Care Partner (CNA) - Acute Care - Stroke Unit - FT Nights

Wellstar Health System•Douglasville, GA

About The Position

The Care Partner is a support care provider who works under the direction of the Registered Nurse. The role focuses on promoting a positive patient experience by partnering with nurses, physicians, the healthcare team, and other providers, and by assisting patients with activities of daily living and comfort measures. The Care Partner performs basic patient care functions, including assisting with daily living activities, ambulation, and vital signs, while providing safe, age-appropriate, and culturally aware care. Depending on unit needs and approved training, the Care Partner may perform advanced technical skills such as phlebotomy, simple treatments, dressing changes, oral suctioning, and discontinuing Foley catheters. The role also includes clerical functions, retrieving data, maintaining unit supplies, and transporting supplies and patient medications. The Care Partner must work effectively in a fast-paced environment, multitask, communicate with the RN and ancillary team, respond compassionately under stressful conditions, take direction from a variety of care providers, and stay organized. The Care Partner supports patient-centered care by carrying out assigned tasks under RN direction, addressing patient needs, respecting patient rights and dignity, maintaining confidentiality, and communicating patient concerns and changes promptly. The position also contributes to teamwork, unit improvement initiatives, documentation, equipment readiness, and safety and infection-control practices.

Requirements

Rising senior in good standing; GED is also listed under required minimum education.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, including BLS Instructor, is listed as required upon hire.
Ability to follow detailed directions.
Strong interpersonal skills.
Clear verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to document.
Ability to work individually and as part of a team.
Minimum age of hire is 16.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, multitask, communicate effectively, and perform under stressful conditions with a compassionate, respectful, service-minded approach.

Nice To Haves

Certified Nursing Assistant certification is preferred.
Graduation from a state-approved Certified Nursing Assistant or Patient Care Technician program is preferred upon hire.
Approved advanced technical training for skills such as phlebotomy, simple treatments, dressing changes, oral suctioning, and discontinuing Foley catheters may be required depending on unit needs.

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 contribute to care or treatment based on assigned tasks and patient/family input.
Implement safety interventions and protect patients' rights, dignity, and confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA and privacy procedures.
Participate in hourly patient rounding; answer telephone calls and call lights promptly; offer assistance and comfort measures; and escalate unresolved concerns to the charge nurse.
Provide patient care under RN direction, including hygiene, nutrition, elimination, physical comfort measures, ambulation, vital signs, and unit-specific advanced skills as approved and required.
Assist the RN and other healthcare team members with care delivery and direct patient admissions.
Monitor data entry for key patient safety information, participate in charge reconciliation, and perform audits as requested.
Support healthcare team initiatives, unit performance improvement, shared leadership, evidence-based practice, and ethical accountability.
Transport unit supplies, patient-care supplies, medications, and equipment as assigned.
Communicate effectively with patients, staff, physicians, families, and visitors, including using AIDET and safety communication techniques and the chain of command when needed.
Communicate completion of assignments to the RN or Charge Nurse and promptly report patient-care concerns, problems, or emergencies.
Document completion of patient care in the electronic medical record and maintain knowledge of role-related documentation tools for downtime situations.
Maintain patient-care equipment, including blood pressure machines and glucometers; sequester, tag, and report malfunctioning devices.
Communicate with patients and update whiteboards with information.
Promote a safe care environment through hand hygiene, keeping rooms and unit areas clean and uncluttered, and following PPE and infection-control policies.
Reinforce universal precautions with patients and families and use proper body mechanics, patient-safe handling devices, and assistive devices.
Perform environment-of-care rounds and other duties as assigned.
Comply with Wellstar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.