Care Partner

3710 Paulding Medical Center, Inc.•Hiram, GA

About The Position

The Care Partner is a support care provider who works under the direction of the Registered Nurse (RN). The role focuses on promoting a positive patient experience in partnership with nurses, physicians, the healthcare team, and other providers. The Care Partner assists patients with activities of daily living, ambulation, vital signs, and comfort measures, and may perform approved advanced technical skills depending on unit needs, such as phlebotomy, simple treatments, dressing changes, oral suctioning, and discontinuing Foley catheters. The position also includes clerical and unit-support tasks, such as retrieving data, maintaining supplies, and transporting supplies, medications, and equipment. The Care Partner works in a fast-paced environment requiring multitasking, organization, effective communication, compassion, and the ability to work under stressful conditions and take direction from different care providers. The role supports safe, age-appropriate, culturally aware care and requires a respectful, service-oriented approach.

Requirements

Required minimum education: rising senior in good standing in another/related field, or high school diploma/GED; high school diploma/GED is listed as preferred.
One of the following certifications is required upon hire: BLS (Basic Life Support), ARC-BLS (American Red Cross Basic Life Support), or BLS-I (Basic Life Support Instructor).
Ability to follow detailed directions.
Strong interpersonal skills.
Clear verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to document.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Must meet Wellstar's minimum hiring age of 16.

Nice To Haves

Graduation from a state-approved Certified Nursing Assistant or Patient Care Tech program is preferred upon hire.
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.
Provide patient care under RN direction, including hygiene, nutrition, elimination, ambulation, vital signs, physical comfort measures, and other assigned care needs.
Perform approved advanced skills as required by unit needs, such as phlebotomy, EKGs, Foley catheter removal, IV removal, simple treatments, dressing changes, or oral suctioning.
Follow assigned plans of care and treatment instructions, engage patients and families, and contribute to care planning in collaboration with the healthcare team.
Implement safety interventions, protect patient rights and dignity, and maintain confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA and privacy procedures.
Participate in hourly patient rounding; promptly answer telephone calls and call lights; offer assistance and comfort measures; and resolve or escalate patient concerns appropriately.
Assist with 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; retrieve data and maintain unit supplies.
Communicate effectively with patients, staff, physicians, families, and visitors; use AIDET and safety communication techniques; and report assignment completion and patient concerns, problems, or emergencies to the RN or Charge Nurse in a timely manner.
Document completion of patient care in the electronic medical record and maintain knowledge of relevant documentation tools and downtime procedures.
Maintain patient-care equipment, and 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 and patient-safe handling and assistive devices, including 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.