Patient Safety Companion Full Time Day8 VBMH

About the Organization

Northwell is the largest not-for-profit health system in the Northeast, serving residents of New York and Connecticut with 28 hospitals, more than 1,000 outpatient facilities, 22,000 nurses, and over 20,000 physicians. Northwell cares for more than three million people annually in the New York metro area, including Long Island, the Hudson Valley, Connecticut, and beyond. Northwell is New York State’s largest private employer with over 104,000 employees.

About the Role

Patient Safety Companions provide close observation and constant monitoring of patients with changes in physical or mental status under the supervision of the registered nurse upon receipt of a physician order. The patient safety companion performs all duties necessary to provide transportation of patients and equipment within the hospital to support optimum safe and efficient patient care. The role seeks to provide the highest quality care while demonstrating respect for the dignity of each patient consistent with the hospital's philosophy, goals, policies, and procedures of the nursing department.

Responsibilities

• Assists in the delivery of patient care as a nursing team member by performing tasks as directed by the nurse for patients who require close observation.
• Assists in always maintaining patient safety and adheres to hospital policy on infection control by performing hand hygiene and adhering to isolation precautions.
• Assists in the provision of comfort measures and therapeutic activities to patients as directed by the nurse (e.g., assist with vision and hearing aids, sleep and noise reduction strategies, orientation to surroundings, ambulation, and toileting).
• Reviews with nurse written care plan and tasks for shift; receives a report from the primary nurse upon arrival to the unit and reports off when leaving.
• Communicates any special care needs to the primary nurse for integration into the patient's care plan and reports unusual conditions, patient concerns, or complaints.
• Assists with safe transfer of patients to and from stretcher or wheelchair to bed or chair, using safe transfer techniques, assistive devices as needed, and proper body mechanics.
• Performs transportation of patients within the hospital, adhering to safe transfer techniques and utilizing two patient identifiers and "ticket to ride."
• Utilizes Vocera and Zebra/IPOD devices appropriately while maintaining patient privacy.
• Assists with the continuity of patient care through harmonious working relationships with other staff members and appropriate interfacing with patient, family, and providers.
• Distributes equipment (e.g., pumps, wheelchairs, venodynes, VMS, feeding pumps) as requested by nursing floors within 15 minutes of request.
• Assists with transportation of stretchers or other equipment to hospital departments.
• Maintains and models Nuvance Health Values; demonstrates regular, reliable, and predictable attendance.
• Performs other duties as required.

Requirements

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Basic Life Support Certification required within 6 months of hire date, transfer date, or by 6/1/23 for existing PSC staff.

Working Conditions

• Manual: Significant manual skills, motor coordination, and finger dexterity.
• Occupational: Some occupational risk.
• Physical Effort: Very heavy effort; may exert up to 50 lbs. of force.
• Physical Environment: Generally pleasant working conditions.

Pay

$21.75 hourly.