Nursing Assistant (Care Partner) - Med/Surg - Nights

Wellstar Health System•LaGrange, 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. The Care Partner assists with activities of daily living, comfort measures, ambulation, vital signs, and other basic patient care functions, providing safe, age-appropriate, and culturally aware care. Depending on unit needs and approved training, the role may also include advanced technical skills such as phlebotomy, simple treatments, dressing changes, oral suctioning, and discontinuing Foley catheters. Clerical and operational duties include retrieving data, maintaining unit supplies, and transporting supplies, medications, and equipment. The position requires effective communication, multitasking, organization, compassion, and the ability to work under stressful conditions and take direction from a variety of care providers.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED is preferred.
BLS, ARC-BLS, or BLS-I certification is 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 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.
Direct patient-care experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Partner with the healthcare team, patients, and families to support an excellent patient experience.
Provide patient care under RN direction, including hygiene, nutrition, elimination, physical comfort measures, and unit-specific advanced skills as assigned.
Follow assigned care plans and treatment plans, engage patients and families, and contribute to care planning in collaboration with the healthcare team.
Implement safety interventions, protect patient rights and dignity, maintain confidentiality, and follow HIPAA and privacy procedures.
Participate in hourly patient rounding; answer telephones and call lights promptly; offer assistance and comfort measures; resolve concerns or escalate them to the charge nurse.
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 using appropriate safety communication and escalation procedures.
Communicate assignment completion and patient-care 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 role-related documentation tools during downtime.
Update patient whiteboards and maintain patient-care equipment; sequester, tag, and report malfunctioning devices.
Maintain a safe care environment through hand hygiene, cleanliness, infection-control practices, appropriate PPE, 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 policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.