Sitter - Flex Choice Internal Agency

Job Title

The Sitter

Job Description

The Sitter performs various patient care activities related to the patient's physical comfort under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and helps the patient in completing daily activities in a safe manner. The Sitter may participate in direct patient care, selected treatments, documentation of observations and care given, and the reporting of patient signs, symptoms, and conditions, including drawing lab work, performing whole blood glucose testing, taking vital signs, attaching patients to monitors, EKG testing and transporting patients to departments for testing. May assist nursing service personnel with a variety of other patient care duties. Relies on established guidelines to accomplish tasks. Works under close supervision.

Responsibilities

Patient Care:

• Patients are assisted with daily living activities (e.g., bed bath, oral hygiene, shaving, dressing, back rubs, linen freshening), and provides general care (e.g., positioning patients, pre- and post-operative care, assisting with bed pan use) in a manner that demonstrates compassion and understanding for all patients as evidenced by lack of complaints.
• Patients are prepared for meals, served food, and fed when needed in a manner that demonstrates compassion and respect for patient needs at all times.
• Patients have identification bracelets before transportation and compassion and respect demonstrated in all contacts with patients, family members, and fellow employees at all times.
• Patients are transported to and from designated areas of the hospital in a caring, considerate, expedient, and professional manner at all times.
• Patient temperature, pulse, respiration, weight, height, blood pressure, and intake-output measurement is taken and recorded as directed by appropriate personnel in a caring and efficient manner and documents information in CIS.
• Unit and patient room and bed are appropriately prepared in an effort to ensure that patients are adequately and properly accommodated during their hospital stay at all times.
• Patients are assisted and accompanied during admission, transfer, and discharge procedures in a manner that demonstrates compassion and understanding for each patient at all times.

Quality:

• A safe, comfortable, and therapeutic health care environment is maintained by cleaning rooms and equipment, preparing for sterilization and disinfection, promptly reporting damaged equipment and other problems to appropriate personnel, and efficiently and properly handling linen and supplies at all times.
• Input for end of shift reports and CIS documentation is provided, and participates in unit quality assurance programs in an effort to enhance the quality and efficiency of unit services at all times.
• All equipment, supplies, facilities, and resources are utilized in a prudent and efficient manner in order to ensure efficient departmental operations and the provision of high quality health care services.
• Patients are assisted with personal hygiene and other activities of daily living (e.g., dressing, ambulation) in a caring and understanding manner, and an attractive, comfortable, and safe environment for patients is maintained with special consideration to room cleanliness, ventilation, lighting, and patient safety.
• Assistance is provided with patient rehabilitation under the supervision of a Registered Nurse and in accordance with the patient's care plan in an efficient and professional manner at all times.

Collaboration & Partnership:

• Assistance is provided to physicians with examination, treatments, and special tests and procedures as directed by a Registered Nurse. Collects patient specimens in a caring manner and expediently transports specimens to the lab when necessary.
• Inter-departmental errands (e.g., transporting lab specimens, picking up patient medications from pharmacy) are run for nursing personnel in an expedient and professional manner.
• Expediently reports any unusual incidents or observed changes in patient condition or behavior to appropriate personnel.

Other Duties As Assigned:

• Other duties as assigned or requested are completed.

Qualifications

Education: High School or equivalent

Training: Completion of sitter course upon employment. Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support; Heartsaver AED, Current certification in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention; CPI.

Special Skills: Good Communication and Customer Service Skills.

Licensure: BLS certification