Care Partner

Wellstar Health System•Dallas, GA

About The Position

The Care Partner is a support care provider who works under the direction of a Registered Nurse. The role focuses on promoting a positive patient experience by partnering with nurses, physicians, and other healthcare providers, and assisting patients with activities of daily living and comfort measures. The Care Partner performs basic patient care, including hygiene, nutrition, elimination, ambulation, and vital signs, and may perform additional advanced skills based on unit needs and approved training, such as phlebotomy, EKGs, simple treatments, dressing changes, oral suctioning, and removal of Foley catheters or IVs. The role also includes clerical and unit-support tasks such as retrieving data, maintaining supplies, and transporting supplies, medications, and equipment. The Care Partner must work effectively in a fast-paced environment, communicate with the care team, take direction from multiple providers, and demonstrate organization, compassion, respect, and a service mindset.

Requirements

Required minimum education: rising senior in good standing in another/related field, or high school diploma/GED (listed as preferred).
BLS, American Red Cross BLS, or BLS Instructor certification is required upon hire.
Ability to follow detailed directions.
Strong interpersonal skills.
Clear verbal and written communication skills, including ability to document.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Minimum age of hire is 16.

Nice To Haves

Graduation from a state-approved Certified Nursing Assistant or Patient Care Tech program is preferred upon hire.
A high school diploma/GED is listed as preferred.

Responsibilities

Partner with the healthcare team, patients, and families to support an excellent patient experience and patient-centered care.
Follow the plan of care as assigned or instructed by a licensed professional and engage patients and families in the treatment plan.
Perform assigned basic patient care, including hygiene, nutrition, elimination, ambulation, vital signs, and comfort measures.
Perform advanced patient-care skills as trained and required by unit needs, such as phlebotomy, EKGs, Foley catheter or IV removal, simple treatments, dressing changes, and oral suctioning.
Participate in hourly patient rounding and proactively offer assistance and comfort measures.
Answer telephone calls and call lights promptly and professionally, route follow-up needs appropriately, and resolve or escalate patient concerns.
Assist with direct patient admissions and support the RN and other healthcare team members with care delivery.
Monitor data entry for key patient safety information, participate in charge reconciliation, and perform audits as requested.
Document completion of patient care in the electronic medical record and communicate assignment completion, patient concerns, problems, and emergencies to the RN or Charge Nurse in a timely manner.
Use effective, positive, and respectful communication with patients, families, visitors, staff, and physicians, including safety communication techniques such as ARRC and AIDET.
Update patient white boards and maintain knowledge of role-related patient-care documentation tools for downtime situations.
Transport unit supplies, patient-care supplies, medications, and equipment as assigned.
Maintain patient-care equipment; sequester, tag, and report malfunctioning devices to appropriate personnel.
Support healthcare-team initiatives, unit performance-improvement initiatives, shared leadership, evidence-based practice, and ethical accountability.
Maintain a safe care environment by using proper hand hygiene, PPE, infection-control policies, universal precautions, and appropriate body mechanics and patient-handling equipment.
Keep patient rooms and unit areas clean and uncluttered and perform environment-of-care rounds.
Protect patient rights, dignity, and confidentiality, including adherence to HIPAA and privacy procedures.
Comply with Wellstar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct, and perform other duties as assigned.