Care Partner - Day Surgery Augusta (PRN)

Wellstar Health System

About The Position

The Care Partner is a support care provider who works under the direction of a Registered Nurse to promote a positive patient experience. The role partners with nurses, physicians, the healthcare team, and other providers to deliver compassionate, safe, age-appropriate, and culturally aware care. Duties include assisting with activities of daily living and comfort measures, performing basic patient-care functions such as ambulation and vital signs, and performing approved advanced skills as needed based on unit requirements. These may include phlebotomy, EKGs, simple treatments, dressing changes, oral suctioning, and removal of Foley catheters or IVs. The Care Partner also performs clerical and unit-support tasks, including retrieving data, maintaining supplies, transporting supplies, medications, and equipment, documenting care in the electronic medical record, and completing audits or reconciliation tasks as assigned. The position requires multitasking and effective communication in a fast-paced environment, the ability to work under stressful conditions, organization, compassion, respect, and a service mindset. The Care Partner takes direction from a variety of care providers and communicates patient-care concerns promptly to the RN or Charge Nurse.

Requirements

Must be at least 16 years of age.
Must hold BLS, ARC-BLS, or BLS-I certification upon hire.
Ability to follow detailed directions.
Strong interpersonal skills.
Clear verbal and written communication skills, including ability to document.
Ability to work individually and as part of a team.
Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment, multitask, and perform under stressful conditions.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or GED; a rising senior in good standing is also listed as an education option.
Graduation from a state-approved Certified Nursing Assistant or Patient Care Technician program is preferred upon hire.

Responsibilities

Partner with the healthcare team, patients, and families to support an excellent patient experience and patient-centered care.
Provide patient care under the direction of the RN, including hygiene, nutrition, elimination, physical comfort measures, activities of daily living, ambulation, and vital signs.
Perform unit-specific advanced skills when trained and assigned, such as phlebotomy, EKGs, simple treatments, dressing changes, oral suctioning, and removal of Foley catheters or IVs.
Follow the assigned plan of care and engage patients and families in accordance with the treatment plan.
Implement safety interventions, protect patient rights and dignity, maintain confidentiality, and follow HIPAA and privacy procedures.
Participate in hourly patient rounding; answer telephone calls and call lights promptly; offer assistance and comfort measures; and resolve or escalate patient concerns.
Assist with direct patient admissions and other care delivery tasks assigned by the RN or healthcare team.
Monitor data entry for key patient-safety information, participate in charge reconciliation, and perform audits as requested.
Support unit initiatives, performance-improvement efforts, 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; use safety communication techniques; and report completion of assignments and patient-care concerns to the RN or Charge Nurse in a timely manner.
Document completion of patient care in the electronic medical record and maintain knowledge of role-specific documentation tools for downtime situations.
Maintain patient-care equipment; sequester, tag, and report malfunctioning devices to appropriate personnel.
Communicate with patients and update whiteboards with information.
Maintain a safe care environment through hand hygiene, infection-control and PPE practices, clean and uncluttered rooms and unit areas, and reinforcement of universal precautions.
Use proper body mechanics, patient-safe handling devices, and assistive devices such as lifts, transfer equipment, walkers, and gait belts.
Perform environment-of-care rounds and other duties as assigned.
Comply with Wellstar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.