How much do sitters make? And how to qualify?

Nursing Students Technicians

Published

I am currently a pre-nursing student, but I would like to work as a sitter while I am in my program. Ideally, I would like to work as a tech, but I don't have the money for training. I am thinking that I don't need to be trained as a sitter (other than the obligatory orientation process). Does anyone have any suggestions on how to put my best foot forward while applying for a sitter's position? What, for example, should I stress? Customer service skills? I am coming from a secretarial background, so I need some pointers on what skill sets need to be emphasized for a hospital/sitters position.

Also - what's the hourly rate for sitters? Although I would like to get my feet in the door, I need a liveable wage.

Don't apply for a sitter position. I am a sitter and I have been applying for a pca job with no luck.

What is it that you dislike about sitting? Please include specifics - I really wanna know! :eek:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

oh how come it's not good?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just putting it out there that I found free PCA training and after the training is done the pay is $10/hour to start and you get evaluated after 90 days.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Just putting it out there that I found free PCA training and after the training is done the pay is $10/hour to start and you get evaluated after 90 days.

May I PM you? Is this free PCA training in North Jersey? Please say it is!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
May I PM you? Is this free PCA training in North Jersey? Please say it is!

Yes, you may PM me but the training is in upstate NY, not Jersey, sorry. I found it on Craigslist and it's through a health care staffing office.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Yes, you may PM me but the training is in upstate NY, not Jersey, sorry. I found it on Craigslist and it's through a health care staffing office.

I actually found a training program through Craigslist too. Thanks. I have avoided Craigslist like the plague in the past.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I actually found a training program through Craigslist too. Thanks. I have avoided Craigslist like the plague in the past.

I was just browsing jobs on Craigslist and found it and looked it up and it was legit (listed on the DOH list of programs) so I called and applied and was accepted.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks, Kara. I was a hard-headed tool. It is a year and a half later but now I'm going for my CNA license. It's good to re-read threads:cheeky:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

Agreeing with the above poster that sitting is terrible, but hey, you have to have money to eat and live.

Since you asked, sitting is a lot worse than being a tech (which is the same thing as a CNA where I am) because it's so tedious. I was a tech but I got floated to sit frequently when there were needs. If the person really needs a sitter, what that means is you are going to spend your entire 4/8/12 hour shift literally holding a person down some days. Most of the people I've sat with you can't redirect - they will keep trying to get out of bed no matter what, keep trying to pull out their IVs, catheters, etc. You will get cussed out, punched, kicked, and spit on. They are often confused dementia patients and no matter how many times you smile and tell them you're there to help, they think you're a monster who's trapping them to hurt them and they will react accordingly like you are a threat. Funny enough, the cute little old ladies were often my worst offenders. They might not be able to seriously hurt you if they're frail but you better believe they'll try. At least if you're a tech you get to leave the room, but a sitter has to be with the patient at all times. There is no escape. Nights are often just as bad because if a patient is that confused odds are he/she is often still that confused at night, and most of the time these confused people aren't sleeping well. Although, sometimes it's worse when they are sleeping well - had a patient I sat with on suicide precautions once who was totally with it and wanted all of the lights out, the doors closed, and no TV. I wasn't allowed to bring anything into the room because he was suicide. It was a long eight hour night sitting in pitch blackness pinching myself in the dark, knowing if I dozed off I could lose my job. Can't decide if that was preferable to getting kicked or not...

Of course, not all of the shifts are that bad and sometimes you do just have people who are a little confused and you can occasionally say things like, "That's your IV, you need it to get your medications" and they'll stop trying to pull it out. Alas, those patients seem few and far between.

Edit: Oops, didn't realize this was an old thread... but I guess I'll leave it anyway. xD

Up Vote Up Vote ×

hello everyone i was in enrolled in a CNA program, sadly i didnt pass the course. im not giving up on being a cna but i would like to become a sitter so i can gain more experence before i got back to retake the class in fall. Any tip for becoming a sitter?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

In some hospitals a nurse tech is a student who works as a CNA but is allowed to perform skills that they have checked off on in clinical to gain additional experience.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.
hello everyone i was in enrolled in a CNA program, sadly i didnt pass the course. im not giving up on being a cna but i would like to become a sitter so i can gain more experence before i got back to retake the class in fall. Any tip for becoming a sitter?

Where I work sitters are CNAs - any CNAs working a unit that has low patient census can be pulled to another unit serve as a sitter for the shift. We aren't allowed to work the floor on a unit we haven't oriented to, but we can care for a patient 1:1. For those who want to sit all the time that is essentially the function of our float CNA pool. The float CNAs can work any floor, but typically the greatest need is for sitters. I think you may want to work on brushing up your skills and resit your CNA coursework if sitting is really what you want to do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment