting research at Cleveland Clinic Obtain a research mentor Explore research questions and develop a research proposal for IRB submission Investigate PhD educational opportunities and requirements