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.

Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.

No way! You have a choice of being bored to tears, especially on night duty; or trying to appease a confused or aggressive patient! How can anyone enjoy that?

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Yuck... absolutely not. To sit in a dark room and listen to somebody snore all night long... I could never stay awake. And if they are not sleeping they are constantly trying to crawl out of bed and breaking your back or pulling at there lines. I do not envy them at all. Although I do have a few Aids that absolutely love doing it- I guess for those quiet nights that they can just fight off sleep, but it's not for me!

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one on one wouldn't be so bad if had someone to relief you to take a break, go to the bathroom etc etc. seriously i don't think anyone could sit a full 8 hour without loosing the bladder especially if you a coffee drinker.

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Specializes in cna x10 years.

The one time I had to sit as a CNA it was terrible, yet we were only allowed two hours at a time and someone else took two hours. It wouldnt be so bad if there were some care involved. But just sitting there is the absolute pits. b

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I used to work at a hospital as a TA, I worked 3 12 hr shifts, on my days off I would work 1:1 assignments. Most days were pretty boring, however there are 2 days that stand out. One day i was assigned to watch a PT in the Neuro unit, it ws a 2 bed room, my PT decided to freak out and was attempting to smash thru a window (we were on the 4th floor, thank God for Saftey glass)While I was trying to get her down her room-mate flipped out and started throwing things, then attempted to excape the room. I didn't have time to call for help, after about 5 minutes another TA walking by saw me and came in to help and yelled for the Nurse sitting at the desk watching me to call for security. When it was settled, my PT was strapped down on her bed and her room mate was threatened with the same if she didn't calm herself down (she did). WHen I asked the nurse why he hadn't com in to help me when he saw everything from the start, he replyed "it not my job".

The second time I had a geriatriac Pt wandering around. He attempted to enter a women's room that was marked as MRSA. I blocked his way, he became upset and began punching me in the chest. A DR sat there watching the whole thing, after he had hit me about a dozen times she finally asked if I wanted help.. DUH!!! Between us we calmed him down and redirected him. I called my boss to report it and was informed that he had a hx of beating female nurses and they guessed they'd only assign males to him from now on.

Still want that job??

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Specializes in Mostly LTC, some acute and some ER,.

I don't envy them at all. I'd rather be up and moving.

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I have sat with some easy patients and some scary ones. While the scary ones seem to be further in between that the easy ones, they sure do make an impression. I think sitting is a great way to learn more about the symptoms of various states, e.g., Alzheimer's disease, drug detoxification, liver failure, emerging mental illness, etc. --I like it while a student, but it is very easy to feel trapped in the room and sleepy. --If you have something to study, and/or are able to talk to the patient (especially in a positive manner --some --a few --are nasty as they are out of their heads) it can be okay and even interesting as you learn about the patient.

It surprises me that some folks gripe that if they don't get a break, the sitter shouldn't get a break. Everyone should get breaks, otherwise we are UNDERSTAFFED. Most management isn't likely to address a problem if employees solve it (albeit by giving up their breaks).

One more thing...breaks every two hours ...wow. I was only mandated one 30-minute break per 12-hour shift. I learned to push for the additional two 15-minute breaks that were optional --provided I --and other employees managed our time correctly so we could take them. If I didn't press for a break, I wouldn't get one --whether as a sitter or nurse assistant.

If we give up our breaks, we are contributing to poor working conditions. A break can help sitters and nurses, etc. with mental and physical refreshment. It is better to take breaks and ensure that staffing levels support them. --I can see deviating from this once in awhile, but if it's an ongoing thing, it really should be addressed. Otherwise, who in their right mind would want to do the job? Nursing shortage...wonder why...

I had thought I wanted to be a nurse. But after working as a nurse assistant and seeing how stressed the nurses were, and how exhausted everyone was, including me, after a shift, I don't think I want to do it. I am taking a break and rethinking things. I am really considering becoming a PA. If I become a nurse, I want to work in a hospital where there are good working conditions and employees get breaks. Many of the nurses that I worked with, especially the younger ones, had plans to get out of the hospital ASAP, e.g., work as a nurse practitioner, trainer, management, etc. Breaks are important to keeping nurses and other staff.

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.
I used to work at a hospital as a TA, I worked 3 12 hr shifts, on my days off I would work 1:1 assignments. Most days were pretty boring, however there are 2 days that stand out. One day i was assigned to watch a PT in the Neuro unit, it ws a 2 bed room, my PT decided to freak out and was attempting to smash thru a window (we were on the 4th floor, thank God for Saftey glass)While I was trying to get her down her room-mate flipped out and started throwing things, then attempted to excape the room. I didn't have time to call for help, after about 5 minutes another TA walking by saw me and came in to help and yelled for the Nurse sitting at the desk watching me to call for security. When it was settled, my PT was strapped down on her bed and her room mate was threatened with the same if she didn't calm herself down (she did). WHen I asked the nurse why he hadn't com in to help me when he saw everything from the start, he replyed "it not my job".

The second time I had a geriatriac Pt wandering around. He attempted to enter a women's room that was marked as MRSA. I blocked his way, he became upset and began punching me in the chest. A DR sat there watching the whole thing, after he had hit me about a dozen times she finally asked if I wanted help.. DUH!!! Between us we calmed him down and redirected him. I called my boss to report it and was informed that he had a hx of beating female nurses and they guessed they'd only assign males to him from now on.

Still want that job??

Huh? "Its not my job"? What planet were those two "team members" from? Lovely that is. Hope it doesn't occur too much where you work, or if I were you I'd be looking to work elsewhere!

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

Huh? "Its not my job"? What planet were those two "team members" from? Lovely that is. Hope it doesn't occur too much where you work, or if I were you I'd be looking to work elsewhere!

The Nurse was spoken too concerning what his job was, as for the Dr, well you can guess just how concerned they were. I'm not there anymore, but have dealt with physical assaults in other places too. I have learnt how to avoid the punches, slapps & kicks. But that is for another thread.

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Specializes in Psychiatric, Hospice, LTC, Geriatric.

I have done 1:1 in a psych setting and it is definitely boring. At night would be even worse. Trying to stay awake. You can't take your eyes off the pt and have to sit and watch. Makes for a long night.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice.

Well, God got me... the day after I posted that I'd hate to sit since I felt like I wouldn't be working, I got called to sit on the ortho floor for a hip replacement patient. The patient was nice to deal with.. very pleasant and kept me company, but slept a lot because of the pain experienced. I got to study for my Fundy's test a bit, but it really was a crappy asignment. Nursing assistant on the floor kept expecting me to take vitals and do the patient's bath because she obviously assumed that since I was the sitter, I should do these things. :angryfire. The patient was also in pain, and rang for pain meds, and the nurse never came with them. Surprisingly, I got relieved for lunch, but other than that, the staff mostly ignored the patient and needs.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

When I was an aide, I had one to ones, and it depended on the type of client. If it was a quiet one, I would certainly bring in a good book, since reading is my passion. Since being an LPN, I had a home care client where I would read when she was asleep and I liked it. However, now, as a nurse, I see confused, agitated patients as accidents waiting to happen, and at this point, I would be uncomfortable sitting with a client like that. I don't care what is said; placing a client on one to one does not prevent accidents if they are agitated or violent. Administration would not want to hear that a person sitting in arm's length from a client could not prevent something from happening to them, and I do not want that responsibility.

Nah, I really do not envy them in the least.

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