Care Companion​/Patient Sitter Progressive Care Unit, Per Diem

NMC is currently recruiting a Care Companion/Patient Sitter in the Progressive Care Unit. The position is per diem (variable shifts - day, evening, night or weekend shifts), generally 8 hour shifts. Northwestern Medical Center’s mission is to provide exceptional health care to our community. Join our high reliability team! With “people” as one of our core values, valuing our employees is a top priority for Northwestern.

We care about our employees, their families, and their overall health & well-being. We are proud to offer a generous benefits package, with recognized national carriers, designed to help our people stay healthy, balance work & life responsibilities, protect your assets & plan for a secure financial future.

Hourly Rate: $15/hour + differentials

The Care Companion provides quality patient safety monitoring services under the direction of a licensed professional. The Care Companion proactively maintains a safe environment for the patient by providing continuous monitoring and reporting potential unsafe and harmful behaviors. The Care Companion is also responsible for other duties assigned by Supervisor.

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Experience: Hospital experience preferred.
• Other
  
  Skills:
  
  Must successfully complete training related to de‑escalation of patients and dementia patients within 2 months of hire. Able to effectively communicate with employees, supervisors/managers and staff as well as patients and visitors as required. Keen vision acuity to maintain safe environment. Work set shift as assigned by Supervisor of Emergency Management & Safety.
• Certifications: BLS required within 90 days of hire.

• Reports To:
  
  Director of Patient Care Services
• Other Contacts:
  Patients, families, charge nurse, other nursing staff, providers, social services, forensic staff, other hospital staff

• Machinery or Equipment Used: Patient transport devices, call lights, bed alarms.
• Physical Demands: Occasional walking, stooping, bending, crouching, long periods of sitting. Occasional: kneeling, squatting, pushing/pulling, overhead reaching, lifting up to 35 lbs., carrying up to 14 lbs.
• Working Conditions: Often working with unpredictable behaviors, possible exposure to infectious or contagious diseases, contact with varying types of patients under a variety of circumstances. Subject to irregular hours and unpredictable and possibly stressful work situations.
• Required Protective Equipment: Non‑skid, flat footwear. PPE per policy as patient condition or situation dictates.

• Accompanies patient who is in need of observation:
  • Sits in patient's room with patient, maintaining a safe environment for the patient through 1:1 continuous monitoring that includes remaining within arm’s length and facing the patient at all times, does not include during bathroom shower activities.
  • Escorts and/or walks with patients who do not require physical assistance.
  • Accompanies patient to medical procedures to maintain continuous monitoring requirements.
  • Offers diversionary/entertaining activities.
• Interacts with staff and assigned patient and family to foster a positive, healing environment:
  • Notifies patient's nurse of any patient requests or changes in behavior or condition and responds appropriately to direction given by healthcare team members.
  • Identifies what safety precautions are in place and complies with all related policies requiring a care companion/patient sitter role (i.e. Suicide policy, policy).
  • Identifies times when the patient is safely attended by another qualified individual i.e. physician, patient's nurse, family, NCSS staff etc. and is able to step out of the room.
  • Communicates and interacts with patient and family in a therapeutic and respectful manner, with intent to minimize escalation of behaviors.
  • Participates in transfer of care (Care Companion to Care Companion; Care Companion to Nurse; Care Companion to another team member); communicates any special consideration, care priorities, and support needs as appropriate.
• Maintains patients’ rights, including the privacy and security of all confidential and protected health information:
  • Demonstrates unit specific skills requisite for department.