Patient Sitter Job

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I am applying to be a patient sitter (per deem) at a hospital here in New Jersey. I am a nursing student right now and about to end my summer semester. I just thought it would be good to keep myself occupied for the rest of the summer so I can get some hospital experience. Plus it would be good when school starts again in the fall, I'll be able to work and get some studying done while I work (if possible)

My main question is: How much do patient sitters usually get paid in New Jersey?? Do night shifts get paid more??

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

At our hospital you are not allowed to have personal items in the room while you are sitting a pt.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

per diem

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Sorry I meant "per diem" Sorry for the typo! Thanks for the replies so far!

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

A classmate used to work as a sitter--she was allowed to bring her textbooks with her and could read as long as it didn't interfere with her job (e,g. after the patient was asleep). Not sure what her rate was, but she did have a night shift differential.

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In the acute care hospital if you are sitting a patient you are not allowed to bring anything into the room with you maybe your purse and you are definetley not be allowed to study. I would recommend you get your cna and work as a patient care tech - you will learn much more vital skills usefull in nursing than sitting, I was a care tech and did a lot of patient sitting and sometimes I had patients that keept me on my feet all night long. Bottom line - if you're thinking about studying while sitting - not going to happend, you may get in serious trouble, but if you are looking for a summer job and some pocket change sitting is great. Good luck.:smokin:

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Well the facility I applied at I've seen patient sitters read their text books or study even with the patient awake.

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Well the facility I applied at I've seen patient sitters read their text books or study even with the patient awake.

Sure, I have seen that going on too, not at my current hospital. I had worked on gen.med/oncology when I would from time to time patient sitt, lot of times we would get CIWA patients ( pt. going through withdrowal alcohol or drug) or suecide patients in which case every 15 minutes you have to document on the paper the activity of the patient and in this big hospital it was against the rulles to read or study or what not. In my current hospital beside the patient care tech's, the agency provides the sitters and they are told in trainig of what is expected of them on the job and reading books or web surffing are basis for termination and boy - do they spy on eachother,lol. I'm not trying to sound negative or tell you that you can't study while at work - I'm just simply stating what I have observed over the last few years on the job. :)

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Specializes in CTICU/CVICU.

I work at a hospital in NJ as a nursing assistant but have been pulled many times to be a sitter on the floor (but a lot of times in the ER).

I think it depends on the shift and what the patient is doing. If it's the 7a-3p shift, I wouldn't bring materials in. More than likely, the patient will be awake and/or watching TV. There's been many times when a patient has taken a nap and has thrown me the remote.

On the 3-11p shift, they can be mainly still awake. A lot of times, the patient will talk to me and I'll talk back and we'll mainly talk. But other times, they've been asleep. I've actually have nurses throw me a magazine to keep me occupied.

I've never done an 11p-7a shift but I cannot imagine you just sitting there, staring into space, in the dark, while the patient is soundly asleep. You won't have the TV because they'll be sleep..so what on earth are u suppose to do..stare at them sleeping? Sometimes they aren't sleep..and in that case, no..I wouldn't be reading or studying. But, if they are sleeping soundly, I have seen many a sitter, include myself, read a magazine or book or (gasp!) play on their phone.

Definitely find out the hospital's policies. Whatever you do..don't fall asleep! Lol! Good luck!

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Was the question even answered?

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I work as a sitter PRN and it is only $8.75 )= I can't remember if night shift pays more though!

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Specializes in SRNA.

My bf is working as a patient sitter while doing his prereqs for nursing school and he gets min wage (in my state, that's $8.50) plus shift differentials ($3.50 nights, $3.50 weekends). So, he ends up making $12.00-$15.50/hr since he works nights. It's nice change. He can study if his patient is mellow. Other nights, he gets no studying done, so don't depend on your work shift to get school work done!

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