Patient Care Partner - 6NW - Per Diem

Patient Care Partner – 6NW – Per Diem

Make a Difference Every Shift by Delivering Compassionate, Hands-On Patient Care

Join a collaborative healthcare team where you'll provide essential bedside care, support patients throughout their hospital stay, and make a meaningful impact on the patient experience while working alongside experienced nursing professionals.

Organization Overview

As a member of the patient care team, the Patient Care Partner works under the direction of Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care. This role supports patients across a variety of clinical settings while promoting safety, comfort, dignity, and positive outcomes. 

Role Summary

The Per Diem Patient Care Partner provides direct patient care and clinical support for diverse patient populations under the supervision of an RN/LPN. This role assists with activities of daily living, patient monitoring, specimen collection, mobility, safety initiatives, and maintaining a clean, organized care environment while ensuring exceptional patient experiences.

Schedule Details

Per Diem (PD) 
Schedule varies based on department needs and staffing requirements.

Key Benefits & Perks

• Flexible per diem scheduling 

• Work alongside experienced nursing professionals 

• Gain valuable hands-on clinical experience 

• Collaborative, team-oriented work environment 

• Opportunity to build skills across multiple patient populations 

• Ongoing education and professional development 

Responsibilities

Participates in the delivery of patient care for population groups under the direction of an RN/LPN including but not limited to the following:

• Lifting, turning, and positioning patients utilizing Safe Patient Handling equipment (>35 pounds), as appropriate. 

• Observing confused and difficult patients. 

• AM/PM hygiene care. 

• Toileting, shaving, washing, brushing hair, dental and mouth care. 

• Feeding. 

• Assisting with range of motion exercises. 

• Mobilizing patients—transfers and ambulation, utilizing Safe Patient Handling equipment (>35 pounds), as appropriate and following the Mobility protocol. 

• Exercise protocols. 

• Discontinuing foley catheter. 

• Simple dressing changes. 

• Incentive spirometry supervision. 

• Surgical preps. 

• Postmortem care. 

• Administers cleansing enemas. 

• Removal of peripheral IV catheters. 

• Sits with confused/disoriented patients or those requiring 1:1 observation for safety/suicide purposes, as assigned.  

• Performs and records accurately: 

• Temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, heights and weights. 

• Intake & Output (I&O). 

• Records bowel movements. 

• ADLs and activities. 

• Performs and records the following specimen collection: 

• Obtains urine, stool, and sputum specimens for patients; instructs patients in proper specimen collection technique. 

• Completes the following support activities: 

• Completes EKGs. 

• Transports patients as needed. 

• Serves, sets up and retrieves trays. 

• Distributes water pitchers as appropriate. 

• Orders and distributes nourishment. 

• Transports equipment. 

• Transports blood products to and from the patient care area. 

• Participates in patient safety/patient satisfaction. 

• Answers call bells. 

• Participates in patient rounding. 

• Reports any signs of abuse to the nursing staff. 

• Recognizes, troubleshoots and initiates corrective action needed on equipment. 

• Maintains neat and tidy environment (empties laundry, delivers equipment, keeps patient rooms clean and safe). 

• Inventories and assures disposition of patients' belongings when admitted, transferred, and/or discharged. 

• Assures proper storage of equipment. 

• Recognizes emergency situations and initiates plan of action. 

• Notifies RN/LPN of any changes seen in patient's condition. 

• Complies with policies and procedures of the hospital/nursing department. 

• Supports the philosophy of the hospital and department of nursing. 

• Maintains CPR certification and practice. 

• Demonstrates cost-effective patient care by demonstrating proper use and care of equipment, appropriate and prudent use of supplies, accurate charging of supplies; performing other division-specific tasks, and appropriate utilization of available resources. 

• Participates in performance improvement activities to improve service and care. 

• Demonstrates strong communication and organizational skills. 

• Ability to communicate using telephones and computer systems. 

• Answers telephone promptly and politely, identifying self, title, and department. Receives and sends messages in an accurate and timely fashion. 

• Communicates with patients, families, and members of the healthcare team in a concise, tactful, and considerate manner while representing the hospital professionally and courteously. 

• Assists in the orientation of new personnel and serves as a role model to other employees. 

• Demonstrates willingness to accept non-routine work assignments as appropriate. 

• Encouraged to participate in community activities. 

• Attends and participates in unit council (70% attendance). 

Qualifications

Education

• High School Diploma or GED required. 

Experience

• Must have successfully completed a CNA training course; or 

• Minimum one (1) year of experience in a Nurse Aide or equivalent role; or 

• Currently enrolled in a licensed nursing education program and have successfully completed a Fundamentals of Nursing course. 

Skills

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills. 

• Excellent organizational and time management abilities. 

• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team. 

• Ability to recognize changes in patient condition and report appropriately. 

• Comfortable using telephones and computer systems. 

• Commitment to patient safety and high-quality patient care. 

• Ability to perform physically demanding patient care activities. 

Compensation

Compensation is based on experience and organizational compensation guidelines.

Additional Notes

• Per diem position with flexible scheduling. 

• Provides direct care to patients of all ages. 

• Frequently exposed to body fluids, odors, and other clinical conditions. 

• Daily stress associated with caring for acute and chronic patient populations. 

• Requires considerable walking, standing, bending, lifting, pushing, pulling, and reaching. 

• Periodically required to lift and carry items up to 50 pounds and occasionally push, move, and/or lift over 100 pounds. 

• Exposure to blood, body fluids, communicable diseases, and other healthcare-related hazards. 

• Daily collaboration with patients, families, physicians, nurses, leadership, and other healthcare professionals. 

• Participation in quality improvement initiatives is expected.

Joining the Guthrie team allows you to become a part of a tradition of excellence in health care. In all areas and at all levels of Guthrie, you’ll find staff members who have committed themselves to serving the community.

The Guthrie Clinic is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The Guthrie Clinic is a non-profit, integrated, practicing physician-led organization in the Twin Tiers of New York and Pennsylvania. Our multi-specialty group practice of more than 500 physicians and 302 advanced practice providers offers 47 specialties through a regional office network providing primary and specialty care in 22 communities. Guthrie Medical Education Programs include General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Anesthesiology and Orthopedic Surgery Residency, as well as Cardiovascular, Gastroenterology and Pulmonary Critical Care Fellowship programs. Guthrie is also a clinical campus for the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine.