Patient Safety Associate - Acute Care - Nights

VCU Health•South Hill, VA

1d•$16 - $24

About The Position

The Patient Safety Associate (PSA) provides 1:1 safety observation and basic direct patient care under the direction of an RN or independent licensed practitioner. The role includes direct visual observation, verbal redirection, safety checks, environmental checks, comfort care, personal care and hygiene, activities of daily living (ADLs), and mobility and fall prevention. The PSA serves as a liaison between the patient and nurse, reports concerns or changes to the nurse on duty, provides customer service to patients, families, and visitors, and documents patient care as applicable. The PSA supports patients who require safety observation, including patients at high risk of suicide and patients with psychiatric, medical, or surgical vulnerabilities, dementia, delirium, traumatic brain injury, or substance withdrawal. The PSA maintains an environment conducive to safety and recovery and delivers age-appropriate care in accordance with nursing and medical plans of care and VCUHS policies and procedures. The position also requires reporting incidents that may pose harm or a threat to a patient, completing documentation within specified time frames, participating in staff and quality activities, and supporting team members and department projects. This position works three 12-hour shifts per week, including every third weekend, from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Current AHA BLC HCP certification.

Nice To Haves

Completion of a Certified Nursing Assistant or Medical Assistant program.
Current or planned enrollment in an accredited healthcare- or humanities-related associate or baccalaureate program, such as nursing, medical, PT/OT, pharmacy, health administration, dental, nutrition, PA, psychology, sociology, biology, chemistry, or forensics.
Certified Nursing Assistant or Medical Assistant credential.
One year of experience as a certified nursing assistant or medical assistant.
One year of experience in a healthcare-related field with direct patient care.

Responsibilities

Provide 1:1 safety observation for patients requiring observation, including patients at risk of suicide or harm and patients with psychiatric, medical, or surgical conditions.
Use appropriate verbal intervention and de-escalation; explain care as needed without counseling or offering opinions.
Maintain an environment conducive to patient safety and recovery through safety and room checks, checking for ligature points and contraband, keeping rooms organized, changing bed linens, and emptying linen bins.
Provide safe, age-appropriate direct care under the direction of an RN or independent licensed practitioner, including personal hygiene, bathing, feeding, transportation, toileting, ambulation, comfort, ADL, and safety support.
Immediately report incidents that pose harm or a threat to a patient to the supervising RN or independent licensed practitioner.
Identify learning needs and demonstrate commitment to addressing them; comply with written clinical and administrative directives.
Communicate with healthcare team members and resolve interaction problems with coworkers when they occur or report them to a supervisor.
Attend staff meetings or review meeting minutes, and participate in mandatory CA activities and unit-based QA/CQI activities.
Document patient care and clinical support activities through established written, oral, and electronic systems in accordance with policies, procedures, standards of care, and specified time frames.
Complete documentation for all assigned patients and report pertinent observations to the supervising RN or independent licensed practitioner.
Perform other duties and special projects as assigned, assist team members, and accept alternate assignments as required.