Nurse Essentials
Nurse Essentials is a podcast about all things nursing - from tips for making your next shift easier to advice on how to handle the big challenges you face. Whether you're just starting your practice or have years of experience, we've got you covered.
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Featured Episode
Empowering PCNAs to Deliver World-Class Care
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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June 24, 2026
Caring for Patients with Lung Cancer
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.
Play NowJune 10, 2026
Advice for Achieving Success as a First-Year Nurse
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."
Play NowMay 27, 2026
Bringing Joy to the Nursing Profession
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.
Play NowMay 13, 2026
Advanced Practice Nursing Spotlight: The Role of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists
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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