Patient Observation Assistant

Lehigh Valley Health Network•Allentown, PA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) is a nationally recognized, forward-thinking health network, ranked among the "Best Hospitals" by U.S. News & World Report for 23 consecutive years and honored five times with the Magnet(tm) Hospital distinction for nursing excellence. Several of its hospitals received an 'A' grade on the Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group in 2020, highlighting LVHN's commitment to teamwork, compassion, and technology in delivering quality health care. The Patient Observation Assistant participates in the collaborative identification and reporting of patient safety issues, provides continuous observation or constant roving to observe and intervene when risky patient behaviors are identified. This role involves communicating with patients to deescalate tense situations, verbal communication with care team members, and documenting in the patient's electronic medical record. The assistant also performs or assists patients with ADL's, meals, and ambulation, ensuring a safe patient environment and reporting hazards to the nurse. This position provides continuous, direct, one-to-one patient visual and audible observation for patients of all ages to maintain a safe and therapeutic environment. LVHN is the region’s largest employer and health care provider of choice, with nearly 20,000 health care professionals driven by a mission to heal, comfort and care. LVHN is certified as a Great Place to Work® and values Compassion, Integrity, Collaboration and Excellence.

Requirements

Must be 18 years old or older
Ability to recognize and report data reflective of the patients' status and identify each patient's specific needs.
Ability to walk or stand for prolonged periods.
Knowledge of the principles of growth and development through the life span.
Knowledge of department policies and procedures.
American Heart Association Basic Life Support - State of Pennsylvania within 30 Days
Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED - State of Pennsylvania within 30 Days

Nice To Haves

Successful completion of Crisis Management Course

Responsibilities

Participates in the collaborative identification and reporting of patient safety issues.
Provides continuous observation or constant roving to observe and intervene when risky patient behaviors are identified.
Communicates with the patients to deescalate tense situations.
Engages in verbal communication with care team members.
Documents in the patients electronic medial record in regular intervals.
Performs or assist patients with ADL's, meals, and ambulates patients.
Ensures that the patient environment is safe and reports any safety hazards to the nurse.
Provides continuous, direct, one-to-one patient visual and audible observation of patients of all ages to maintain a safe and therapeutic environment.
Takes initiative in compassionately rendering services or responding to needs and interacts hospitably, cheerfully, and supportively with staff, patients, visitors, and work colleagues.
Seeks help or advice as soon as possible when patient appears to be in medical distress or poses a threat, and escalates to assigned medical professionals.
Assists patient with ordering dietary tray and setting up of patient's meal tray and assists with basic positioning of patient.
Participates in hand-off of pertinent information/behavior about assigned patient when arriving on unit and upon completion of shift assignment.
Assists with patient wheelchair rides and/or ambulation if the patient is stable and gait has been previously determined safe.
Assists in completing specific direct patient care tasks.
Responds rapidly and thoroughly to emergencies, and special needs.
Provides continuous direct one-to-one patient observation.
Documents observations in the patient's electronic medical record in regular intervals