Patient Safety Assistant - Float Pool - Day and Night shift

Shift

Shift: Full time or part time
Hours: 8 hour shifts with start times offered at 7am and 3am or 11pm-7am

General Summary

Weekends and holidays required
This role serves to protect our patients who are impulsive and at risk for falls, at risk for pulling out IV lines/tubes, require behavioral management and/or present a risk due to psychiatric illnesses.

Responsibilities

• Maintains patient safety by preventing falls and injury due to impulsiveness.
• Maintains Behavioral Health patient safety.
• Provides one on one observation for patients who are high risk elopement patients, patients that require behavioral management, suicidal patients or any other patient requiring one on one observation.
• Accompanies patient during transport and escorts patients as required.
• Obtains verbal report from the patient’s nurse to include information regarding the patient’s identified care needs to work collaboratively with the care team.
• Applies principles of caring and healing in interactions with patients and families and with colleagues.
• Provides for patient comfort, safety, and satisfaction by maintaining a safe and therapeutic environment.
• Provides simple assistance such as ambulation, simple toileting, repositioning, and assistance with feeding/fluids.
• Supports caregivers to maintain flow of patient care efficiently.
• Maintains patient environment in a safe and orderly manner.
• Constant, direct visualization of patient is required throughout assignment.
• The sitter should be positioned to respond to quickly to the patient’s needs and safety.
• Must be present and mindful of the patient and environment at all times.
• Observant of the patient’s activity and behavior, defuses situations and communicates on a regular basis to the nurse.
• Reports any pertinent observations to the RN.
• Engages patient in therapeutic communications and activities to distract, occupy and develop a therapeutic rapport.
• Participates in the provision of diversional activities such as playing cards, board games, therapeutic communication, etc.
• Communicates in a professional manner and demonstrates respect for patient, families/significant other and members of the healthcare team.
• Offers support and feedback to peers and staff.
• Responds promptly and appropriately to crisis or emergency.
• Utilizes principles of Milieu and Behavior Management Training (MBMT) in managing high risk situations.
• Documents required information in the Electronic Health Record (EHR).
• May be assigned to observe patients who are in isolation and will be required to don appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) according to WellSpan policy.

Common Expectations

• Demonstrates a commitment to patient, visitor and staff by: complying with all applicable safety regulations; learning the impact of medical errors and methodology that will lead to reduction of errors; reporting actual and potential errors, as well as hazardous conditions; identifying opportunities to standardize processes and "error proof" systems that will lead to increased safety; and participating in safety education programs and root cause analyses as required.
• Provides outstanding service to all customers; fosters teamwork; and practices fiscal responsibility through improvement and innovation.
• May be assigned to care for patients in isolation. This will require the sitter to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Complies with all hospital policies and procedures, including infection control guidelines.
• Maintains confidentiality of patient information.
• Maintains a professional appearance.
• This position requires floating to all units to provide care across hospital.

Qualifications

• Minimum Education: High School Diploma or GED
• Required Work Experience: No prior experience.
• Required Licenses: Basic Life Support Upon Hire
• Required Courses and Training: Behavioral Health Training Packet (LMS) Upon Hire Required and Sitter guidelines for safety 1:1 (LMS) Upon Hire Required and High Risk Observation (LMS) Upon Hire Required and Patient care assistant/sitter Epic training. Upon Hire Required and De-escalation class (8-hour class) Upon Hire Required and Caregiver support via Wellthy Childcare referral service via Wellthy.