Patient Safety Assistant - Nursing Float Pool

WellSpan Health; Lebanon (Lebanon County); On-site; USD 1,929,000 - 3,031,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health benefits

Retirement savings plan

Paid time off (PTO)

Education assistance

Financial education and support, Daily

Expanded Paid Parental Leave

Job summary

WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital in Lebanon, PA is seeking a part-time Nursing Assistant/Sitter for the float pool. The role focuses on protecting at‑risk patients, providing one-on-one observation, and assisting with daily activities across units as needed.

Shift is evenings/nights with weekend and holiday requirements. The position requires BLS, a high school diploma or GED, and completion of Behavioral Health and safety trainings.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• No prior experience required.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
• Behavioral Health Training Packet and sitter safety trainings required upon hire.

Responsibilities

• Maintains patient safety by monitoring and preventing falls and injuries.
• Provides one-on-one observation for high-risk or behavioral patients.
• Assists with patient transportation and transfers as needed.
• Obtains or relays verbal care information to the RN to coordinate care.
• Engages patients with therapeutic communication and diversional activities to reduce agitation.
• Documents required information in the EHR and adheres to hospital policies.

Skills

Good customer service

Excellent communication

De-escalation skills

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Job Description

Float Pool

The float pool or nursing resource team is a unique department that supports our nursing units by moving staffing as needed every shift or even multiple times during an employee's shift. Float staff are assigned to units based on the needs of the hospital at the time of their shift. There are a variety of units that staff can be competent to work on and make a significant impact on patient care.

Status: Part Time (32 Hours Biweekly)

Schedule: Evening/Night (7:00 p.m.– 7:30 a.m.)

Weekend Requirement: Every third weekend

Holiday Requirement: Every other holiday

Call Requirement: No

• Eligible for shift differential

General Summary

This role serves to protect our patients who are impulsive and at risk for falls, at risk for pulling out IV lines/tubes, require behavioral management and/or present a risk due to psychiatric illnesses. This is a non‑clinical employee who assists in the prevention of falls, deters impulsive behaviors, prevents injury or escape, and provides de‑escalation of patient behaviors. Provides simple assistance such as ambulation, simple toileting, repositioning, and assistance with feeding/fluids. The aide is expected to engage in therapeutic communication and activities to distract, occupy and develop a positive supportive rapport with patients. The aide is required to remain with the assigned patient at all times during their shift except when relieved by staff for breaks, remaining alert and observant. Patient observation by the aide can be performed virtually through video monitoring or by direct bedside observation of the patient based on hospital policy and patient criteria. This role will also be required to transport patients as needed. This position requires Child Abuse Clearance, High Risk Observer Training and required Epic documentation.

Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Maintains patient safety by preventing falls and injury due to impulsiveness.
• Maintains Behavioral Health patient safety. Provides one on one observation for patients who are high risk elopement patients, patients that require behavioral management, suicidal patients or any other patient requiring one on one observation.
• Accompanies patient during transport and escorts patients as required.
• Obtains verbal report from the patient’s nurse to include information regarding the patient’s identified care needs to work collaboratively with the care team.
• Applies principles of caring and healing in interactions with patients and families and with colleagues.
• Provides for patient comfort, safety, and satisfaction by maintaining a safe and therapeutic environment.
• Provides simple assistance such as ambulation, simple toileting, repositioning, and assistance with feeding/fluids.
• Supports caregivers to maintain flow of patient care efficiently.
• Maintains patient environment in a safe and orderly manner.
• Constant, direct visualization of patient is required throughout assignment. The sitter should be positioned to respond to quickly to the patient’s needs and safety.
• Must be present and mindful of the patient and environment at all times.
• Observant of the patient’s activity and behavior, defuses situations and communicates on a regular basis to the nurse. Reports any pertinent observations to the RN.
• Engages patient in therapeutic communications and activities to distract, occupy and develop a therapeutic rapport. Participates in the provision of diversional activities such as playing cards, board games, therapeutic communication, etc.
• Communicates in a professional manner and demonstrates respect for patient, families/significant other and members of the healthcare team.
• Offers support and feedback to peers and staff.
• Responds promptly and appropriately to crisis or emergency. Utilizes principles of Milieu and Behavior Management Training (MBMT) in managing high risk situations.
• Documents required information in the Electronic Health Record (EHR).
• May be assigned to observe patients who are in isolation and will be required to don appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) according to WellSpan policy.

Common Expectations

• Demonstrates a commitment to patient, visitor and staff by: complying with all applicable safety regulations; learning the impact of medical errors and methodology that will lead to reduction of errors; reporting actual and potential errors, as well as hazardous conditions; identifying opportunities to standardize processes and "error proof" systems that will lead to increased safety; and participating in safety education programs and root cause analyses as required.
• Provides outstanding service to all customers; fosters teamwork; and practices fiscal responsibility through improvement and innovation.
• May be assigned to care for patients in isolation. This will require the sitter to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Complies with all hospital policies and procedures, including infection control guidelines.
• Maintains confidentiality of patient information.
• Maintains a professional appearance.
• This position requires floating to all units to provide care across hospital.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Education

• High School Diploma or GED Required

Work Experience

• No prior experience. Required

Licenses

• Basic Life Support Upon Hire Required

Courses And Training

• Behavioral Health Training Packet (LMS) Upon Hire Required and
• Sitter guidelines for safety 1:1 (LMS) Upon Hire Required and
• High Risk Observation (LMS) Upon Hire Required and
• Patient care assistant/sitter Epic training. Upon Hire Required and
• De-escalation class (8-hour class) Upon Hire Required

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Good customer service skills.
• Excellent communication skills and de-escalation skills.

Benefits Offered

• Comprehensive health benefits
• Retirement savings plan
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Education assistance
• Financial education and support, including DailyPay
• Expanded Paid Parental Leave

For additional details: Benefits & Incentives | WellSpan Careers (joinwellspan.org)

About Us

WellSpan Health’s vision is to reimagine healthcare through the delivery of comprehensive, equitable health and wellness solutions throughout our continuum of care. As an integrated delivery system focused on leading in value‑based care, we encompass more than 2,300 employed providers, 250 locations, nine award‑winning hospitals, home care and a behavioral health organization serving central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. Our high‑performing Medicare Accountable Care Organization (ACO) is the region’s largest and one of the best in the nation. With a team 23,000 strong, WellSpan experts provide a range of services, from wellness and employer services solutions to advanced care for complex medical and behavioral conditions. Our clinically integrated network of 3,000 aligned physicians and advanced practice providers is dedicated to providing the highest quality and safety, inspiring our patients and communities to be their healthiest.

About The Team

WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital

For more than 125 years, WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital has provided leading‑edge inpatient, outpatient, and emergent care to the Lebanon County community. One of eight premier hospitals in the WellSpan system, WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital features an award‑winning cardiac and vascular center, a certified Primary Stroke Center, and a wound care and hyperbaric medicine center, while providing a supportive continuum of care through our extensive WellSpan primary, specialty, ambulatory, and behavioral health care locations within the community. WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital is supported by the nearby WellSpan Sechler Family Cancer Center, Lebanon’s first and only integrated cancer center. WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital was one of several WellSpan Health hospitals honored by U.S. News & World Report with the High Performing recognition for 2022-23.

WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital serves as the cornerstone of care for a total population of nearly 142,000 residents living in the rural and urban mix of Lebanon County. A full-service, acute‑care hospital, with a 163 licensed bed capacity, admitting approximately 7,000 patients annually. We offer open heart procedures, comprehensive cardiac care, total joint replacements, private labor and delivery birthing suites, robotic surgery, and emergency care.