After having his own share of hospital visits while growing up, followed by spending time in Haiti doing missionary work and helping others, Paul Yeager was inspired to pursue a career in healthcare. 

Now, he is a Registered Nurse in the H81 unit (Internal Medicine Telemetry) on Cleveland Clinic’s Main Campus. Paul joined as a caregiver in 2017 after receiving his associate degree from Cuyahoga Community College. He completed his bachelor’s degree in 2018 from Cleveland State University. 

Putting His Benefits to Use 

Paul is quick to credit Cleveland Clinic’s tuition reimbursement benefit, which he says, “Practically paid for all of my schooling.” He is currently studying to become a Family Nurse Practitioner through an online program offered at the University of Cincinnati. “I’m able to use the tuition reimbursement for my master’s degree, too,” he says. 

A Learning Floor 

The med/surg floor, H81, provides care for adult patients, including a large geriatric population, with acute and chronic medical conditions. It’s an ideal environment for nurses who are interested in learning about a variety of conditions. “I think the great thing about H81, especially if you’re someone who’s newer, is that you’re going to see just about anything, from renal, cardiac and neurological issues to orthopaedic cases and wound care.” 

Since joining H81, Paul has learned so much from the many great nurses. “I work with excellent people, and I know I could rely on every single one of them. Everyone is willing to step in and give a helping hand at any given time. I know I’ve benefited from it, and so have my patients.” 

Now that’s he’s been with Cleveland Clinic for more than seven years, Paul feels confident about the expertise he’s gained. He shares, “I think time and experience is what gives you expertise. I’m still learning every day when I get here, from policies and procedures to what we can and cannot do on the floor. My expertise helps me care for my patients and teach some of the newer nurses, too. There’s a ripple effect for the whole floor.” 

Support from His Manager 

With the encouragement of his nurse manager, Sarah Nash, Paul has continued to earn several certifications, including CMSRN (Certified Medical/Surgical Registered Nurse) and Ultrasound Guided Peripheral IV.  He appreciates that she respects his work-life balance and adjusts his scheduling if needed. “It’s been a busy time for me in school and she’s been great about ensuring that I’m able to balance my work life, school life and personal life,” Paul said.  

Appreciation for His Work 

Throughout his shifts, Paul often has many meaningful interactions with his patients. On some days, as he’s getting ready to head out, a family member or patient will say, “‘Thank you so much — just for taking care of me and taking the time to explain things.’ It’s just them recognizing the hard work that we do. That’s very memorable for me.” 

The Right Choice for Learning 

For any nurses (or any other candidates) who may be considering joining Cleveland Clinic, or even H81, Paul says, “I think the great thing about H81, especially if you’re someone who’s newer, is that you’re going to see and learn just about every disease process, from renal, cardiac and neurological issues to orthopaedic cases and wound care. You’ll get familiar with the basics of everything. “ 

“Cleveland Clinic is an excellent place to start your career, and provides many avenues to grow and excel in whatever specialty you may be interested in.”