Karena Whitely
Healthcare
Savannah,GA
Summary
Compassionate and dedicated healthcare professional with extensive experience at HCA Savannah Memorial Hospital. Skilled in medication administration and care plan management, I excel in enhancing patient satisfaction through empathetic support and effective communication. Proven ability to streamline workflows and improve patient outcomes in diverse healthcare settings.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
5
5
Certifications
Work History
Home Health Aide
Hleping Hands of New Jersey
- Assisted clients with daily living activities, enhancing their independence and quality of life.
- Maintained a clean and safe home environment for patients, reducing falls and accidents.
- Performed laundry, grocery shopping and other light housekeeping duties as instructed by client.
- Provided emotional support to patients and families during difficult times, promoting a positive atmosphere conducive to healing.
- Helped patients maintain personal hygiene through bathing, grooming, and toileting assistance when necessary for dignity preservation.
- Adapted to ever-changing patient needs, consistently adjusting care plans and strategies in order to provide the highest quality of personalized assistance.
- Monitored client health by performing routine pulse, temperature and blood pressure checks.
- Assisted patients with dressing, grooming and feeding needs, helping to overcome, and adapt to mobility restrictions.
- Improved patient well-being by providing compassionate and attentive personal care.
- Administered medications as prescribed, ensuring proper dosage and timely administration for optimal health outcomes.
- Followed nutritional plans to prepare optimal meals.
- Encouraged patients to participate in safe physical activity to help boost mood and improve overall wellness.
- Performed light housekeeping duties including laundry linen changes sweeping vacuuming and mopping ensuring a clean and organized living space for patients.
- Completed entries in log books, journals, and care plans to accurately document and report patient progress.
- Prevented pressure ulcers through frequent repositioning and regular skin assessments, maintaining patient comfort while reducing complications.
- Assisted disabled clients to support independence and well-being.
- Provided mobility assistance such as walking and regular exercising.
- Educated family members on proper caregiving techniques in order to provide seamless continuity of care between shifts or visits.
- Traveled to clients' homes to complete healthcare services and promote continuity of care.
- Helped clients with managed home care, ensuring efficacy of care by monitoring health status.
- Provided direct personal care and administrative services to clients.
Point of Sale Associate
Jamaica Western Union
- Operated cash register for cash, check, and credit card transactions with excellent accuracy levels.
- Helped customers complete purchases, locate items, and join reward programs.
- Increased sales by offering advice on purchases and promoting additional products.
- Reconciled cash drawer at start and end of each shift, accounting for errors, and resolving discrepancies.
- Answered questions about store policies and addressed customer concerns.
- Restocked and organized merchandise in front lanes.
- Increased customer satisfaction by providing efficient and accurate Point of Sale transactions.
- Maintained excellent attendance record demonstrating commitment towards job responsibilities.
- Performed daily opening and closing duties, ensuring that the sales floor was ready for business each day.
- Mastered multiple Point of Sale software platforms, adapting quickly to changes in technology or system updates.
- Maintained a clean and organized workspace, ensuring a positive shopping experience for customers.
- Assisted in inventory management, accurately tracking stock levels and reporting discrepancies to supervisors.
- Managed cash registers efficiently, balancing drawers at the end of each shift with accuracy and diligence.
- Developed strong relationships with regular customers by remembering names, preferences, or previous purchases.
- Contributed to overall store performance through effective teamwork and collaboration with colleagues.
Patient Care Technician
HCA Savannah Memorial Hospital
06.2025 - Current
- Assisted in transferring patients, beds and patient care equipment to other rooms adhering to necessary safety precautions.
- Assisted nurses with essential tasks, streamlining workflow and increasing efficiency in the healthcare setting.
- Contributed to a positive patient experience by keeping rooms clean, organized, and well-stocked with supplies.
- Maintained clean and safe environment to promote patient safety and comfort.
- Promoted a safe and inclusive healthcare environment, adhering to policies and procedures while advocating for the well-being of all patients.
- Assisted with feeding and monitored intake to help patients achieve nutritional objectives.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop individualized care plans that addressed each patient''s unique needs.
- Monitored vital signs and reported changes to nursing staff, ensuring timely medical interventions when necessary.
- Facilitated smooth transitions between shifts by maintaining thorough documentation of patient care activities and observations.
- Reduced stress for patients and families through effective communication and empathetic support.
- Supported optimal wound healing by skillfully changing dressings and monitoring for signs of infection or complications.
- Recognized potential emergencies promptly, initiating appropriate action to stabilize patients until further assistance arrived.
- Maintained strict adherence to infection control protocols, minimizing risk of disease transmission within the clinical environment.
- Assisted in training new Patient Care Technicians, sharing knowledge and best practices to ensure consistency in care delivery.
- Provided high-quality personal care to patients, promoting comfort and dignity during their hospital stay.
- Educated patients on self-care techniques and post-discharge instructions, empowering them to take control of their own health maintenance.
- Demonstrated adaptability by working effectively with patients of diverse backgrounds and medical conditions, providing personalized care for each individual.
- Performed blood draws, EKGs, and other diagnostic tests accurately and efficiently for prompt analysis by healthcare professionals.
- Enhanced patient satisfaction by providing compassionate and attentive care.
- Served as a reliable resource for patients'' families, addressing questions or concerns with patience and understanding while maintaining patient confidentiality.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to stay current on best practices in patient care technology advancements.
- Enabled increased mobility for patients by assisting with ambulation exercises and transfers using proper body mechanics techniques.
- Fostered clean and hygienic environment, reducing risk of infections.
- Enhanced patient recovery by applying therapeutic techniques as instructed by physical therapists.
- Improved patient satisfaction with attentive communication and responsiveness to needs.
- Supported patients' daily living activities, improving their hospital stay experience.
- Contributed to team meetings, offering insights on patient care improvements based on direct observations.
- Implemented infection control protocols, contributing to safer hospital environment.
- Enhanced teamwork by collaborating closely with nurses and doctors to coordinate patient care.
Traveling Healthcare Worker
Private Care
12.2017 - 09.2022
- Utilized critical thinking skills during emergency situations, contributing significantly to successful outcomes under pressure.
- Coordinated with multiple departments for seamless provision of interdisciplinary services aimed at holistic patient care.
- Provided consistent support to patients during difficult times, offering comfort and reassurance.
- Improved patient satisfaction by providing compassionate and empathetic care.
- Developed strong rapport with patients and families, fostering trust in the healthcare team''s expertise.
- Provided culturally sensitive care that respected each individual''s unique background and experiences.
- Streamlined workflow for healthcare teams, ensuring timely delivery of services to patients.
- Maintained accurate and up-to-date patient records, facilitating effective communication among healthcare providers.
- Actively contributed towards improving overall quality of patient care through regular departmental audits, identification of potential risk areas, and implementation of corrective measures.
- Administered medications as prescribed, carefully monitoring for potential side effects or adverse reactions.
- Prevented the spread of infections by adhering strictly to infection control protocols and maintaining a clean environment for patients.
- Participated actively in professional development opportunities to stay current on best practices within the healthcare field.
- Assisted physicians in medical procedures, resulting in improved patient outcomes and decreased complications.
- Reduced hospital readmission rates through diligent monitoring and follow-up of discharged patients.
- Delivered high-quality care within diverse settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and home health environments.
- Educated patients and families on disease management, promoting self-care and prevention strategies.
- Administered medications and treatments as prescribed by physicians.
- Took and recorded patients' vital signs, documenting in medical charts.
- Monitored patient progress and reported changes to healthcare professionals.
- Supported patients and family members, actively listening to concerns and offering compassionate care.
- Answered patient inquiries and provided information about healthcare services.
- Scheduled patients for appointments and maintained master calendar.
- Cleaned and set up rooms in preparation for patient appointments.
- Prepared and delivered meals to patients, assisting with feeding when necessary.
- Performed basic laboratory tests and collected specimens for further testing.
- Transported patients to and from appointments, assisting with getting in and out of vehicles.
Education
High School Diploma - Healthcare
Access Careers
New York, NY10.2016
Skills
First aid and safety
Certification
License home health aide
Timeline
Patient Care Technician
HCA Savannah Memorial Hospital
06.2025 - Current
Phlebototomy
07-2022
Patient care technician
06-2022
Traveling Healthcare Worker
Private Care
12.2017 - 09.2022
Patient care, technician.
10-2016
License home health aide
10-2014
Certified nurses assistants
06-2014
Home Health Aide
Hleping Hands of New Jersey
Point of Sale Associate
Jamaica Western Union
High School Diploma - Healthcare
Access Careers