Observation Assistant, Emergency Department, 24 Hours, Evenings

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 a dedicated ED support role to provide constant observation for high-risk patients and participate in safety checks. You will assist with patient mobility, meals and comfort, under RN supervision, in a fast-paced hospital setting.

Strong communication, calmness under pressure and the ability to assist in restraints when needed are essential. A high school diploma and BLS/Heart Saver certification are required, with potential signing bonus discussed during

Qualifications

• High School Graduate or equivalent.
• Must complete de-escalation training.
• Current Basic Life Support or Heart Saver certification.

Responsibilities

• Provide constant observation of high-risk patients as assigned by ED staff.
• Monitor patient safety and conduct 15-minute safety checks for assigned patients.
• Assist patients with mobility, meals and activities while ensuring safety.
• Escorts and supervises patients in the bathroom under RN direction.
• Notify nurses of changes in patient activity, mood or requests for assistance.

Skills

Communication skills

English language

Calm under pressure

Restraint assistance

Education

High school diploma

De-escalation training

BLS/Heart Saver certification

Job description

Exemption Status

Non-Exempt

Hiring Range

$18.20 - $24.45

Please note that the final offer may vary within this range based on a candidate’s experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity considerations.

Schedule Details

Holidays - Every Other Holiday, Sunday through Saturday, Weekends - Every Other Weekend

Scheduled Hours

3p-11p

Shift

2 - Evening 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.

Everyone Is a Caregiver

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.

Participates as a member of the Emergency Department staff to assist with ensuring the safety of specific patients. Provides constant observation or 15-minute safety checks for those patients who have been determined to be at risk for potential injury to self or others. Performs other support duties as described below.

I. Major Responsibilities

• Provides constant observation of high-risk patients as assigned by the Emergency Department Resource Nurse.
• Assists the patient to get undressed, removes items that could injure the patient or staff, secures belongings.
• Monitors the patient’s and conducts patient safety checks every 15 minutes for an assigned group of patients.
• 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.
• Attempts to prevent unsafe patient movement and actions.
• Notifies the nurse of changes in patient activity, mood, behavior, requests for medication and calls for assistance when necessary.
• Reminds patients about the importance of their safety and fall prevention attempts to redirect patient’s attention from equipment, and emergently prevents patients from dislodging equipment.
• Works to utilize 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 and education.
• Obtains report on each assigned patient from nurse at the beginning of each shift.
• Monitors patients and reports any potentially unsafe behaviors, or patients that appear to be escalating to the assigned nurse throughout the shift.
• Reports concern to nurse if patient’s family or visitors are contributing to escalating behavior.
• 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.
• Constantly checks for and remedies potentially hazardous situations such as improperly open doors and windows.
• Reports any potentially unsafe environmental issues that cannot be remedied to the assigned nurse throughout the shift.
• Follows the Policy & Procedure(s) for Constant Observation.
• Accompanies the patient for therapeutic procedures unless otherwise ordered by the assigned nurse and or physician.
• Documents patient behavior every fifteen minutes on the Constant Observation documentation record.
• Places this information in patient’s bedside chart. Provides handoff to the on-coming ED Observation Assistant.
• Performs a variety of duties to support patient care and the operations of the department.
• Engages patients in activities as appropriate.
• Maintains work area in neat and orderly manner. Stocks carts & supplies. Transports patient or equipment.
• Answers telephones, takes messages, and completes light clerical duties such as filing as assigned.
• 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

• Complies with established departmental policies, procedures, and objectives.
• Attends variety of meetings, conferences, seminars as required or directed.
• Demonstrates use of Quality Improvement in daily operations.
• Complies with all health and safety regulations and requirements.
• 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.
• Maintains, regular, reliable, and predictable attendance.
• Performs other similar and related duties as required or directed.

II. Position Qualifications

All responsibilities are essential job functions.

License/Certification/Education

Required:

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

Experience/Skills

Required:

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

Preferred

• 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. The competencies will be maintained and attached to the departmental job description. Responsible managers will review competencies with position incumbents.

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.