New Cleveland Clinic Podcast Aims to Encourage, Educate Nurses in Unprecedented Times

A new Cleveland Clinic podcast series created by and for nurses aims to help listeners navigate the ever-changing healthcare landscape through interviews and discussions on the most important topics that affect their lives and careers. Launched in April, “Nurse Essentials” will focus on everything from career growth to clinical practice challenges to self-care.

The podcast is hosted by Carol Pehotsky, DNP, RN, Associate Chief Nursing Officer of Surgical Services with the Cleveland Clinic Health System and Senior Director of Surgical Nursing at Cleveland Clinic’s main campus.

“The nursing world has been turned upside down in recent years, and many of these changes won’t be resolved by the tincture of time,” says Pehotsky. “In the wake of COVID-19, I think many of us are hungry for reflective conversations that remind us why we entered nursing in the first place, and a podcast is an ideal venue for those kinds of discussions. We’re hoping to provide enlightening stories about what makes nursing so special and introduce some of the caregivers who make the profession what it is – and what it can be.”

Episodes are typically 15 to 20 minutes long. In each episode, Pehotsky and her expert guests will explore a wide variety of nursing topics designed to appeal to novice and seasoned caregivers alike, she explains.

“This podcast is ultimately about being the best nurse you can be, so it’s a great honor to lead listeners on that journey,” she says. “Our goal is to inform, entertain and uplift — and have a great time while we’re at it. The episodes we’ve recorded so far have been both eye-opening and inspiring. I’m already learning a lot, and I believe our listeners are too.”

Initial episodes include:

“How Nurse Mentorship Can Boost Confidence and Foster Growth” with Lydia Booher, PhD, APRN, ACNS-BC, ONC, a Clinical Nurse Specialist at Cleveland Clinic Akron General.

“Patient Connections: Sharing Your Authentic Self While Maintaining Your Boundaries” with Cleveland Clinic Executive Chief Nursing Officer Meredith Foxx, MBA, MSN, APRN, PCNS-BC, PPCNP-BC, CPON

“Loud and Clear: How and When to Speak Up for Patient Safety” with Craig Tobias, MSN, MBA, RN, Director of Acute Care Nursing at Cleveland Clinic Marymount Hospital.

Listeners can subscribe to “Nurse Essentials” for free on the platform of their choice, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and Google Play. New episodes will generally be added on a biweekly basis. A full list of episodes can be found on the podcast webpage.

Do you have ideas for future podcasts or want to share a story? Email nurseessentials@ccf.org.