Care Partner - PRN

Care Partner Position

As a Care Partner in our Medical Surgical unit, you will play a vital role in supporting patient care and ensuring a safe, comfortable environment for patients during their hospital stay. This position is ideal for individuals who are compassionate, detail-oriented, and committed to delivering high-quality care in a fast-paced setting.

Qualifications :

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Previous experience in a healthcare setting preferred.
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification is a plus.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and adapt to changing priorities.

Job Responsibilities and Requirements :

Essential Functions :

Carries out the patient's plan of care as it relates to the patient's physical needs under the direction of the Registered Nurse.

Delivers care requiring broad knowledge of aseptic technique, medical terminology and equipment.

Assists nurses and physicians with procedures.

Maintains knowledge of and operates equipment used in patient care safely.

Retrieves patient care items that are not routinely available on the unit.

Retrieves, recovers or follows up on patient care needs.

Completed unit clerical duties including the coordination of designated unit activities, transcription of orders, medical record maintenance and serving as a unit receptionist.

Prepares rooms prior to admissions and following discharges. Completes patient's belongings list on admission and transfer.

Directs prompt and courteous attention to the needs of patients, families, and visitors.

Rounds with purpose.

Engages in service recovery activities referring unusual problems to Nurse Manager / Designate.

Rounds after dietary trays are passed to ensure all meals are appropriate or as required for patient satisfaction / care needs.

Takes appropriate action when necessary including the resolution of issues related to late or wrong trays.

Feeds and sets up trays as needed.

Recognizes needs and initiates appropriate action in regard to maintaining supplies and equipment.

Notifies appropriate department in order to maintain a clean safe environment (housekeeping, maintenance, dietary, etc.).

Functions as a resource person to co-workers, patients / families, medical staff, and ancillary personnel.

Safety and Comfort :

Correctly places restraints; observes for constriction of circulation, changes to skin integrity, adequate breathing; knows when and how to change position; provides range of motion (ROM) and skin care, toileting, and opportunities for socialization.

Operates Cardiac Monitor i.e.

On / off switch

Alarms / stand-by

Obtaining strip

Lead placement

Vital Signs / Measurement :

Completes Point of Care Testing as approved by hospital and competency

Obtains vital signs including temperature

Measures abdominal girth

Weighs patients

Measures intake and output

Mobility and Exercise :

Applies Pneumatic Air Stockings / Ted Hose

Ambulates, turns and positions patients.

Respiratory Care :

Assists with incentive spirometry and cough / deep breath.

Sets up oxygen therapy such as, nasal cannula or mask as directed by Registered Nurse.

Monitors pulse oximetry

Completes tracheostomy care

Performs suctioning

Oral

Tracheal : When the patient is assessed by the Registered Nurse to be stable.

Wound Care :

Places patient on specialty bed

Performs dressing changes (sterile and clean)

Cares for pin care site after assessment has been completed by the Registered Nurse. Assists in monitoring that traction weights are hanging freely and in good alignment.

Bowel and Bladder Elimination :

Administers enemas

Performs straight catheterization. Provides catheter care.

Hygiene :

Provides :

Hygiene and grooming daily

Mouth care (including dentures) at least twice / day.

Fresh water at 0800, 1600, 2400 and as needed

Perineal care

Toileting

Specimen Collection :

Obtains :

Midstream (clean-voided) urine specimen.

Timed urine specimen

Sterile urine specimen from an indwelling catheter

Urine specific gravity (5 South and 5 ICU only)

Urine pH

Expectorated sputum specimens

Blood specimens by venipuncture

Stool specimens

Clerical :

Answers phone within 3 rings identifying self, title and nursing unit. Does not keep person on hold for extended periods.

Provides directions to physicians, hospital personnel, and visitors to patient's room.

Notifies the physician and nursing staff of new patient's arrival to unit.

Assists in the receiving of articles brought to the nursing unit.

Answers pneumatic tube promptly and returns carriers to the appropriate area.

Prepares a daily worksheet and confirms all appointments concerning daily work (including blood work) and updates worksheet on each shift.

Verifies census sheet, maintains and updates as necessary.

Informs Admitting Department of all transfers, discharges, admissions, room changes, and deaths through the computer. Includes disposition of appropriate paperwork.

Informs staff / charge nurses / nurse manager of nursing unit activities : return of patients to the floor, physician stat orders, new admissions, etc.

Assist nursing staff and ancillary personnel to ensure appropriate and complete specimen labels / requisition orders.

Reports critical lab values to appropriate personnel.

Initiates and completes secretarial portion of the pre-op checklist.

Completes the administrative data screen for all new admissions and updates daily.

Assists the nursing staff with paperwork involved in the patient transfer and discharge procedure to include movement of medications.

Gives a full report to the oncoming person. (Leaves a written report if unable to give verbal). Informs the Charge Nurse if additional orders are left for the night shift.

Checks patient chart periodically throughout the shift for "stat", flagged and un-flagged orders.

Checks physician orders daily for unsigned verbal / telephone orders and places appropriate flag.

Enters orders into the computer accurately.

Calls departments to order tests, procedures, and consults which cannot be ordered through the computer.

Transcribes orders for tests / procedures / consults onto the TESTS / PROCEDURES section of the profile.

Ensures labels are correctly placed on all forms.

Transcribes medication orders to the medication administration record accurately.

Places all physician orders in pharmacy bin. Faxes all physician orders to pharmacy during night shift.

Signs orders to indicate orders were taken off with date, time, signature and title.

Utilizes appropriate back-up systems in the event of computer downtime.

Ensures that stat and timed orders are transcribed promptly.

Initiates and assembles charts.

Keeps chart in order; thins chart as needed and places in appropriate file.

Obtains old charges from Medical Records through the computer.

Ensures that Medical Records picks up old charts by placing them in assigned pick up area on day of discharge.

Completes medical record checklist and ensures that the complete chart is sent to Medical Records within 24 hours of discharge and immediately