Patient Safety Attendant - Full-Time Days (7am-3:30pm)

Hackensack Meridian Health; Hackensack (NJ); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Hackensack Meridian Health is seeking a Patient Safety Attendant to support the registered nurse and help provide a safe environment for patients. You will stay within arm's reach, alert the nurse if you must leave, and document observations to ensure patient safety.

Role involves assisting with hygiene under supervision, avoiding restraints without nurse presence, and escalating concerns about patient wellbeing. Minimum pay starts at $18.35 per hour, with comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required.
• Knowledge of medical terminology is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Stays no more than arm's length away from the patient at all times.
• Contacts the nurse if you need to leave the patient's bedside.
• Completes the Close Observation Record or Intensive Observation Record.
• Keeps bed rails in the position directed by the nurse.
• Keeps bed in the lowest possible position.
• Keeps call bell within reach to call for assistance if needed.
• Removes sharp objects from patient's reach if directed by the nurse.
• Prevents patients from pulling out tubes, IVs, drains, or dressings.
• Ensures restraints stay in place when required and with nurse present.
• Informs the nurse if restraints loosen or a tube/dressing is disrupted.
• Reports unusual behavior to the nurse immediately.
• Reports comments indicating self-harm or suicidal thoughts to the nurse.
• Assists with hygiene and toileting under direct supervision of the nurse.
• Notifies the nurse of any unusual visitors or upsetting situations.
• Adapts care to age, culture, language, or sensory needs of the patient population.

Education

High School diploma or GED

GED equivalent programs

Job description

Overview

Our team members are the heart of what makes us better. At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives - and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning. It's also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community. Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.

Responsibilities

Patient Safety Attendants help to or assist the registered nurse to maintain an environment that is safe for the patient. A safe environment means preventing the patient from harming his/herself or others and/or preventing the patient from interfering with necessary medical care or treatment.

• Stays no more than arm's length away from the patient at all times.
• Contacts the nurse if you need to leave the patient's bedside for any reason - never leave the patient alone or with a friend or family member unless directed to do so by the registered nurse.
• Completes the Close Observation Record or Intensive Observation Record.
• Keeps bed rails in the position directed by the registered nurse.
• Keeps bed in the lowest possible position.
• Keeps call bell within reach to call for assistance if needed.
• Removes all sharp objects from patient's reach if directed by the nurse (razors, knives, glass, pens, pencils, scissors, etc.).
• Prevents patients from pulling out tubes, IVs, drains, dressings, etc. by explaining that it is something needed to make them better.
• If the patient is in restraints make sure, they stay in place and never apply or remove restraints without the registered nurse at the bedside with you.
• Informs the nurse immediately if a patient has loosened a restraint or disrupted as tube or dressing.
• Reports any unusual behavior to the nurse i.e. confusion or disorientation (the patient does not know who they are or where they are), extreme sleepiness, hallucinations (the patient thinks they hear voices or see bugs / people who are not there).
• Reports any unusual comments to the nurse such as 'I want to die.', 'I feel like killing myself', 'They won't stop me next time'.
• Assists with hygiene, toileting, etc. under the direct supervision of the registered nurse.
• Reports anything unusual to the registered nurse immediately including visitors or family acting in an inappropriate manner or in a manner that is upsetting to the patient.
• Identifies the needs of the patient population served and modifies and delivers care that is specific to those needs (i.e., age, culture, language, hearing and/or visually impaired, etc.). This process includes communicating with the patient, parent, and/or primary caregiver(s) at their level (developmental/age, educational, literacy, etc.).

Qualifications

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• High School diploma, general equivalency diploma (GED), and/or GED equivalent programs.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:

• Knowledge of medical terminology.

Starting Minimum Rate

Minimum rate of $18.35 Hourly

Job Posting Disclosure

HMH is committed to pay equity and transparency for our team members. The posted rate of pay in this job posting is a reasonable good faith estimate of the minimum base pay for this role at the time of posting in accordance with the New Jersey Pay Transparency Act and does not reflect the full value of our market-competitive total rewards package. The starting rate of pay is provided for informational purposes only and is not a guarantee of a specific offer. Posted hourly rates may be stated as an annual salary in the offer and posted annual salaries may be stated as an hourly rate in the offer, depending on the level and nature of the job duties and credentials of the candidate. The base compensation determined at the time of the offer may be different than the posted rate of pay based on a number of non-discriminatory factors, including but not limited to: Labor Market Data: Compensation is benchmarked against market data to ensure competitiveness. Experience: Years of relevant work experience. Education and Certifications: Level of education attained, including specialized certifications, credentials, completed apprenticeship programs or advanced training. Skills: Demonstrated proficiency in relevant skills and competencies. Geographic Location: Cost of living and market rates for the specific location. Internal Equity: Compensation is determined in a manner consistent with compensation ranges for similar roles within the organization. Budget and Grant Funding: Departmental budgets and any grant funding associated with the job position may impact the pay that can be offered. Some jobs may also be eligible for performance-based incentives, bonuses, or commissions not reflected in the starting rate. Certain positions may also be eligible for shift differentials for work performed on evening, night, or weekend shifts. In addition to our compensation for full-time and part-time (20+ hours/week) job positions, HMH offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and retirement benefits.