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

Wellstar Health System•LaGrange, GA

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, patients, and families to provide compassionate care, assist with daily living activities and comfort measures, and support safe, age-appropriate, and culturally aware care. Basic duties include assisting with activities of daily living, ambulation, and vital signs. Depending on unit needs and approved training, the role may also perform advanced skills such as phlebotomy, simple treatments, dressing changes, oral suctioning, and discontinuing Foley catheters. Clerical and logistical duties include retrieving data, maintaining supplies, and transporting supplies, medications, and equipment. The Care Partner must communicate effectively, multitask in a fast-paced environment, work under stressful conditions, take direction from multiple care providers, and maintain an organized, compassionate, respectful, and service-minded approach.

Requirements

Rising senior in good standing in another or related field, or a high school diploma or GED; the listed education is 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 the ability to document.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience in direct patient care is preferred.
Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) certification is preferred upon hire.

Responsibilities

Partner with the healthcare team, patient, and family to support an excellent patient experience and contribute to the plan of care.
Provide patient care under RN direction, including hygiene, nutrition, elimination, comfort measures, ambulation, vital signs, and other assigned or unit-specific skills.
Follow assigned care plans and safety interventions, protect patient rights and dignity, and maintain 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 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 requested audits.
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.
Communicate assignment completion and patient care concerns, problems, or emergencies to the RN or charge nurse in a timely manner.
Document completed patient care in the electronic medical record and maintain knowledge of role-related documentation tools for downtime situations.
Update patient whiteboards and communicate with patients.
Maintain patient-care equipment; sequester, tag, and report malfunctioning devices to appropriate personnel.
Maintain a safe care environment through hand hygiene, infection-control and PPE practices, clean and uncluttered spaces, universal precautions, proper body mechanics, and use of patient-handling 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.