Patient Sitter

Lifepoint Health•Mcminnville, OR

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Sitter provides direct patient observation and input in planning care through communication with the RN and other patient care team members. The sitter is effectively involved with maintaining the standard of care for assigned patients through communication with the care team. They maintain competency and possess the skills to provide a safe environment to those medical patients requiring close supervision because of behavioral health issues. The sitter completes duties as assigned and performs duties under the direct supervision of the RN. The sitter may assist with inspection, decontamination, assembly, and sterilization of instruments and other patient care equipment in accordance with processing guidelines, AAMI, AORN, TJC, and OSHA requirements. The sitter must be physically able to sit, stand, bend, brace and lift at a moment's notice, maintain a calm, confident manner, and be able to remain calm during moments of escalation or high stress. They must maintain composure with distressed or combative patient(s) and possess critical thinking skills, decisive judgment, and the ability to work with minimal supervision. Sitters observe the patient and maintain a safe environment; they must always have continuous and unobstructed view of the patient. The sitter may not adjust or remove restraints. If the patient complains of discomfort, the sitter is to notify the nurse immediately. The sitter will accompany the patient for any test or procedures off the unit and will accompany surgical patients to the Holding Area. The sitter will remain within arm’s length of the patient until relieved by the RN. Sitters will attempt to prevent the patient from pulling out lines/tubes and attempt to prevent the patient from getting out of bed if there is an activity level of bed rest ordered. The sitter may assist the patient to the bathroom if activity level permits and RN approves, with the bathroom door remaining open and the sitter having direct view of the patient at all times. At the discretion of the nurse, the sitter may assist with ambulation and feeding, and should assist the patient with obtaining fluids, consuming meals, wiping their face, etc. The sitter may not make or receive personal phone calls while on duty or use a personal cell phone. In the case of an emergency, the sitter must notify the nurse that he/she needs to be relieved to make a phone call. The sitter may not leave until he/she has been relieved. The sitter will be relieved for breaks and meals but may not leave the patient until physically relieved by another staff member.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
Basic Life Support (BLS) within 30 days of hire.

Responsibilities

Provides direct patient observation and input in planning care through communication with the RN and other patient care team members.
Effectively involved with maintaining the standard of care for assigned patients through communication with the care team.
Maintains competency and possesses the skills to provide a safe environment to those medical patients requiring close supervision because of behavioral health issues.
Completes duties as assigned and performs duties under the direct supervision of the RN.
Provides inspection, decontamination, assembly, and sterilization of instruments and other patient care equipment in accordance with processing guidelines, AAMI, AORN, TJC, and OSHA requirements.
Ability to respond swiftly - physically able to sit, stand, bend, brace and lift at a moment's notice.
Calm confident manner and able to remain calm during moment of escalation or high stress.
Maintain composure with distressed or combative patient(s).
Requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgment and the ability to work with minimal supervision.
Observe the patient and maintain a safe environment; must always have continuous and unobstructed view of the patient.
May not adjust or remove restraints. If the patient complains of discomfort, notify the nurse immediately.
Accompany the patient for any test or procedures off the unit.
Accompany surgical patients to the Holding Area.
Remain within arm’s length of the patient until relieved by the RN.
Attempt to prevent the patient from pulling out lines/tubes.
Attempt to prevent the patient from getting out of bed if there is an activity level of bed rest ordered.
May assist patient to the bathroom if activity level permits and RN approves. Bathroom door will remain open and sitter will have direct view of patient at all times.
At the discretion of the nurse, may assist with ambulation and feeding.
Assist the patient with obtaining fluids, consuming meals, wiping their face, etc.
May not make or receive personal phone calls while on duty or use a personal cell phone. In the case of an emergency, must notify the nurse that he/she needs to be relieved to make a phone call.
May not leave until he/she has been relieved.
Will be relieved for breaks and meals but may not leave the patient until physically relieved by another staff member.