ED Observation Assistant, Emergency Department, 24 Hours, Days

UMass Memorial Health; Worcester (MA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Signing bonus

Job summary

UMass Memorial Health is seeking an Observation Assistant to provide high-level patient observation and safety monitoring in the Emergency Department. The role involves assisting with patient care, ensuring safety protocols, and supporting nursing staff with de-escalation and restraint procedures as directed by the RN or physician.

Requirements include a High School Diploma or equivalent, completion of de-escalation training, and current Basic Life Support.

Qualifications

• Must be able to complete de-escalation training.
• Current Basic Life Support or Heart Saver certification.
• Ability to read, write and speak English clearly.

Responsibilities

• Provide constant observation of high-risk patients as assigned.
• Assist patients with undressing and securing belongings according to unit policy.
• Monitor patients and conduct safety checks at required intervals.
• De-escalate and assist with restraints under the direction of RN/MD when needed.
• Document patient behavior and safety checks in the patient chart.
• Transport patients or equipment and stock carts and supplies.

Skills

English communication

Calm under pressure

Patient care support

Education

High School Graduate or equivalent

Job description

Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Hiring Range: $18.20 - $24.45

(based on a full time schedule of 40 hours per week).

Please note that the final offer will vary based on scheduled hours. Compensation for part-time or reduced schedules will be prorated based on scheduled weekly hours, experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity considerations.

Schedule Details: Holidays - Every Other Holiday, Weekends - Every Other Weekend

Scheduled Hours: 7a-3p

Shift: 1 - Day Shift, 8 Hours (United States of America)

Hours: 24

Cost Center: 10020 - 2340 Emergency Room

Union: SHARE (State Healthcare and Research Employees)

This position may have a signing bonus available a member of the Recruitment Team will confirm eligibility during the interview process.

At UMass Memorial Health, everyone is a caregiver - regardless of their title or responsibilities. Exceptional patient care, academic excellence and leading-edge research make UMass Memorial the premier health system of Central Massachusetts, and a place where we can help you build the career you deserve. We are more than 20,000 employees, working together as one health system in a relentless pursuit of healing for our patients, community and each other. And everyone, in their own unique way, plays an important part, every day.

I. Major Responsibilities:

• 1. Provides constant observation of high-risk patients as assigned by the designated Registered Nurse (RN).
• 2. Assists the patient to get undressed, removes items that may pose safety risk, and secures personal belongings according to unit policy.
• 3. Monitors the patient's and conducts patient safety checks at required intervals for an assigned group of patients.
• 4. Escorts and supervises patients in the bathroom depending on level of care, under the direction of the RN, assists patients with meals and comforts and de-escalates patients by using sensory techniques and distraction techniques as needed.
• 5. Attempts to prevent unsafe patient movement and actions and intervenes appropriately within scope.
• 6. Notifies the nurse of changes in patient activity, mood, behavior, requests for medication and calls for assistance when necessary.
• 7. Reinforces safety precautions and fall prevention attempts to redirect patient's attention from equipment, and emergently prevents patients from dislodging equipment.
• 8. Utilizes de-escalation techniques to redirect the patients and if unsuccessful, under the direction of the RN or MD participates in restraints in accordance with training, policy, and education.
• 9. Receives report on each assigned patient from RN at the beginning of each shift.
• 10. Continuously monitors patients and reports any potentially unsafe behaviors, or patients that appear to be escalating to the assigned nurse throughout the shift.
• 11. Reports concern to RN if patient's family or visitors are contributing to escalating behavior.
• 12. Performs environmental safety check of patient and patient's room and removes potentially harmful items at the beginning of each shift and between discharges from rooms.
• 13. Constantly checks for and remedies potentially hazardous situations such as improperly open or unsecured equipment, doors, and windows.
• 14. Reports any potentially unsafe environmental issues that cannot be remedied to the assigned RN throughout the shift.
• 15. Follows the Policy & Procedure(s) related to Constant Observation and patient safety.
• 16. Accompanies the patient for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures as directed by the RN or provider.
• 17. Documents patient behavior and safety checks at required intervals and ensures documentation is placed in the patients chart..
• 18. Provides thorough handoff communication to the on-coming Observation Assistant.
• 19. Performs a variety of duties to support patient care and the operations of the department.
• 20. Engages patients in therapeutic or calming activities as directed by nursing staff.
• 21. Maintains work area in neat and orderly manner. Stocks carts & supplies. Transports patient or equipment.
• 22. Answers telephones, takes messages, and completes light clerical duties such as filing as assigned.
• 23. Follows department/hospital policy and procedure on Infection Control, Fire Safety, etc., including training programs (including de-escalation and restraint training) and demonstrates competency and proficiency as required.

Standard Staffing Level Responsibilities:

• 1. Complies with established departmental policies, procedures, and objectives.
• 2. Attends variety of meetings, conferences, seminars as required or directed.
• 3. Demonstrates use of Quality Improvement in daily operations.
• 4. Complies with all health and safety regulations and requirements.
• 5. Respects diverse views and approaches, demonstrates Standards of Respect, and contributes to creating and maintaining an environment of professionalism, tolerance civility and acceptance toward all employees, patients and visitors.
• 6. Maintains, regular, reliable, and predictable attendance.
• 7. Performs other similar and related duties as required or directed.

All responsibilities are essential job functions.

II. Position Qualifications:

License/Certification/Education:

Required:

• 1. High School Graduate or equivalent.
• 2. Must be able to complete de-escalation training.
• 3. Current Basic Life Support or Heart Saver certification.

Experience/Skills:

Required:

• 1. Communication Skills: Ability to read, write, speak effectively in English and have good interpersonal skills, required.
• 2. Demonstrates the ability to remain calm when under stress or in emergency situations.
• 3. Must be able to assist in the physical restraint of disturbed patients.

Preferred:

• 1. Previous experience in patient care, mental health/intellectual disabilities, teaching/child care/special needs students or public safety preferred.

Unless certification, licensure or registration is required, an equivalent combination of education and experience which provides proficiency in the areas of responsibility listed in this description may be substituted for the above requirements.

Department-specific competencies and their measurements will be developed and maintained in the individual departments. Work will be attached accordingly.

III. Physical Demands and Environmental Conditions:

Position requires work indoors in a patient care environment. Work requires continuous visual inspection and auditory monitoring of patient movements and activities. Work requires frequent rapid physical response to unsafe patient movements; this includes standing, walking, running, reaching, bending, lifting and stooping.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

We're striving to make respect a part of everything we do at UMass Memorial Health - for our patients, our community and each other. Our six Standards of Respect are: Acknowledge, Listen, Communicate, Be Responsive, Be a Team Player and Be Kind. If you share these Standards of Respect, we hope you will join our team and help us make respect our standard for everyone, every day.

As an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, UMass Memorial Health recognizes the power of a diverse community and encourages applications from individuals with varied experiences, perspectives and backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

If you are unable to submit an application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at [e-mail]. We will make every effort to respond to your request for disability assistance as soon as possible.