Patient Sitter (Patient Safety Attendant)

Position Summary

The Patient Sitter (Patient Safety Attendant) provides continuous observation and support to patients who require close monitoring to ensure their safety and well-being. Working under the direction of the Registered Nurse, the Patient Sitter maintains a safe environment, observes and reports changes in patient condition or behavior, and provides compassionate, non-clinical support while preserving the patient's dignity and privacy. This role plays a vital part in preventing falls, reducing the risk of injury, and enhancing the overall patient experience.

Essential Functions

Build Trust

• Provides continuous one-to-one observation of assigned patients to ensure a safe and secure environment.
• Never leaves the assigned patient unattended and ensures continuous observation during breaks, shift changes, and patient transport by coordinating coverage with another qualified staff member.
• Maintains constant awareness of environmental safety hazards and promptly reports concerns to the Registered Nurse (RN).
• Follows established hospital policies and procedures for patient safety precautions, including suicide, fall, elopement, restraint, and behavioral health precautions.
• Utilizes approved restraint alternatives, such as diversional activities, when appropriate.
• Responds appropriately to emergency situations by following hospital emergency plans and code procedures.
• Maintains patient confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA and hospital policies.
• Treats patients, families, and colleagues with dignity, compassion, respect, and professionalism.
• Communicates patient concerns, behavioral changes, and safety risks promptly to the RN.
• If within scope within home department, assist with ADLs at the direction of the RN.

Obsess Over Excellence

• Provides continuous observation and support for behavioral health patients as directed by the Registered Nurse, including offering hydration, meals, toileting assistance, comfort measures, and reporting patient needs, behaviors, or safety concerns immediately to clinical staff.
• Assists patients with mobility and ordered activity, including ambulation, transfers, positioning, and getting in and out of bed or chair.
• Completes required patient observation and safety documentation accurately and timely, and follows all direction from the Registered Nurse regarding patient restrictions, precautions, monitoring requirements, approved interventions safety checks, personal care activities, and patient activity according to hospital policy.
• Accompanies assigned patients at all times, including during ambulation, toileting, showering, diagnostic testing, and transport to ancillary departments.
• Assists patients with meal setup, positioning, feeding, menu selection, and hydration according to nursing direction.
• Participates in annual competencies, mandatory education, and ongoing training to maintain clinical knowledge and patient safety standards.
• Practices infection prevention by following isolation precautions, utilizing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and properly disposing of contaminated materials.

Lead Innovation

• Utilizes approved diversional activities and therapeutic communication techniques to reduce patient anxiety and promote safety.
• Adapts quickly to changing patient needs, unit priorities, and staffing assignments while maintaining high-quality patient observation.
• Supports continuous improvement initiatives that enhance patient safety, workflow efficiency, and quality outcomes.
• Utilizes electronic documentation systems accurately and efficiently.

Deepen Connections

• Creates a calm, reassuring, and supportive environment that promotes patient comfort and emotional well-being.
• Engages patients through conversation, orientation, and appropriate diversional activities while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Acts as a patient and family advocate by providing comfort, assistance, and support throughout the patient's stay.
• Supports patient and family education by reinforcing information provided by the care team and referring all clinical questions to the RN.
• Communicates respectfully and effectively with patients, families, physicians, nurses, and interdisciplinary team members.
• Provides accurate handoff communication to the RN and incoming Patient Sitter at shift change to ensure continuity of care.
• Collaborates with the healthcare team to communicate patient needs, observed changes in condition or behavior, and outcomes that may impact the plan of care.

Qualifications

Education

• Preferred: High school diploma or GED, completion of a Nursing Assistant program or coursework in healthcare or behavioral health.

Licensure

• Preferred: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification.
• Specialty Certification: Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Experience

• Previous experience in a healthcare, long-term care, behavioral health, or patient care setting preferred.
• Experience working with patients experiencing behavioral health conditions, dementia, or cognitive impairment is desirable.

Skills

• Excellent observation and situational awareness.
• Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to remain calm during stressful or emergency situations.
• Compassionate, patient-centered approach to care.
• Ability to recognize and promptly report changes in patient condition or behavior.
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills.
• Basic computer and electronic medical record documentation skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.

Work Environment

• Hospital units with continuous exposure to patient care environments.
• Frequent interaction with patients experiencing acute medical, behavioral health, or cognitive conditions.
• Potential exposure to infectious diseases and bodily fluids; appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is required.
• Flexibility of workdays, evenings, nights, weekends, holidays, and extended hours as needed.

Physical Demands

• Ability to remain standing or walking for extended periods.
• Frequent sitting while maintaining continuous patient observation.
• Ability to assist with patient repositioning or mobility within the scope of training and under clinical direction.
• Frequent bending, reaching, stooping, and lifting up to 35 pounds; occasional heavier lifting with assistance.
• Ability to respond quickly during emergencies and maintain focus in a fast-paced environment.
• Visual and auditory acuity sufficient to continuously monitor patients and recognize changes requiring intervention.

This response is AI-generated, for reference only.