Care Partner PT Days

Job Summary

The Care Partner is a support care provider who functions under the direction of the Registered Nurse. The Care Partner primary focus will be to promote a positive patient experience by partnering with the nurse, physician, healthcare team and other healthcare providers to provide excellence in patient experience; and assist with daily living activities and comfort measures. The Care Partner assists other health care providers with safe, age appropriate and culturally aware care by performing basic patient care functions; i.e. ADL's, ambulation, and vital signs.

The Care Partner may require approved advanced technical training skills i.e. phlebotomy, simple treatments, dressing changes, oral suctioning, and discontinuing Foley catheters. Performing additional advanced skills may be required to support clinical care and will fluctuate depending on the needs of the unit. Performing clerical functions such as retrieval of data, maintaining unit supplies, and transporting supplies/patient medications will be required. The Care Partner must be able to work in a fast-paced environment which requires multi-tasking and effective communication with the Registered Nurse and ancillary team.

Core Responsibilities and Essential Functions

• Partner with health care team, patient and family to support an environment of healing or wellness
• Address patient needs and follow the plan of care as assigned or instructed by a licensed professional
• Engage patient and family in compliance with the treatment plan
• Consistently implement all safety interventions to minimize risk
• Protect rights and dignity of patient
• Maintain confidentiality adhering to HIPAA regulations and recommended privacy procedures
• Participate in hourly patient rounding
• Answer telephone and call lights promptly and notify appropriate individual of need for follow-up
• Resolve patient concerns or escalate to the charge nurse
• Proactively offer assistance and comfort measures to patients and families
• Provide patient care under the direction of the RN
• Provide patient care needs (hygiene, nutrition, elimination, physical comfort measures) and additional advanced skills based on unit specific requirements (phlebotomy, EKG, removal of foley catheters and removal of IVs)
• Assist RN and other members of health care team with care delivery as assigned
• Assist in direct patient admission
• Monitor data entry for key patient safety information
• Participate in charge reconciliation
• Perform audits as requested
• Support initiatives of the health care team
• Participate in unit performance improvement initiatives
• Transport unit supplies, patient care supplies, medications and equipment as assigned
• Use effective written and oral communication skills with patients, staff, physicians, family and visitors (AIDET)
• Use safety communication techniques (ARRC)
• Communicate completion of assignment/duties to RN or Charge Nurse
• Document completion of patient care in EMR
• Communicate patient care concerns/problems/emergencies to the RN or Charge Nurse in a timely manner
• Maintain equipment i.e. blood pressure machines, glucometers, and other patient care equipment
• Communicate with patient and update white boards with information
• Provide a safe environment for the provision of patient care
• Consistent use of proper hand hygiene
• Keep patient rooms and unit areas clean and free of clutter
• Follow appropriate PPE/Infection control policies
• Reinforce the importance of universal precautions with patient and patient's family
• Utilize proper body mechanics, patient safe handling devices, and additional assistive devices
• Perform environment of care rounds
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Comply with all Wellstar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct

Required Minimum Education

Rising Senior in Good Standing Other / Related Field or High School Diploma / GED General-Preferred

Required Minimum License(s) and Certification(s)

All certifications are required upon hire unless otherwise stated. BLS - Basic Life Support or ARC-BLS - Amer Red Cross Basic Life Support or BLS-I - Basic Life Support - Instructor

Additional License(s) and Certification(s)

Graduation from a State approved program for Certified Nursing Assistants or Patient Care Tech Program Upon Hire Preferred

Required Minimum Skills

• Ability to follow detailed directions
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Clear verbal and written communication, specifically ability to document
• Ability to work individually and as part of a team
• Wellstar minimum age of hire is 16