Patient Companion

Join the Cleveland Clinic team at our Akron General Medical Center, where you will work alongside passionate caregivers and provide patient-first healthcare. At Cleveland Clinic, you will work alongside passionate and dedicated caregivers, receive endless support and appreciation, and build a rewarding career with one of the most respected healthcare organizations in the world.

As a Patient Companion, you will provide caregiver support by assisting with constant observation of patients as assigned by the Registered Nurse. You will provide patients with comfort and companionship while delivering direct and indirect care. 

Your primary focus will be providing basic patient safety through tasks including:  
• Assisting with activities of daily living, including infection prevention and control (IPC) application, feeding/grooming, bedpan, bed bath, changing occupied beds and perineal/catheter care.  
• Documenting patient health updates.  
• Transferring patients (walker, cane, wheelchair, gait belt).  
• Applying restraints.  
• Monitoring vital signs.  

The ideal future caregiver is someone who:  
• Is flexible and adept at managing challenging situations.  
• Is a team player.  
• Has good communication skills.  
• Can diffuse difficult situations and act decisively for patients’ best interests.  
• Is empathetic and sensitive to patients’ needs.  

This is an excellent opportunity for student nurses not yet eligible to be a PCNA to gain hands-on experience at the respected Cleveland Clinic. It’s also an opportunity for other students or non-students who are interested in moving toward a fulfilling career in clinical care. 

At Cleveland Clinic, we know what matters most. That's why we treat our caregivers as if they are our own family, and we are always creating ways to be there for you. Here, you'll find that we offer: resources to learn and grow, a fulfilling career for everyone, and comprehensive benefits that invest in your health, your physical and mental well-being and your future. When you join Cleveland Clinic, you'll be part of a supportive caregiver family that will be united in shared values and purpose to fulfill our promise of being the best place to receive care and the best place to work in healthcare.

Responsibilities:

• Assures basic patient safety by monitoring patients to make certain that catheters, tubes, or other medical equipment are not inadvertently removed or disconnected.
• Assists with putting assigned patients in rooms, taking vital signs, weights, pulse oximetry.
• Assists/accompanies the patient at all times including transport, tests, transfers, ambulation; remains with patient.
• Identifies and reports changes in patient status to Registered Nurse or physician as appropriate.
• Follows protocols and initiates CPR and other emergency measures as required.
• Acknowledges patient concerns/needs and notifies appropriate staff for assistance when necessary.
• Provides hand-off communication regarding patient information and activities to the nurse responsible for the patient as well as the next patient companion assigned.
• Participates in hand-off report at the beginning and end of each shift; as well as at the time of any meals, breaks or change in caregiver.
• Performs environmental/safety check as required.
• Collaborates with members of the health care team to promote the delivery of patient care and the overall functioning of the unit.
• Collaborates with personnel in nursing and supportive services in assuring a safe and clean patient environment.
• Demonstrates ability to empathize with patients suffering from physical or emotional difficulties.
• Interacts with patients, visitors and all personnel in a courteous manner.
• Participates in the resolution of conflicts in a healthy and constructive manner.
• Maintains confidentiality of information regarding patients and co-workers.
• Demonstrates respect for individuals' cultural and social differences.
• Completes all documentation on the Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP) flow sheet as directed by the assigned RN.
• Contributes to the positive atmosphere of the workplace.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Assists with direct and indirect patient care for one to two patients as assigned, or if assigned to a closed unit provides constant observation only for safety for three to four patients.

Education:

• High school graduate or GED.

Certifications:

• Heartsaver Level of Basic Life Support (BLS) through American Heart Association (AHA) for healthcare providers must be obtained within the 3 months of hire.

Complexity of Work:

• Within scope of job, requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgment and the ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Must be able to work in a stressful environment.

Work Experience:

• Knowledge and understanding of basic patient care activities to include basic hygiene, skin care, normal vital signs and other general hands-on patient care functions preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Requires full body motion to move and lift patients, manual finger dexterity with good eye-hand coordination; involves extensive standing and walking.
• Exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Personal Protective Equipment:

• Follows standard precautions using personal protective equipment as required.