PCNA

[upbeat music] Cleveland Clinic just has a really good reputation, and I really wanted to work in a hospital that had such a known name. PCNA is a patient care nursing assistant.

You are helping the patient with anything that they need. That's the reason why I chose this profession, to help people that can't help themselves.

I was wowed by Cleveland Clinic's mantra of world-class care, so I decided I wanted to be a part of that.

[upbeat music] You definitely need to be compassionate and empathetic, but also you need to have good time management skills and good communication skills also. You have to be a quick thinker. You gotta be a little organized during the day.

We get vitals and we get blood sugars. We bathe them and assess their needs. These are lives you're dealing with, and it's very important that you're doing it right.

They have a program for new PCNA's to go through orientation. They show you one-on-one hands-on of everything. Then they have people like coaches who lead you through the process, and then when you're on the unit, you can see what the PCNA does.

They give you as much help and information you need to get out on your own. Being a patient care nurse assistant gives me the foundation I need.

It shows you basic bedside manner and how to communicate effectively with patients and with like other members of the healthcare team. This is a great stepping stone. It's one step closer to me becoming a nurse.

You're forming your career, and we have tuition reimbursement. That's a big thing here, and we work with your schedule. Here at Cleveland Clinic, you're exposed to a lot of different areas.

It doesn't matter where you start. You can go anywhere and all those skills are transferable. [upbeat music] It takes a special kind of person to do this job.

I love getting to help the patients and creating bonds with the patients. It's those moments that count the most, knowing that you're working well with a team that cares for patients just like you do. We wouldn't be able to take care of the patient without each other's help.

When people walk out of here and they're back to their self, I'm very proud. I love the job. All of these experiences will take you further than you ever thought.

[upbeat music]