Patient Observation Assistant, full time

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Provides direct continual observation of patients requiring special precautions to ensure a safe environment during their hospital stay.
• Direct observation of the patient and monitoring for at-risk behavior.
• Aids the R.N. to provide an environment conducive to safety for patients, visitors, and employees.
• Promotes healthy coping via verbal support, implementation of behavior plan by therapeutic team and management of the environment.
• Aids in identifying patient response to care provided and reports patient condition to the RN to assure achievement of desired outcomes.
• Ensures and participates in ongoing communication with other health care team members in order to enhance the patient’s plan of care, advocate for the patient/family, and facilitate unit operations.
• Uses knowledge of behavioral health diagnosis/issue to understand the presenting problem and provides therapeutic direction and feedback to the patient.
• Evaluates patient responses to interventions; documents observations in the patient's medical record and communicates findings for appropriate team members.
• Responds during a psychiatric emergency using the least restrictive measures to ensure patient safety.
• Uses verbal de-escalation techniques to prevent escalation and violence.
• Maintains therapeutic boundaries.
• Participates in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) as a means of reinforcing safety in structured routines.
• POAs will provide ADLs for patients who require observation for medical needs or alone patients.
• POAs will not provide ADLs for patients who require observation of behavioral health conditions.
• Maintains the environment for items that could be used as weapons to harm self or others.
• Maintains safe and effective oral feeding practices to ensure eating safety.

Skills & Requirements

• H.S. Diploma or GED required
• BLS - Cert-Basic Life Support by the American Heart Association preferred
• CNA - Certified Nurse Assistant preferred
• 1 year experience in a psychiatric inpatient or outpatient program, Psychiatric Residential placement programs or in therapeutic support services preferred
• Inpatient hospital experience or enrolled in an accredited Nursing education program preferred