For Dr. Rachael (Bucey) Jividen ’15, nursing has always been about more than clinical skill. It is about compassion, innovation, and improving the lives of patients and families during some of their most vulnerable moments.
After graduating from Gannon University’s nursing program in 2015, Dr. Rachael Jividen began her career at the Cleveland Clinic as a bedside nurse in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit, where she specialized in mechanical circulatory support. Over the years, she has continued to grow both clinically and academically, transitioning to the cardiac catheterization lab in 2017 before pursuing advanced practice leadership roles within the health system.
Dr. Rachael Jividen completed her master’s degree from Kent State University in 2021 and earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2023. Her doctoral research focused on nurse-led mobilization for adult patients receiving ECMO therapy, a form of advanced life support, with the goal of improving long-term patient outcomes.
Today, she serves as an Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist at Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital, supporting critical and progressive care units. In this role, she works to improve patient care, advance nursing practice, and strengthen health system outcomes through innovation, quality improvement, and leadership. Previously, she held a dual role as a Clinical Nurse Specialist and ECMO Coordinator at Cleveland Clinic’s main campus, where she helped standardize processes, education, and care expectations for a program that treats more than 200 ECMO patients annually.
Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Rachael Jividen is passionate about improving care across the nursing profession. She regularly leads large-scale quality improvement initiatives focused on patient mobility, medication safety, workplace violence prevention, and end-of-life support. One of her most recent projects, Memorable Moments, received a Catalyst Grant from Cleveland Clinic and supports patients and families at the end of life by creating meaningful keepsakes, facilitating virtual visitation, and humanizing the hospital environment.
Dr. Rachael Jividen also contributes nationally to the field of nursing through her work with the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). She volunteers on several committees’ including certification exam writing and review groups and has authored peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Critical Care Nurse, Clinical Nurse Specialist Journal, and American Nurse. She has also presented nationally at AACN’s National Teaching Institute and contributed to the 8th edition of the AACN Procedural Manual for Progressive and Critical Care.
Her professional achievements were recently recognized when she received second place in the 2023 Cleveland Clinic Innovation Inventory for her work improving patient care.
While at Gannon, Dr. Rachael Jividen was deeply involved on campus. She participated in the Honors Program and contributed to TOTEM magazine, even serving as the cover art model during three of her four undergraduate years. She also received the Academic Award for Excellence in Nursing for the Class of 2015.
One of her favorite memories from her time at Gannon was meeting her best friend, Brianna Luszcak ’15, who later became a bridesmaid at her wedding and godmother to her son. She also remembers the excitement and energy surrounding Homecoming week and the strong sense of community across campus.
Reflecting on her time at Gannon, she credits the university’s rigorous nursing program with preparing her for the realities of healthcare.
“The rigorous four-year nursing program prepared me for my first job as a nurse in the fast-paced environment of the intensive care unit at Cleveland Clinic immediately upon graduation. As a new grad, I was caring for patients on ECMO therapy, the highest form of life support. The breadth of clinical experiences and the mentorship from professors who were actively practicing made all the difference in preparing me for the real world.”
Outside of her professional work, Rachael enjoys spending time with her family. She and her husband of almost five years have two young sons. In her free time, she enjoys hiking at the Holden Arboretum in Northeast Ohio, attending performances by the Cleveland Orchestra, reading (her favorite series is The Lord of the Rings), writing, and building Magnetile creations with her three-year-old.
Looking ahead, Dr. Rachael Jividen hopes to continue advancing the nursing profession. In the next five years, she hopes to serve on the board of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and develop a copyrighted framework that helps nurses transform clinical problems into impactful quality improvement projects.
Driven by a commitment to patient care, innovation, and mentorship, Dr. Rachael Jividen continues to embody the spirit of service and leadership that defines Gannon University alumni.
