July 11, 2025- In Cleveland Clinic’s hospitals, patient care nursing assistants (PCNAs) lay the groundwork for basic clinical care. They combine clinical tasks with personal care responsibilities to ensure patients are comfortable, supported and safe. Bridging care and communication between nurse and patient, their role on the healthcare team is dynamic and essential.
“Nursing assistants add so much to the patient and caregiver experience, and their work contributes significantly to patient outcomes,” says Barb Zinner, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CENP, Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer at Cleveland Clinic Marymount Hospital. “Retaining this indispensable group of caregivers is a top priority of Cleveland Clinic’s executive nurses.”
According to a report by Bucketlist, nursing assistant roles consistently face some of the highest turnover rates among healthcare positions, at times exceeding 30% annually. Zinner spearheads Cleveland Clinic’s PCNA retention efforts, which aim to ensure that these caregivers have the tools needed to perform at their highest level, that they are engaged, and that they are personally and professionally satisfied.