Does a Sitter need a license or certification to work in a hospital?

[Mikeinhouston]

CNA have a certification. Nurses and RTs have a license. What do sitter have?

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

a job.....they do not need any certification. They may have to have CPR...but legally that is it.

[ukjenn231]

they usually don't have certs which is why most of them aren't supposed to even touch a patient, just observe and call for help...

[i_love_patient_care]

I worked as a CNA in several hospitals where the sitter is responsible for all ADLs and charting them. We could also get pulled to the floor to take vitals if needed. It may be different elsewhere.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I worked as a CNA in several hospitals where the sitter is responsible for all ADLs and charting them. We could also get pulled to the floor to take vitals if needed. It may be different elsewhere.

But you are a CNA...many facilities are now using non licensed sitters who job it is to sit there and call for help. Nothing more and they get paid less than a CNA

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

I worked as a "sitter" for a large hospital. I was required to have be a CNA as well as have my BLS. I was paid less than the floor CNAs but I held the same certifications as them. I took vitals, did ADLs, bed baths, did all patient care for the patient I was assigned to.

[Stephalump]

The sitters at my hospital are unlicensed and don't perform any patient care. As techs, we're floated as sitters when there aren't enough, as well.

So your best bet is to check out job postings in your area. They should state their requirements. :)

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

Same for the sitters at my hospital. No certs, no patient care. After they are hired the hospital gives them BLS and MOAB (management of aggressive behavior) since they deal with a lot of patients with psych problems.

[systoly]

sitters should have a job description

but sitters may be hired by family members

on a rather informal basis

"sitter" is a very non specific description and may

be used for a variety of situations

while there are situations where a sitter may be a licensed

or certified personnel and actively participate in care

in the absence of prearranged agreements between the sitter's

employer and the facility , a sitter's job should should be taken

literally and no active participation in care should be expected

at the same time, the active care staff cannot be expected to

provide training or teaching for sitters

[ComeTogether, LPN]

In my hospital there are sitters who don't have any qualifications and therefore have to call us when the patient needs something. Honestly, i've never really saw the point in this. If the patient starts to fall all they can do is yell for help. Well, usually by the time we've arrived the patient is on the floor.

There are usually a lot of 1:1's throughout the hospital at any given time and they'll usuallly put a CNA or RN in the room whenever possible. This way all the care can be performed and its essentially like having one less patient. Sometimes if its an RN they will also give the meds but othertime's not.