Patient sitters are human too

Nurses Stress 101

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I currently work as a sitter in a very short staffed hospital. It's very stressful because we have multiple patients to sit with not just in ED but on the admit floors as well. To me, this flags a safety issue. I sat with two fall risks up on a admit floor at once. Of course me being out in the hallway so I can keep eyes on both. When one of them tries to get up and I have to rush into their room, the other one tries to get up as well. When this happened no one was around to help me. I do not want to be liable for a patient's fall because of this. Also just the stress of the job in general, sitters are like the punching bags of the staff. It's extremely hard to handle these types of things when you are struggling with personal issues. I have a pinched nerve in my back and also am struggling with my bipolar disorder and have been very depressed. Does anyone have any advice for sitting with multiple patients and how to cope with the stresses of the job? It would be very helpful.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I have a pinched nerve in my back and also am struggling with my bipolar disorder and have been very depressed.

THIS jumps out to me the most in your post.

What steps have you taken to ensure optimal health and manage your symptoms?

I have been a pt sitter; I have also worked as a nurse with sitters.

The most important issue is collaborating with nurses to ensure the safety of the patient; working with two individuals to one sitter is unsafe; advocate for yourself NOT to be in that position moving forward.

Best wishes.

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

Where I work a sitter is assigned to a resident who needs "one to one".That is exactly what the order says...Not "two to one".That is inappropriate,unsafe and I would refuse to do it.

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The most important issue is collaborating with nurses to ensure the safety of the patient; working with two individuals to one sitter is unsafe; advocate for yourself NOT to be in that position moving forward.

I totally agree.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

You need to get your physical and mental health in order. Please see your psychiatrist as soon as possible; you may need your meds adjusted and/or some therapy to help you through this bad patch. You also need to be evaluated for your "pinched nerve". It's hard to take care of others when we're not taking care of ourselves.

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