Observation Assistant, Emergency Department, 24 Hours, Evenings

UMass Memorial Health•Worcester, MA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is for an Observation Assistant in the Emergency Department at UMass Memorial Health. The role involves ensuring the safety of specific patients by providing constant observation or 15-minute safety checks for those identified as at risk for potential injury to themselves or others. The Observation Assistant will work as part of the Emergency Department staff to support patient care and department operations. UMass Memorial Health emphasizes that everyone is a caregiver and highlights its commitment to exceptional patient care, academic excellence, and leading-edge research as the premier health system in Central Massachusetts. The organization comprises over 20,000 employees working collaboratively to achieve healing for patients, the community, and each other.

Requirements

High School Graduate or equivalent.
Must be able to complete de-escalation training.
Current Basic Life Support or Heart Saver certification.
Communication Skills: Ability to read, write, speak effectively in English and have good interpersonal skills, required.
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 attempts to redirect patient’s attention from equipment, and emergently prevents patients from dislodging equipment.
Works to utilize de-escalation techniques to redirect the patients and if unsuccessful, under the direction of the RN or MD participates in restraints in accordance with training and education.
Obtains report on each assigned patient from nurse at the beginning of each shift.
Monitors patients and reports any potentially unsafe behaviors, or patients that appear to be escalating 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 at the beginning of each shift and between discharges from rooms.
Constantly checks for and remedies potentially hazardous situations such as improperly open doors and windows.
Reports any potentially unsafe environmental issues that cannot be remedied to the assigned nurse throughout the shift.
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.
Places this information in patient’s bedside chart. Provides handoff to the on-coming ED Observation Assistant.
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 such as filing as assigned.
Follows department/hospital policy and procedure on Infection Control, Fire Safety, etc., including training programs (including de-escalation and restraint training) and demonstrates competency and proficiency as required.
Complies with established departmental policies, procedures, and objectives.
Attends variety of meetings, conferences, seminars as required or directed.
Demonstrates use of Quality Improvement in daily operations.
Complies with all health and safety regulations and requirements.
Respects diverse views and approaches, demonstrates Standards of Respect, and contributes to creating and maintaining an environment of professionalism, tolerance, civility and acceptance toward all employees, patients and visitors.
Maintains, regular, reliable, and predictable attendance.
Performs other similar and related duties as required or directed.