Facility: Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center

Job Summary:

The Safety Sitter role will primarily function as a constant monitor for patients requiring continuous observation. The safety sitter's responsibility is to observe and report behaviors that may interrupt medically necessary therapies and/or perceived changes in the patient's condition to appropriate health care team member (s). The safety sitter will function under the direction of the registered nurse assigned to the patient they are monitoring, a designee assigned by the registered nurse, such as the clinical supervisor on duty. The safety sitter is focused on promoting a positive patient experience by partnering with the patient, family, and other care providers to provide excellence in customer service and assistance with daily living activities and comfort measures as needed for patient observation. The safety sitter may assist other health care providers with safe, age appropriate and culturally competent care by performing basic patient care functions, i.e., ADL's, ambulation, and toileting. The safety sitter must be able to work in a fast-paced environment which requires observation and ongoing communication with a registered nurse and interdisciplinary team. Must be able to perform under stressful conditions with a compassionate, respectful, and helpful manner. Must be able to take direction.

Core Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

Continuous Observation

• Notify RN/Charge RN/CCP of potential or recent changes in the patients behavioral risk factors, or mental status as observed

• Document patient status every 15 minutes on patients under observation for involuntary behavioral health patients and every hour for medical safety sitting.

• Evaluate & secure the environment for safety each shift. Document interventions as needed

• Always Ensures direct visibility & observation of the patient.

Telesitter Facility Liaison

• Tracks, delivers, maintains, and retrieves telesitter carts

• Troubleshoots any cart connectivity issues and places an IT ticket if necessary

• Performs safe room guideline checks upon initiation and upon every hand-off thereafter

• Performs environmental rounds to ensure safe room guidelines are being maintained

• Respond to remote telesitter escalation for face-to-face intervention

• Notifies Nurse and/or Charge Nurse when face-to-face redirection is required

Care Team Collaboration

• Supports initiatives of the interdisciplinary care team

• Practices accountability for patient safety

• Patient Transport- proper verification of patient identification & notification of RN upon leaving or returning to room when not needed for patient observation

• EVS & Nutrition Services assist EVS & Food services when not needed for patient observation.

Patient-Centered Care

• Supports an environment of healing or wellness for patients which includes addressing patient needs in partnership with the patient

• Engages the patient and family in compliance with the treatment plan.

• Effectively contributes to the plan of care or treatment intervention based on assigned tasks and patient/family input in collaboration with the healthcare team with a focus on the care continuum.

• Consistently implements safety interventions to minimize risk in the achievement of intended outcomes

• Provides basic patient care needs (ex. Hygiene, nutrition, elimination, physical comfort measures) as assigned.

• Assist RN and other members of the healthcare team with care delivery as assigned

• Notifies nurse when physician/interdisciplinary care team members arrive in observed patient room

Safe Space and Infection Control

• Provides a safe environment for the provision of patient care

• Consistent use of appropriate hand hygiene

• Keeps patient rooms and unit areas clean and free of clutter

• Follows appropriate PPE/Infection control policies.

• Enforces the importance of universal precautions with patient and patients family

• Utilizes proper body mechanics and lift equipment

• Performs environment of care rounds

Communication

• Uses effective written and oral communication skills with patients, staff, physicians, family, and visitors

• Uses safety communication techniques.

• Communicate completion of assignments/duties to the appropriate person

• Communicate patient care concerns/problems/emergencies to the RN

• Uses positive and respectful communication with all members of the healthcare team, patients and families.

• Communicate with patients and update whiteboards with information as requested.

• Performs other duties as assigned

• Complies with all Wellstar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.

Required Minimum Education:

• High school diploma Required or equivalent from an accredited program Required and

• Must attend and successfully complete the Wellstar training and Initial Competency Assessment within the first 30 days of employment. Required

Required Minimum License(s) and Certification(s):

All certifications are required upon hire unless otherwise stated.

• Basic Life Support (BLS) with the American Heart Association

Additional License(s) and Certification(s):

• Graduate from a CNA/CMA Program or completion of first semester nursing clinical including nursing fundamentals Upon Hire Preferred

Required Minimum Experience:

• Previous healthcare experience Preferred

Required Minimum Skills:

• Ability to read, write, and speak the English language;

• Ability to hear and see alarms and digital readouts;

• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills;

• Ability to collaborate with other healthcare providers in the provision of patient care;

• Ability to function in stressful and emergency situations is essential.