ED Observation Assistant, 32 Hours, Nights

UMass Memorial Health • San Jose, CA

91d

About The Position

At UMass Memorial Health, everyone is a caregiver – regardless of their title or responsibilities. Exceptional patient care, academic excellence and leading-edge research make UMass Memorial the premier health system of Central Massachusetts, and a place where we can help you build the career you deserve. This position participates as a member of the Emergency Department staff to assist with ensuring the safety of specific patients. The role involves providing constant observation or 15-minute safety checks for those patients who have been determined to be at risk for potential injury to self or others, along with performing various support duties as described in the responsibilities section.

Requirements

• High School Graduate or equivalent.
• Must be able to complete de-escalation training as well as a certification program for Basic Life Support or Heartsaver course and receive appropriate certification.
• Ability to read, write, speak effectively in English and have good interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrates the ability to remain calm when under stress or in emergency situations.
• Must be able to assist in the physical restraint of disturbed patients.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience in patient care, mental health/intellectual disabilities, teaching/child care/special needs students or public safety preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provides constant observation of high-risk patients as assigned by the Emergency Department Resource Nurse.
• Assists the patient to get undressed, removes items that could injure the patient or staff, secures belongings.
• Monitors the patient’s and conducts patient safety checks every 15 minutes for an assigned group of patients.
• Escorts and supervises patients in the bathroom depending on level of care, under the direction of the RN.
• Assists patients with meals and comforts and de-escalates patients by using sensory techniques and distraction techniques as needed.
• Attempts to prevent unsafe patient movement and actions.
• Notifies the nurse of changes in patient activity, mood, behavior, requests for medication and calls for assistance when necessary.
• Reminds patients about the importance of their safety and fall prevention.
• Works to utilize de-escalation techniques to redirect the patients.
• Obtains report on each assigned patient from nurse at the beginning of each shift.
• Monitors patients and reports any potentially unsafe behaviors to the assigned nurse throughout the shift.
• Reports concern to nurse if patient’s family or visitors are contributing to escalating behavior.
• Performs environmental safety check of patient and patient's room and removes potentially harmful items.
• Constantly checks for and remedies potentially hazardous situations.
• Reports any potentially unsafe environmental issues that cannot be remedied to the assigned nurse.
• Follows the Policy & Procedure(s) for Constant Observation.
• Accompanies the patient for therapeutic procedures unless otherwise ordered by the assigned nurse and or physician.
• Documents patient behavior every fifteen minutes on the Constant Observation documentation record.
• Performs a variety of duties to support patient care and the operations of the department.
• Engages patients in activities as appropriate.
• Maintains work area in neat and orderly manner. Stocks carts & supplies. Transports patient or equipment.
• Answers telephones, takes messages, and completes light clerical duties as assigned.
• Follows department/hospital policy and procedure on Infection Control, Fire Safety, etc.

Benefits

• Signing bonus may be available.
• Opportunities for career development and growth.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees