Wondering about sitter assigned to 2 pts at same time

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Please let me know hot to find information about legal implications about sitters. I have taken care of baker acted pt's that shared the same room and therefore the hospital in an attempt to save more money they have only one sitter taking care of 2 pts, thanks!

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I've been in psych nursing for decades and have worked for a number of facilities that had policies that identified some situations in which one sitter could be watching more than one client, and have never heard of any legal issues arising from that. I've never practiced in a state in which there was any state definition or regulation of sitter use; in my experience, it is left to hospitals to develop and implement policies to keep clients safe. I worked as a hospital surveyor for my state and CMS for several years, and neither entity had any rules/regs specifying how hospitals should keep clients safe, just that they must have established policies/procedures and they must consistently follow those policies.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

And for the unenlightened - what exactly is 'baker acted'??

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

You will need to talk to an attorney, are we are unable to offer you legal advice.

Best of luck.

ETA: Baker Act is an involuntary psychiatric hold allowing a patient to be held up to 72 hours because they are an immediate danger to themselves, an immediate danger to others and/or are gravely disabled.

We call them 5150s in CA. Other states use other names, such as Temporary Detention Order.

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