registered nurse

patient assistant

administrative assistant

postdoctoral fellow

patient services coordinator

Cleveland Clinic

I was thrilled to get a job with the Clinic after hearing what a wonderful place it is to work. After working there however, I found out that's nothing more than PR hype. Truly the Clinic was the worst employer I've ever had.

To start with, I was mislead about the job I was hired for. I was told that my work hours would be different than they actually were. I wasn't informed until 3 weeks after being hired that I would need a driver's licence and vehicle to perform the job (I don't drive). Their lauded benefits consisted of a limited amount of PTO that's supposed to cover vacation, sick days, personal time, AND holidays. Yes, that's right. You don't get paid for holidays UNLESS you save some of your PTO time for them. In all the years I've been employed, I have NEVER worked for a company that expects employees to save PTO for holidays. Holidays were always paid regardless if you had PTO saved up or not. You also can't use any PTO during your probation period, so if you have a day off due to a holiday during that time, you just don't get paid for it.

Attendance policies are designed to discourage employees from using any PTO. Attendance operates on a points basis. Hourly employees earn a disciplinary attendance point every single time they clock in more than 7 minutes early, or leave more than 7 minutes late. Never mind if your boss kept you late because of an impromptu meeting, or dumped a pile of work on your desk 5 minutes before your shift ends. If you stayed late because of either of those things, you would still earn an attendance point. And if you call in sick, even with a doctor's note, you earn an attendance point as well. Too many points, and you get fired with no recourse.

he lauded health insurance plans were only marginally cheaper and better than what my husband's employer, a much smaller organization than the Clinic, offers.

On top of all that, I felt like I had traveled through a time warp, and was employed in 1952, not 2012. The department I worked in had the most absolutely absurd, outdated, incredibly rigid set of rules and regulations I've ever experienced in my work career. The layers and layers of bureacracy and paperwork one had to go through to perform even the simplest job duties were astounding. Administrative staff such as myself were given no leeway to get their work done without consulting with senior staff.

The dress code was downright ridiculous. The director of the department forbid employees to wear short sleeved shirts or tops to work. Yes, we had to work a long sleeved top or a long sleeved jacket/blazer every single day, even during the hottest days of the summer, when the air conditioning was barely working. I would sit there red faced, literally dripping sweat, but I couldn't take off my jacket, because God forbid, my arms would be exposed in my dressy short sleeved top. I felt like I was working in Saudi Arabia, not the U.S., with that dress code.

Management and most of my coworkers were petty, cliquish, spiteful, and micromanaged everything. Peformance reviews were based on opinions of coworkers, NOT on anything management actually witnessed. Management would give poor reviews if an employee refused to bad mouth his or or her coworkers and report back to the boss about everything and anything coworkers did. I was literally yelled at by my supervisor for refusing to bad mouth another employee to her.

I left my job with the Clinic after just a few months, because I was physically getting ill from the extreme amount of baseless stress I was subjected to every single day. I would NOT recommend the Clinic as an employer to anyone.

I regret to share my unfortunate experience during my tenure at the Cleveland Clinic, located at 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio. My time at the institution was marred by ongoing issues and mistreatment, ultimately leading to my resignation.

**A Typical Day at Work:**
A typical day at Cleveland Clinic involved a range of responsibilities, from patient care to administrative duties. I often collaborated with colleagues to ensure optimal patient outcomes and maintained detailed records of patient interactions and treatment plans.

**What I Learned:**
During my time at Cleveland Clinic, I gained valuable clinical experience and honed my skills in patient care and healthcare administration. I also learned the importance of advocating for oneself and the necessity of a supportive work environment for professional growth.

**Management:**
Unfortunately, my experience with management was not positive. I faced resistance and hostility from both my direct supervisor and the HR Generalist manager when seeking guidance and resolution for workplace issues. This lack of support significantly impacted my ability to perform my duties effectively.

**Workplace Culture:**
The workplace culture at Cleveland Clinic, as I experienced it, was toxic and unsupportive. The environment was marred by dismissive attitudes toward employee concerns and a lack of fair treatment. This culture fostered an atmosphere of discomfort and unease.

**The Hardest Part of the Job:**
The hardest part of the job was dealing with the ongoing mistreatment and lack of support from management. The aggressive tone, bullying behavior, and biased handling of conflicts made it challenging to maintain morale and focus on patient care.

**The Most Enjoyable Part of the Job:**
Despite the negative aspects, the most enjoyable part of the job was working directly with patients and seeing the positive impact of my efforts on their health and well-being. The opportunity to make a difference in patients' lives was incredibly rewarding.

Over the past few months, I encountered multiple instances where my concerns were dismissed, and fair treatment was denied. Despite seeking guidance and resolution, I was met with resistance and hostility from both my direct supervisor and the HR Generalist manager. The toxic environment severely impacted my well-being.

One significant incident involved being denied counsel by my manager multiple times, which left me feeling unsupported and uncomfortable. My request for safety through counseling was dismissed, and I was informed that my manager was not obligated to provide me with counsel. Furthermore, the aggressive tone, bullying behavior, and biased handling of conflicts exacerbated my discomfort.

The selective approach to addressing concerns and the cherry-picking of negative encounters to support personal agendas worsened the situation. When I expressed my feelings of mental and emotional abuse by my manager, I was dismissed and treated with disrespect, leaving me feeling devalued and belittled.

Due to the unacceptable treatment and hostile environment, I felt it was in my best interest to resign. I hope steps will be taken to address the workplace culture and employee well-being at Cleveland Clinic to create a more positive and inclusive environment for all staff members.


Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF) offers competitive insurance and benefits, which are notable advantages compared to other healthcare systems. However, my experience within my department was significantly marred by toxic management and a detrimental work culture.
Specifically, I encountered the following issues:
Toxic Management and Culture: This was the primary reason for my departure, and I've heard similar complaints from colleagues in other departments. The toxic culture fostered a negative and unsustainable work environment.
Restrictive PTO and CE Day Policies: Management required at least 90 days advance notice of PTO. Management routinely denied requests for PTO and Continuing Education (CE) days, even when submitted well in advance (over 90 days). This inflexibility made it extremely difficult to utilize these benefits, with denials often based on factors beyond employee control, which caused myself and several coworkers to lose CE days each year. Conversely, management seemed to have their PTO & CE days approved, even when not requested 90 days ahead.
Disparity in Treatment of APPs: APPs (NPs and PAs) were consistently treated as secondary to physicians. This manifested in a lack of respect and professionalism, a stark contrast to my experiences at other healthcare organizations.
Uncompensated Extra Work: Meetings were frequently scheduled outside of standard working hours (before work, during lunch, and after work) without additional compensation. Furthermore, APPs were often required or strongly pressured to add extra patient slots and work beyond their scheduled hours (including before/after work, during lunch or administrative time) without receiving extra pay.
Holiday PTO Disparity: Management was able to get their requested holiday PTO, while other employees were denied some holiday PTO, even though the PTO was requested more than 90 days before.
While CCF offers substantial learning opportunities, the toxic culture and poor management ultimately made it impossible for me to remain. And unfortunately some of the learning opportunities were wasted, because it was so difficult to get CE days approved. I have since found a much more positive and supportive work environment at a competing healthcare organization, where I am treated with respect and professionalism.
While CCF may excel in certain areas, the issues I experienced within my department and heard about in others suggest a need for significant improvements in management practices and workplace culture, particularly regarding the treatment of APPs and the respect for work-life balance to create a more sustainable, enjoyable work environment. 


I am a nurse assistant in the "Float Pool". That means I go to many different nursing floors on Main Campus, and I can have a much different experience every day, and I learn about many different specialties. 

I am a nursing student right now full time, and I do think this position has given me SO much information on the world of nursing. I am very grateful to be able to have this experience, however, I feel like CCF banks on that too much and justifies paying staff less. The only time when you have good pay is if you pick up a shift outside of your scheduled shifts. 

I acknowledge that we are in a crisis level of shortage in bedside nursing staff, but, at least pay us more. 

The health benefits are second to none, the 403b is okay, the vision insurance is through EyeMed, and we automatically get life insurance. PTO is okay, and I also use the FSA. I feel outside of the health insurance our benefits are pretty standard.

I didn't realize this, but, if you are working on Main Campus, you have to pay for parking. Part time staff pay $45-60 a month, and I believe FT staff pay $60-100. It is honestly the worst part of the job. ALL other CCF hospitals (except I think Fairview) DON'T pay for parking. 

The best part of the job is honestly getting to help patients retain their dignity in their times of need. I really have found my passion for nursing in this job, and I have gained so much experience. 

The worst part is probably the staffing. I don't think CC is super understaffed compared to other hospitals in the area, but we are still bad. I can be the only PCNA on the floor sometimes for a unit of 35. Also, entitled patients sometimes are another bad part.

Training was also provided to me, but it was for 2 weeks and was at a farther away location, and was full time (I am part time). That was pretty bad, but it was quick. I felt prepared after being trained and after I was done with my preceptorship (an additional month). I also recieved my BLS certification free through here, and have been able to attend professional educational meetings on how to further my skills, which is cool!

I do feel like CCF listens to an extent. I overall enjoy coming to work, and the culture at Cleveland Clinic is honestly a part of why. We all want to see the best outcomes, and we are all dedicated. I love my coworkers even though I float every day. I rarely encounter someone who I don't like. 

The nursing education benefit is also cool, and you can start taking it from your 90 day mark of employment, and there's only a year work commitment for taking it out.

My ANM (assistant nurse manager) is very nice, and is honest, which I appreciate. She seems to want me to succeed and will give you help/advice on how to further your career. Our NM (nurse manager) never really talks to us however, so I don't really know what to say for him. 

Overall, I thank Cleveland Clinic for giving me the opportunity to advance my career in healthcare, and giving me a constant learning experience. 

My first and every day that followed was the most negative and stressful work experience. My job was nothing what was presented to me in my interview. And after only being there a few months I understand why they lie to people, because no one would want to work there otherwise. Everyone is overworked and underpaid. Management is immature! I was dumbfounded as to how childish and immature my administrator was. There was zero communication, empty promises and rude comments. I was asked not to write emails on my progress in the department and the assistance I needed because they didn't want documentation. My personal phone skyrocketed with text messages and phone calls. In 3 months my texts were over 12000 a month because they contacted you at ALL hours of the day and weekends. I saw 8 people give notice in less than 3 months! HUGE turn over rate. HR was of ZERO help when I called multiple times to try and save what I had worked so hard to get. But, surprise.... they have a big turn over rate so when I called back to the woman I had explained my entire situation to, she was gone. . I was left in a position with NO PROPER training in a short amount of time and left alone with NO HELP in a position where there is no room for error. Should I mention I was someone's replacement and this unfortunate person was unaware of what was happening to her job.  If Dr's don't like you, you will be asked to change positions as well.  Patients DID NOT come first in this department. You are dumped into a position with rushed training. When you walk around to other departments they find out where you work and verbally bash your administrator because they themselves know what a terrible position you are in. So many departments are short because no one stays and they just put that work load on whom ever is left. I won't even mention what other organizations have to say about Weston CC. Just look at the turn over rate and all the job openings.... 

I even called HR months after I left to try and help them see the situation in this department and that Administration NEEDS to be addressed. This woman was just quiet on the phone, had no idea what to say (she had just started a 3 months prior to this phone call). Why does such a well known top rated place want to keep the cycle going to fill positions that are constantly filled then become empty weeks to a few months later? Wouldn't you see the REG FLAG of the turn over rate and fix the Foundation (Administration) so the rest of the Building (department) could stand successfully? 

Please note that this job seriously affected my health, sleep and family life. Things I can't go back and fix.  

Also, this is NOT how the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio is ran. I have learned from this experience just because one place is ran one way doesn't mean it's ran the same in another state. Cleveland Ohio would be speechless if they saw what goes on behind closed doors in Weston.

A typical day for me is making sure that all the patients coming for radiology procedures have authorizations on file.  I call insurance companies and find why the authorization is pending and what needs to be done to get the authorization approved for the patient.  I also call the patient and let the know a day in advance and give them the option to sign a waiver, or to  cancel and reschedule the appointment.  If the patient refuses to sign a waiver, or cancel then I send an FCN (Financial Clearance Notification) to the administrator of the department and find out if he/she will accept the risk, or financial responsibility.  If they do not then I will let the patient know his.her next options which are to sign the waiver, reschedule, or pay for the procedure. I also call and verify patient's insurance and make sure that CCF is in network with the patient plan.  If CCF is not in network then I find out if they have OON (out of network) benefits to be utilized.  If  CCF is not in net work I will contact the patient and let them know and then give them the estimated price of the procedure, so they can pay for it they want, or advise them that they will need to go back into network.  These are basically my denials that come from our pre cert department and FC (Financial Clearances).  I also receive a lot of phone calls from patients and healthcare providers inquiring about pre cert and cost of procedures as well.  Denials for me on a day to day basis can be any where from 15-25, or more depending on what the pre cert team is dropping in my work queue.  

Since I have been in this department for a year now I have learned about the Health insurance Marketplace and have even completed the requested training to be able to give the patient the appropriate information needed to help the patient apply for health insurance.  I have learned to work on different systems to look up patient bills as well as call patients regarding current balance and try to collect a payment from them so, they don't go into collections.  I am still learning something new everyday with my job.  

My co workers and management here are team players and are available to help when needed, but overall they are pleasant.  

The hardest part about the job is trying to get everything in place for the patient to make sure they have smooth transition from one appointment to another.  Sometimes it doesn't work like that if the patient does not return my calls, so I can tell them what is going on before they get here and give them there options.  Overall I enjoy helping patient and being a team player.  I am always trying to find some way to help and make sure that the patient is satisfied.

I was excited to join this position, especially because of the Cleveland Clinic branding, which I assumed would reflect a supportive and professional environment. Unfortunately, my experience was the complete opposite.  

Cleveland Clinic does not care about its staff and shows little to no empathy for employees. The environment is extremely strict, and the compensation does not align with the amount of work expected. Micro-managing is pervasive, and every second of your day is scrutinized. If you're not actively working on something—even when no projects are assigned—you’ll hear about it later. Tardiness is treated excessively harshly; even being one minute late results in reprimands, and any excuse, such as a car accident, is not taken into consideration.  

The biggest issue for me was the attendance policy, which is incredibly rigid and unforgiving. I was transparent about my health issues from the beginning and was provided FMLA paperwork, only to learn that accommodations are not granted until you’ve been with the company for at least one year. During the initial 90-day period, you are allowed only two call-offs; the third results in termination if another occurs within six months. Even with valid doctor’s notes for my absences, they showed no understanding or flexibility.  

To make matters worse, I had informed management early on about plans to visit family for the holidays, including my grandmother who has been in and out of the hospital. They refused to approve the time off and told me I would be fired if I went. I ultimately decided to resign because I couldn’t justify staying with a company that values policies over compassion.  

I’ve heard from other employees who were fired for similar reasons, including hospitalization, family emergencies, or illness. It’s shocking that a healthcare organization, which should prioritize health and well-being, treats its employees this way.  

While the insurance and benefits are good on paper, they are nearly impossible to take advantage of due to the company’s refusal to approve time off. The constant short-staffing only exacerbates these issues, as they seem more focused on cutting people loose than addressing systemic problems.  

In summary, Cleveland Clinic’s lack of empathy, harsh policies, and toxic work environment make it a deeply disappointing place to work. I expected much better from a healthcare institution of its reputation.  


Typical day at work (at the call center): obtaining/sometimes updating patient demographic information, answering patients questions and concerns about their healthcare bills, explaining EOB/COB/offering payment plans/letting them know about collections balances/where payments were applied/why insurance did or did not pay anything/calling the insurance companies to verify information (whether it is benefits/eligibility/pricing concerns, etc..). Making sure authorizations are in place, putting patients in contact with financial counselors/advocates, reminding them of upcoming appointments, etc. it is very customer based position.  Call volume can be high or low depends on what day it is & time of day people decide to call (typically Monday & Fridays are busiest & days before and after holidays). Pros: helping patients (& yourself at times) understand this concept we call healthcare system and making them feel somewhat more confident in choosing us. Pay, flexible schedule (required to work 2 days a week but always have the option to pick-up more if you want, on the phone (not dealing with patients face to face), have your own cubicle, pay, pay, pay (not about the money but responsibilities need to be taken care), seriously though lots of room for growth. Cons: some verbal abuse the patients give because they don’t like what you have to say/they feel you’re not doing your job/they feel they shouldn’t owe any money (as if services are free…like no, this is not volunteer work, people need to get paid for their services), depending on the type of coworkers/management can be good or bad. Luckily I worked with a great set of coworkers/management who were extremely helpful with just about everything, there are some there who have attitudes but overall great work culture. Would recommend if you’re interested in learning more about healthcare (insurance side of things), need a side gig to make quick cash, don’t want to be totally stressed and this would be a good first job. You can move up with this company, pay is great for PRN or full time position (actual livable wage) and the benefits are amazing. Not to mention number 2 hospital in the world will look great on your resume.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Honestly, the doctors that I worked with were the best part. They can be funny and laid back but also know when to be serious. They're accommodating, but also very busy. Most of the ones I worked with protect their Administrative Assistant. They can also be very generous. I understood how overwhelming their position could be so I would try to problem solve what I could before bringing things to them to add to their already overwhelming schedules, but sometimes it was inevitable. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The most stressful part about working at this company could actually be your own team members. There was a lot of gossip, slacking off on work, ignoring of the phones ringing, blaming others for their own shortcomings. Management could improve as well. Maybe take a few more professional development classes. The whole team outside of the doctors could benefit from more professional development and actually applying it for longer than a day or two. People could learn to take accountability and complain less and work more. Remember that socializing is for your break or outside of work being that they all were on each other's social media or they had each other's personal numbers. They could learn to workore as a team and stop seeing one another as competition. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Simple terms, it can be a petty work environment. It could be a bit more structured. I believe this is why the turnover rate is a bit high because the lack of having an effective work environment and culture. People seem to get annoyed when you come to them for help, and going to management sometimes wouldn't fix anything either. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
A typical day is the phones ringing almost nonstop, MyChart messages coming in left and right, and having a stack of medical records you're either waiting for or need to upload into the system.

I liked working for the Cleveland Clinic Agency Resource (CCAR) because it afforded me with the opportunities to work at a variety of hospitals within different communities including: Fairview, Lakewood, Euclid, and Cleveland, Ohio.  I worked primarily in the Intensive Care Units.  The majority of the patients required isolation, and had chronic disease processes. The hardest part of the job was the individual hospital policies.  The hospitals are under the conglomerate of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF), yet have their own policies.  For example, one hospital may have a policy to monitor vital signs every five minutes while on vasoactive IV medications, regardless if the nurse is titrating the medication or not.  Another hospital only requires vital signs taken every fifteen minutes if not titrating, and every five minutes while titrating.  Isolation garb is similar.  One hospital within the CCF may require full disposable jumper, cap, mask, shoe covers, and gloves.  While another hospital treating the same organism may only require a disposable knee-length isolation gown, and gloves.  Yet another facility within CCF may require only mask and gloves.  This can prove frustrating when moving within the different hospitals of CCF.  The CCAR agency provided a lot of educational opportunities, and assisted the nursing staff to have ample opportunities to get required competencies fulfilled.  The CCAR offers self-scheduling.  This is all done online from one's home.  The scheduling program is very easy to use, and allows the nurse to schedule time at all facilities within CCF.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Registered nurse 18 salaries reported	$36.22 per hour
Patient assistant 14 salaries reported	$17.43 per hour
Administrative assistant 3 salaries reported	$21.00 per hour
Postdoctoral fellow 3 salaries reported	$60,800 per year
Patient services coordinator 15 salaries reported	$18.32 per hour

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