Care Partner Columbia County (Nights)

Job Summary

The Care Partner is a support care provider who functions under the direction of the Registered Nurse. The primary focus is 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.

• Assists other health care providers with safe, age-appropriate, and culturally aware care by performing basic patient care functions, including ADLs, ambulation, and vital signs.
• May require approved advanced technical training skills, such as phlebotomy, simple treatments, dressing changes, oral suctioning, and discontinuing Foley catheters.
• Performs additional advanced skills as needed to support clinical care and varies depending on the needs of the unit.
• Performs clerical functions, including retrieval of data, maintaining unit supplies, and transporting supplies/patient medications.

Core Responsibilities And Essential Functions

Excellence in Patient Experience by partnering with the health care team, patient, and family.

• Patient Centered Care-Clinical Practice: Supports an environment of healing or wellness for patients which includes addressing patient needs, following the plan of care as assigned or instructed by a licensed professional; and while carrying out role responsibilities, engages the patient and family in compliance with the treatment plan.
• Effectively contributes to the plan of care or treatment based on assigned tasks and patient/family input in collaboration with the healthcare team with a focus on the care continuum.
• Consistently implements all safety interventions to minimize risk in achieving intended outcomes.
• Protects rights and dignity of patient. Maintains confidentiality adhering to HIPAA regulations and recommended privacy procedures.
• Participates in hourly patient rounding.
• Answers telephone and call lights promptly, professionally, and notifies appropriate individual of need for follow-up.
• Resolves patient concerns or escalates to the charge nurse if unable to resolve patient concerns.
• Proactively offers assistance and comfort measures to patients and families.
• Present self in positive and professional manner and show sensitivity to concerns and needs of others.

Patient Centered Care:

• Provides patient care under the direction of the RN.
• Provides patient care needs (ex. hygiene, nutrition, elimination, physical comfort measures) and additional advanced skills based on unit specific requirements (ex. phlebotomy, EKG, removal of foley catheters and removal of IVs).
• Aids RN and other members of the health care team with care delivery as assigned.
• Aids in direct patient admission.
• Maintains data entry for key patient safety information.
• Participates in charge reconciliation.
• Performs audits as requested.

Teamwork:

• Supports initiatives of the healthcare team.
• Participates in unit performance improvement initiatives.
• Supports professional nursing practice through shared leadership, evidenced-based practice, and ethical accountability.

Communication:

• Uses effective written and oral communication skills with patients, staff, physicians, family, and visitors, i.e. AIDET (Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Explain, Thank you).
• Uses safety communication techniques, i.e. Ask a question, Request a change, Voice a concern, Use chain of command when necessary (ARRC).
• Communicates completion of assignment/duties to RN or Charge Nurse.
• Documents completion of patient care in EMR (Electronic Medical Record).
• Communicates patient care concerns/problems/emergencies to the RN or Charge Nurse in a timely manner.
• Real-time communication is required.
• Uses positive and respectful communication with all members of the healthcare team, patients, and families.
• Maintains equipment, i.e. blood pressure machines, glucometers, and other patient care equipment.
• When devices are not properly working, sequester, tag, and report to appropriate personnel.
• Communicates with patient and updates white boards with information.

Knowledgeable, maintains, and acts as unit expert regarding patient care documentation tools related to their role in the event of downtime.

Safety and Infection Control:

• Provides a safe environment for the provision of patient care.
• Consistent use of proper hand hygiene.
• Keeps patient rooms and unit areas clean and free of clutter.
• Follows appropriate PPE/Infection control policies in between patient care and equipment usage.
• Reinforces the importance of universal precautions with patient and patients' family.
• Utilizes proper body mechanics, patient safe handling devices (i.e. lifts, transfer equipment, etc.), and additional assistive devices (i.e. walkers, gait belts).
• Performs environment of care rounds.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Minimum Education

Rising Senior in Good Standing

Other or High School Diploma

General-Preferred or GED

Required Minimum License(s) And Certification(s)

• 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

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

Required Minimum Experience

Must be 16 years of age or older.

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.