Patient Safety Associate - Adult Psychiatry - Nights

VCU Health•Richmond, VA

20h•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Safety Associate (PSA) provides 1:1 safety observation and basic direct patient care under the direction of a Registered Nurse (RN). This includes direct visual observation, verbal re-direction, safety checks, environmental checks, patient care and comfort, personal care and hygiene, Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), and mobility/fall prevention. The PSA acts as a liaison between the patient and nurse, reporting concerns or changes to the nurse on duty, and provides customer service to patients, their families, and visitors. If applicable, the PSA also provides documentation for patient care.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED
Current AHA BLC HCP certification

Nice To Haves

Certified Nursing Assistant or Medical Assistant program
Current enrollment (or planned) in accredited school in healthcare and/or humanities related associates or baccalaureate IE: Nursing, Medical, PT/OT, Pharmacy, Health Administration, Dental, Nutrition, PA, Psychology, Sociology, Biology, Chemistry, Forensics
Certified Nursing Assistant or Medical Assistant
ONE-year experience as a certified nurse assistant or medical assistant
ONE-year experience in healthcare related field with direct patient care

Responsibilities

Provides 1:1 safety observation for patients requiring safety observation, including, but not limited to high risk suicidal, psychiatric, medical and surgical compromised patients with dementia, delirium, traumatic brain injury, substance abuse withdrawal and other diagnoses for potential patient harm.
Provides the appropriate verbal intervention/de-escalation with the patient.
Provides patient with explanation of care as necessary, but does not counsel or offer opinion.
Maintains environment conductive to patient safety and recovery, including, but not limited to safety checks, environment of care room checks for ligature points and contraband, keeping patient room clean and organized, changing bed linens, and emptying linen bins.
Under the direction of RN or independent licensed practitioner, provides safe and direct care to patients on their assigned units making age appropriate adjustments as needed.
Provides care to patients with and without medical complications to meet their comfort, ADL’s, such as personal hygiene IE: bathing, feeding, transporting, toileting, ambulating and safety needs.
Ensures care will be in accordance with nursing and medical plans of care and delivery per VCUHS Nursing and Hospital policy and procedure.
Immediately reports any incident posing harm or threat to a patient to the supervising RN or independent licensed practitioner.
Under the direction of an RN or independent licensed practitioner, identifies own learning needs and demonstrates a commitment to meeting those needs.
Ensures work behaviors comply with written clinical and administrative directives.
Demonstrates individual communication skills in all interactions with members of the healthcare team.
Resolves interaction problems with co-workers at time of occurrence or reports them to supervisor.
Attends staff meetings or reads minutes as evidenced by signature on minutes.
Participates in mandatory CA activities and unit-based QA/CQI activities.
Using established written, oral and electronic communication systems, documents patient care and clinical support activities in accordance with VCUHS Hospital and Nursing policies, procedures and standards of care within specified time frames.
Ensures documentation is completed for 100% of assigned patients and pertinent patient observations are reported to the supervising RN or independent licensed practitioner.
Performs other duties as assigned and/or participates in special projects in order to support the mission of VCUHS and department.
Provides assistance to team members.
Accepts alternate assignments, as required, graciously.