Patient Sitter Job Description
Patient Sitter Duties & Responsibilities
To write an effective patient sitter job description, begin by listing detailed duties, responsibilities and expectations. We have included patient sitter job description templates that you can modify and use.
Sample responsibilities for this position include:
Patient Sitter Qualifications
Qualifications for a job description may include education, certification, and experience.
Licensing or Certifications for Patient Sitter
List any licenses or certifications required by the position: BLS, BCLS, CPI, CNA, CPR
Education for Patient Sitter
Typically a job would require a certain level of education.
Employers hiring for the patient sitter job most commonly would prefer for their future employee to have a relevant degree such as High School and Associate Degree in General Education, Health Care, Education, Associates, Industrial, Technical, Nursing Program, Supervision, Patient Care, Medical Assistant
Skills for Patient Sitter
Desired skills for patient sitter include:
Desired experience for patient sitter includes:
Patient Sitter Examples
Patient Sitter Job Description
- Utilizes soothing techniques to attempt to calm confused patients, talking in a soft, soothing manner, reading to the patient, touching the patient’s hand to redirect from pulling at lines
- Notifies the nurse for patient needs such as toileting, hunger, OR at any point that the patient would be a hazard to themselves or others
- May float as a CNA (as needed) if working under an active Texas CNA license
- Other duties as specified by department supervisor
- Through observation and surveillance, Reports any changes in patient's mental or physical condition, suspicion of ingesting questionable substances or items
- To provide safety in the hospital setting for those patients who require a sitter to perform continuous observation
- Performs and documents vital signs and other appropriate patient information in the EMR
- Ensures comfort and safety of patients, belongings and environment
- Observes the patient(s) in the room, never leaving the patient's side without replacement
- Follows RN's directions for patient care, and gives shift handoff report to assigned RN
- Previous experience in a hospital and/or nursing facility preferred
- Alerting staff for medical emergencies
- Must possess patience and tact in working with the elderly or patients at risks for falls or other harm
- Completed all .edu courses on duties of the constant observer and .edu on restraint and seclusion
- Completes hospital approved training in managing patient behaviors and de-escalation techniques
- Constant Observer providing patient care must have completed all applicable competencies
Patient Sitter Job Description
- Maintains a safe environment by removing dangerous items and continually assessing the area for potential risks
- Immediately notifies assigned RN and/or unit team leader when the patient(s) condition or behavior changes or assistance is needed
- Uses proper techniques to avoid infection of patient(s) and self and avoids contamination of patient's belongings, equipment and supplies
- Gives frequent oral and written reports of occurrences and observations
- Performs and records delegated nursing care tasks and procedures in the EMR
- Assists patient(s) with feeding, activities of daily living (ADL's), bathing, toileting and ambulation
- Participates in unit staff meetings
- Completes required education courses and modules within established deadlines
- Maintains a safe environment by removing dangerous items and continually assessing the area
- Maintains a safe environment by removing dangerous items and continually assessing the area for
- Certified Nurse Tech or Certified Nurse Assistant license preferred
- NVCI (NonViolent Crisis Intervention) offered by CLRMC
- Experience in patient care/transportation preferred
- Previous experience working with patients or in a hospitalsetting preferred
- Patient care technician/C.N.A
- Prior patient sitter and/or CNA experience preferred
Patient Sitter Job Description
- Assist in calming and/or reorienting patient in cases of agitation or confusion
- Remove visible hazards and/or broken equipment from immediate environment and reports as appropriate
- Assist with keeping patient's room clean, safe and orderly
- Employee is responsible for providing one to one observation of a patient, working in controlled and/or uncontrolled patient care situations
- Record all observations
- Remove visible hazards and/or broken equipment from immediate environment and report as appropriate
- Remains in patient room at all time and does not leave without RN approval and/or relief
- Accompanies and stays with patient when transported off the unit for any diagnostic tests or procedures
- Uses the call light/intercom system to summon staff for assistance or needed equipment/supplies
- Documents observations on flow sheet as instructed and indicated
- Minimum of 1 year clinical experience performing nursing assistant duties in hospital/healthcare setting OR successful completion of nursing school (RN) curriculum from an accredited school of Nursing
- Receives hand off from the care team to include reason for observation, patient behaviors and any concerns/ risks
- Notifies the primary nurse of changes in patient behavior
- Records observations in the patient record at the designated documentation interval for observation level
- May travel with patient off the unit for testing or other reasons as determined by the care team
- Assists with supervised clothing changes and secures patient belongings
Patient Sitter Job Description
- Keeps patient within view at all times
- Keeps patient in view at all times
- Keeps patient room door open/partially open at all times
- Keeps bathroom door open at all times
- Removes sharp/dangerous items out of room
- Assists nurse to screen all items brought in by visitors
- Knows patient’s ordered activity level
- Avoids wearing items around neck (ID badge, stethoscopes, necklace)
- Refrains from discussing patient information with anyone other than nurse or physician
- Respects the patient’s right to dignity while providing care, with concern for safety as a priority
- Observes patients closely to ensure they do not obtain or retrieve objects they could use to harm themselves or others
- If assigned to constant observation does not leave the patient or become distracted/ engaged with other patients until relieved or communication is receiving that the level of observation has changed
- Supports restraint activities as delegated by the primary Registered Nurse
- Communicate effectively with the patient and family regarding role responsibilities
- Basic understanding of organizations environment of care and infection control policies and procedures
- Basic understanding of reasons for and techniques for managing aggressive behavior
Patient Sitter Job Description
- Conveys attitudes of compassion, empathy, and understanding
- Does not discuss any information related to patient’s medical condition or plan of care
- Seeks guidance and direction when unsure
- Informs nurse immediately if patient expresses desire t harm self/others or wants to leave the hospital
- Provides report to relief patient sitter and to nurse prior to leaving at shift end
- Provides only constant observation
- Does not make personal phone calls, eat food in the room, or sleep
- Allows patient control of television (channel, volume)
- Does not use any items or personal electronics (iPod, iPad, game boy, ) or anything that can distract attention from patient
- Does not leave patient(s) until relief patient sitter has arrived and is in the patient room
- Understand and follow CCMC policies and procedures
- Excellent interpersonal skills and communication required
- Demonstration of effective listening skills
- Demonstrates competency in standard clinical procedures unit specific patient management protocols
- 6 months expereince in acute care setting (preferred)
- Patient Care/C.N.A