Care Partner Trainee - Cohort

Position: Care Partner Trainee - October Cohort

Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center
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Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care, VUMC is a community of individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your uniqueness is sought and celebrated.

It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt’s mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.

Organization:

Job Summary:

Assist with the delivery of patient care and maintenance of unit environmental standards under the supervision of a licensed nurse.

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We are now hiring Care Partner Trainees for our October 5, 2026 cohort!!

Are you interested in caring for patients but have no experience or formal healthcare education? Begin a new career as a Care Partner also known as a Nursing Assistant at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC).

What is a Care Partner?

At Vanderbilt Health, Care Partners provide care to patients in the hospital setting under the supervision of a registered nurse. Care Partner is a "non-licensed" position, meaning no specialized degree is required, and minimal qualifications need to be met to be considered as a candidate. We call these team members Care Partners, but other organizations might call them Nurses Aids, Nursing Techs, Nursing Assistants, Patient Care Techs, etc.

What

does a Care Partner do?

Care Partners assist with the personal care of patients, including:

• bathing, feeding, toileting, and changing beds
• aiding in daily activities (walking, sitting, etc)
• taking vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, breathing)
• documenting computerized patient information

Vanderbilt Care Partner Academy (VCPA), developed to create confident Care Partners

At Vanderbilt Health, we want all our employees--including Care Partners--to be successful in their careers. We created Vanderbilt Care Partner Academy (VCPA) to acclimate individuals without previous healthcare experience to be comfortable interacting with patients while providing safe and compassionate care in the hospital setting.

Before working with patients directly, participants are hired as Care Partner Trainees and must complete VCPA. After successful completion of the program, Care Partner Trainees will be transferred into a Care Partner role and begin working directly with patients as contributing members of the VUMC healthcare team.

Earn while you learn! VCPA offers paid training (no tuition or fees to participate in the program). Care Partner Trainees are considered full-time and eligible for benefits (including health, dental, vision) and additional perks that come with being a Vanderbilt employee.

What does the program cover?

Weeks 1 through 3 are Monday through Friday, 7am to 3pm, consisting of:

• 2 weeks of classroom instruction, including skills practice on mannequins
• 1 week of clinical skill training/practice in a clinical area
• Unit-specific orientation with a preceptor

After completion of VCPA and transitioning roles from Care Partner Trainee to Care Partner, shifts may vary by unit.

• Day positions work 6:45 am to 7:15 pm, three 12-hour shifts per week
• Night positions work 6:45 pm to 7:15 am, three 12-hour shifts per week
• Full-time care partners work three 12-hour shifts per week on a rotating schedule, which includes weekends and holidays.

What type of training does the program provide?

• Basics of patient care
• Use of commonly used hospital equipment
• Functioning as an important member of the nursing team
• Communicating with patients and their families
• Medical terminology
• Training on VUMC’s Electronic Record Documentation System (E-Star)
• Certification in basic life support

** DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR CNA CERTIFICATION Post-Program Completion includes:

• Coaching
• Ongoing opportunities to continue to learn and build skills

What are the requirements to be considered for VCPA?

• Open to VUMC Staff and Non-VUMC Staff
• No previous healthcare experience required
• Non-licensed position; no specialized healthcare degree required
• 18 years or older
• High school graduate or GED
• Will need to pass a background check

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist with the delivery of patient care and maintenance of unit environmental standards under the supervision of a licensed nurse.
• Assists with day-to-day delivery of patient care.
• Facilitates efficient and safe patient care and flow by following work area standards.
• Serves as a liaison for communication and education of patient and family needs.
• Supports unit operations and patient flow by maintaining supplies, equipment, and unit environmental standards.
• The responsibilities listed are a general overview of the position and additional…