Patient Safety Attendant - PRN - Variable Shifts

About the role

This job works collaboratively with a licensed nurse and Patient Care Technicians under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse to maintain patient safety and provide for the delivery of basic patient care. Provides constant observation of the patient (remains with the patient), notifies nursing personnel of changes in behavior or status and when leaving the room, and intervenes as needed to maintain patient safety and/or prevent patient elopement. Communicates effectively with co-workers, patients, family and visitors and may be required to perform other non-clinical duties as assigned if no patient safety attendant assignment is available.

Responsibilities

• Maintains a clean and safe environment in the patient care area
• Assists with the plan of care as delegated by the staff nurse/department lead within the scope of practice
• Provides care based on physical, psycho/social, educations, safety and related criteria, appropriate to the ages of patients served in the assigned area
• Communicates effectively with patients, families and MDT
• Adapts behavior to the specific patient population, including but not limited to respect for privacy, method of introduction to the patient, adapting explanation of services or procedures to be performed, requesting permissions and communication style
• Performs other related duties as required
• Remains knowledgeable on current federal, state and local laws, accreditation standards or regulatory agency requirements that apply to the assigned area of responsibility and ensures compliance with all such laws, regulations and standards

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent
• No prior work experience required
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association prior to independent patient care
• Crisis Prevention and Intervention (CPI) training to be obtained prior to independent patient care
• Nursing Assistant certification required for those employed in Skilled Nursing Facilities/Units or areas where they provide Patient Care Tech duties

Qualifications

• Good communication skills and ability to communicate therapeutically with psychiatric and mentally ill patients
• Ability to use independent judgment to monitor and respond to patient related changes in condition
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Proficiency in using computers, software, and web-based applications
• Prior experience with psychiatric environment preferred
• Experience with computer data entry preferred

Physical demands

• Heavy Work - Exerting 50 to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 25 to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or 10 to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects
• Duties performed routinely require exposure to blood, body fluid and tissue
• Works in a patient care area; works in an area where patients enter; works directly with patients; and/or works with specimens that could contain diseases
• Occupational risk for exposure to all communicable diseases
• Occupational risk for exposure to hazardous medications or hazardous waste within the environment through receipt, transport, storage, preparation, dispensing, administration, cleaning and/or disposal of contaminated waste