Safety Sitter

Where You’ll Work

Mercy Hospital is an 82 bed, acute care hospital located in the scenic southwestern Colorado town of Durango. It is the only hospital in Colorado to be rated by Medicare with five stars for overall hospital quality. It is recognized for excellence in orthopedic and spine surgery and for outstanding patient experience and patient safety. Mercy has also received ten consecutive 'A' grades for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group. Our providers use state-of-the-art technology in an environment designed to promote wellbeing and healing of body, mind, and spirit. Among the many specialty services available at Mercy are emergency care (Level III trauma designation), surgical care, cardiac care (including interventional), Orthopedic and Spine Centers of Excellence, a Family Birthing Center, home care, hospice care and more. Durango offers an exceptional quality of life with small town charm, excellent schools, and year-round, world-class outdoor recreation opportunities including snow sports, river sports, hiking, biking, camping and more.

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As our Safety Sitter, you will perform direct observation of patients to maintain safety, utilizing specialized training and de-escalation techniques to create a therapeutic and calming environment. Every day you will meticulously observe patients, respond to their needs, and effectively communicate any changes in mental and/or physical status to the primary Registered Nurse and/or Nurse Leader, ensuring continuous patient safety. To be successful in this role, you will possess strong observational skills, a calm demeanor, and expertise in de-escalation techniques.

• Ensures patient safety through continuous observations of the patient's environment, including monitoring patient activities, patient belongings, and room items.
• Always maintains direct view of the patient unless instructed otherwise by a Registered Nurse (RN).
• Demonstrates the ability to utilize deescalation techniques appropriately and in a timely manner to ensure patient and associate safety.
• Reports patient status changes and needs to the RN accurately and in a timely manner.
• Calls for assistance when the situation requires.
• Completes documentation of observation and provides it to the RN for integration into the patient's chart.

Job Requirements

Required

• High School Diploma/G.E.D.
• Ability to observe changes in patient behavior, deescalate aggressive or agitated behavior, and anticipate need for further intervention
• Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English
• Current Basic Life Support through the American Heart Association

Preferred

• Deescalation training: deescalation required if sitting for at risk for harm to self or others within 30 days of hire or transfer
• Healthcare experience, mental health, human services or related, and/or current student clinical placement
• Knowledge of medical terminology