Do you envy 1:1 sitters?

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I enjoy being a nurse but on some nights I am totally envious of the nursing assistants assigned to be sitters. I see them reading their books, magazines, surfing the web.

I don't know what the process is but I would love to come in and work as a 1:1 sitter one of these days.

I wonder if it would seem weird and if staffing would even accept me since I am a RN.

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Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..

I find it the most difficult thing of all on nights to do one to one! It's so easy to fall asleep because you're not moving about.If the resident is sleeping it is so boring! Fair enough if they are awake and need things that occupies you.If we have to do it we usually take it in turns half an hour each.

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Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.

I can't imagine anything more boring than being a 1:1

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Specializes in Orthosurgery, Rehab, Homecare.

I've sat as an RN, they just don't like it cause we are more expensive. But if you're all they have. . . Not all sitting assignments are easy, especially for the confused/aggitated patients. And nights are boring if the pt's sleeping. I'd rather not.

~Jen

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

It's very boring. Imagine trying to stay awake while you're just sitting there. Of course it would be nice once in a blue moon to get paid for just sitting there reading and playing on the internet. :)

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Oh heck, no! I would go stark raving nuts if I had to sit with one pt for an entire shift!

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

I find this the most uninteresting job in the world. I've done it once and had a very boring conversation with a very confused woman, it was torture. Ugh, I hope I never have to do it again!!!! I hate to sit. My idea of Hell is to be locked in a room with a confused person.

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My aunt does that and loves it,but they get paid about half what the RN's do. I also have a job where I sit there and do nothing and I think it's boring....I always thought keeping busy made the time go quicker.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.
I enjoy being a nurse but on some nights I am totally envious of the nursing assistants assigned to be sitters. I see them reading their books, magazines, surfing the web.

I don't know what the process is but I would love to come in and work as a 1:1 sitter one of these days.

I wonder if it would seem weird and if staffing would even accept me since I am a RN.

No way do I envy them. And if you are an RN who is sitting w/ a patient, you can't *not* be an RN, you have to work to the fullest extent of your licensing. Essentially, that patient is getting a private duty nurse. If you are OK with that, and your facility is OK with that, then go for it.

I would not want to be at the beck and call of a single patient, all night long. Especially one that has the behavioral issues that would require a 1:1. Plenty of people enjoy that type of nursing. I prefer my patients intubated and on diprovan, but that's just me...

Blee

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I enjoy being a nurse but on some nights I am totally envious of the nursing assistants assigned to be sitters. I see them reading their books, magazines, surfing the web.

I don't know what the process is but I would love to come in and work as a 1:1 sitter one of these days.

I wonder if it would seem weird and if staffing would even accept me since I am a RN.

As a former CNA I have had my share of "sitter" assignments. I HATED them, absolutely hated them. The shift went by SO slow, even with 2 patients in 1 room crawling out of bed. I would much rather be on the floor totally busy than sitting in 1 room. Since becoming an LVN I have had 1:1 care for a combative patient just once. That was a bit better, at least I was giving meds and assessing, but I still hated it. If they ever say sitter, I run!

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i sat at lot when i worked as a cna while in nursing school. it was great when i was allowed to read or study but some nurses would want me to literally not take my eyes off the pt even if they were sleeping! i would always feel so trapped. sitting is one thing i dont miss.

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

I have done many 1:1 assignments as a former PCT, and NEVER found them boring. Usually if the pt was a one to one, they were agitated, confused, mentally unstable, or suicidal. We were not allowed to use the internet, only read and watch TV. I had to do all the pt care except for meds. I rarely got a break long enough to go the BR, and had to beg for relief so I could step out before going insane myself. One of my 1:1 pts was a nutjob paranoid schizphrenic who talked NONSTOP for the 12 hours I was with him. I almost opened the window for him myself and told him to jump......jk ;>P

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