You could say that Hunter Edwards, RN, appreciates a challenge. He might even call himself “extreme.” 

Case in point: Hunter works in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit/Heart & Lung Transplants at Cleveland Clinic, caring for patients who have just had organ transplants, some of whom have even had multiple organ transplants. In his off-hours, he relaxes by going rock climbing and subzero camping with his family. 

He brings that energy and enjoyment of a challenge to his role, in which he advocates not only for his patients, but for nursing as a profession. 

A passion for critical care 

Hunter’s background has prepared him well for working in the Intensive Care Unit. After serving in the Marine Corps, he became an EMS firefighter. Then he began to look for another career. 

“I was looking for something new, something challenging in a hospital,” he says. “I saw a need for nurses, and I saw what a great job they were doing during the pandemic. I knew I had a love for critical care through EMS and firefighting, so I decided to step into that kind of role in the nursing field.”   

Hunter attended nursing school at Miami University. He began at Cleveland Clinic in 2024, starting in the open heart surgery unit, and then transferred to the lung, heart and multi-organ transplant unit.   

Teamwork and opportunities 

In the process, Hunter has come to appreciate the support he’s received as his career progresses. “I’ve been able to get to a high point in my career very early, thanks to my experience before nursing and the opportunities that Cleveland Clinic has given me,” he says.  

For instance, Cleveland Clinic’s high clinical standards have helped Hunter develop and grow as a nurse. “Cleveland Clinic deals with patients who require more clinically, because we take some of the more critically ill patients,” he notes. “Pairing that with great mentors has really shaped how I practice and how I approach the responsibility of being a CVICU nurse. The mentors that I’ve gained here, I will have for life.” 

Hunter also credits his team environment for the growth of his skill set. “We have a culture of very good nursing and clinical precision,” he says. “We foster an environment of very knowledgeable nurses in order to deal with the type of patients that we see. And in order to treat those patients as best as we can, it really requires a heightened knowledge base that you might not get anywhere else.” 

Kudos from his alma mater 

In addition to his work in the ICU, Hunter has worked on the Nursing Research, Evidence-Based Practice, and Innovation Council at Cleveland Clinic. Further confirming his dedication to the practice of nursing, Hunter has also been an ambassador for the American Association of Critical Care Nursing, serving on various panels and committees. 

To honor his commitment and achievements, Hunter recently received the “18 of the last 9” Award from his alma mater, Miami University. The award is given by the Alumni Association to 18 alumni from the past nine graduating years who are recognized as leaders or innovators in their field. “I’m really excited to be recognized by my alma mater for that,” he says. 

As his career continues at Cleveland Clinic, Hunter plans to pursue an advanced practice degree to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). According to the American Academy of Nurse Anesthesiology, CRNAs provide anesthesia in various medical settings, in collaboration with other qualified healthcare professionals. 

To be the best 

Hunter’s pride in his profession and his enthusiasm for Cleveland Clinic’s clinical excellence are unmistakable. “I would encourage people who want to be the best at whatever specialty they are passionate about to come to Cleveland Clinic,” he says. “The best nurse practitioner who cares for open heart patients post-op? Come to Cleveland Clinic. The best cardiothoracic surgeon? Come to Cleveland Clinic.” 

Of his own team, Hunter says, “I would say that our unit has some of the best heart and lung transplant teams in the world. And you can get on a team at Cleveland Clinic to do something very specific. If you’re passionate about it, we have the resources, the mentorship and the patient population to help you become the best at it. We pride ourselves on the ability to give people a second chance at life that no one else could.”