Patient Safety Assistant (Full Time, Nights)
About the role
Penn Medicine is dedicated to our tripartite mission of providing the highest level of care to patients, conducting innovative research, and educating future leaders in the field of medicine. Working for this leading academic medical center means collaboration with top clinical, technical and business professionals across all disciplines. Today at Penn Medicine, someone will make a breakthrough. Someone will heal a heart, deliver hopeful news, and give comfort and reassurance. Our employees shape our future each day. Are you living your life's work? Live Your Life's Work Full Time .9FTE 36hrs/week
POSITION SUMMARY: Provides direct observation for patients requiring direct supervision for safety reasons. This includes patients with compromised judgment pertaining to their safety and wellbeing as it relates to falls; interference with therapeutic equipment; patients who may need companions due to their state of confusion or agitation; and/or patients at risk for self-harm or elopement.
Responsibilities
- Provides direct supervision/line of sight to patients with safety concerns.
- Assists patients with activities of daily living (bathing, hygiene, feeding, etc.).
- Uses appropriate resources for patients with special needs such as language barriers, sensory problems, altered cognition, cultural and religious needs.
- Integrates principles of infection control & infection prevention into practice.
- Uses standard precautions and uses personal protective equipment.
- Interacts with the patient in a manner that preserves patient dignity, privacy, and meets psychosocial and age-appropriate needs of the patient.
- Stays at the patient’s bedside and keeps the patient in their direct line of vision at all times. Personal activities such as reading, studying, crafts, using personal social media devices are not permitted while on duty supervising patients.
- Escorts and assists patients with ambulatory/bathroom privileges and stays with the patient at all times, requesting assistance as needed.
- Interacts with the patient as appropriate to provide diversionary activities to engage the patient. This includes reading to the patient, working on a puzzle or similar activity with the patient, conversing with the patient, etc.
- Assists with patient re-positioning and assists patient with bed ↔ chair transfers.
- Helps patient with general comfort needs.
- Keeps patient’s immediate care area free of clutter and hazards.
- Monitors patients per policy