What are the responsibilities and job description for the Patient Safety Attendant - Full Time Days (7am to 3:30pm) position at Hackensack Meridian Health?
Our team members are the heart of what makes us better. At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning. It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community. Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.
Patient Safety Attendants help to or assist the registered nurse to maintain an environment that is safe for the patient. A safe environment means preventing the patient from harming his/herself or others and/or preventing the patient from interfering with necessary medical care or treatment.
1. Stays no more than arm's length away from the patient at all times.
2. Contacts the nurse if you need to leave the patient's bedside for any reason - never leave the patient alone or with a friend or family member unless directed to do so by the registered nurse.
3. Completes the Close Observation Record or Intensive Observation Record.
4. Keeps bed rails in the position directed by the registered nurse.
5. Keeps bed in the lowest possible position.
6. Keeps call bell within reach to call for assistance if needed.
7. Removes all sharp objects from patient's reach if directed by the nurse (razors, knives, glass, pens, pencils, scissors, etc.).
8. Prevents patients from pulling out tubes, IVs, drains, dressings, etc. by explaining that it is something needed to make them better.
9. If the patient is in restraints make sure, they stay in place and never apply or remove restraints without the registered nurse at the bedside with you.
10. Informs the nurse immediately if a patient has loosened a restraint or disrupted as tube or dressing.
11. Reports any unusual behavior to the nurse i.e. confusion or disorientation (the patient does not know who they are or where they are), extreme sleepiness, hallucinations (the patient thinks they hear voices or see bugs / people who are not there).
12. Reports any unusual comments to the nurse such as 'I want to die.', 'I feel like killing myself', 'They won't stop me next time'.
13. Assists with hygiene, toileting, etc. under the direct supervision of the registered nurse.
14. Reports anything unusual to the registered nurse immediately including visitors or family acting in an inappropriate manner or in a manner that is upsetting to the patient.
15. Identifies the needs of the patient population served and modifies and delivers care that is specific to those needs (i.e., age, culture, language, hearing and/or visually impaired, etc.). This process includes communicating with the patient, parent, and/or primary caregiver(s) at their level (developmental/age, educational, literacy, etc.).
16. Adheres to the standards identified in the Medical Center's Organizational Competencies.
Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:
- High School diploma, general equivalency diploma (GED), and/or GED equivalent programs.
Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:
- Knowledge of medical terminology.