What are the responsibilities and job description for the Unit Support Associate PRN I/P Psych Unit (must have 2 years of recent patient sitter experience) position at Children's National Medical Center?
In collaboration with and under the supervision of a Registered Nurse the Unit Support Associate will assist in activities directly related to the care of patients and operation of the unit. This will include but is not limited to providing direct 1:1 observation of patients related to safety or behavioral issues. Support the unit function by assisting in the maintenance of supplies, operations
Minimum Education High School Diploma or GED (Required) Required Skills/Knowledge Basic computer skills preferred knowledge of child development preferred Required Licenses and Certifications Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider (BLS) (Required) Functional Accountabilities Maintain Patient Safety
- Maintain environmental safety through room sweep and checklist
- Adhere to principles of pediatric safety through use of handrails, seat belts and direct observation.
- Never leave patient unattended
- Intervene quickly to calm, redirect, reorient patient, or guide patient to prevent harm to self or others.
- Remain in patient room unless relieved by nurse or another Unit support associate
- Accompany patient for any procedures off the unit
- Engage patient in distracting, age appropriate goal oriented behavior, provide activities and conversations that are distracting and therapeutic (discuss with bedside RN)
- Reinforces positive behavior
- Assist with linen changes and room stocking
- Assist in activities of daily living, including but not limited to washing, toileting, position changes and assistance with meals
- Maintain universal precautions
- Assist with providing breaks as directed by Charge Nurse
- Keep room clean and tidy
- Maintain a calm environment
- When not responsible for direct patient observation stock unit, nurse servers, carts etc as directed by charge nurse.
- Monitor common unit areas for cleanliness, stock par levels and supplies
- Reports safety hazards to staff i.e. broken furniture/broken equipment
- Assist in a variety of unit support activities as directed by Charge Nurse i.e. room set up, answer call bells, customer service activities.
- Reports pertinent patient information and call for assistance if the patient develops destructive behaviors i.e. pulling lines.
- With RN establishes priorities for individual patient communicates with team members in establishing priority tasks.
- Maintains regular communication with RN related to assigned duties and patient behavior; preforms activities within prescribed scope, seeks clarification when needed
- Immediately report escalating behaviors to RN
- Confers with RN when confronted with unfamiliar patient care issue.
- Ensure information sharing when handing off to new Safety attendant
- Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met
- Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior
- Partner with all team members to achieve goals
- Receptive to others’ ideas and opinions
- Contribute to a positive work environment
- Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change
- Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes
- Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment
- Use resources efficiently
- Search for less costly ways of doing things
- Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance
- Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation
- Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation
- Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication
- Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers
- Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance
