Patient sitters ratio...

[Buckeye007]

As a patient sitter, how many people do they have you sit with at once? At my hospital it's 4 pts and one tech. It's not always bad but it does make it extremely frustrating when you have more than one pt at a time getting up out of bed. Keeping your eyes on all 4 at once sometimes seems impossible.

TIA

[anewsns]

I usually see them with 1-2 at my rehab hospital- we have a lot of brain injury though

[Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, BSN, RN]

What is the point of a sitter if it is not 1:1? If your getting one patient into a bed, what keeps the other(s) from getting out?

Also, how do you watch 4 pts at once, are they all in the same room?

[tori3195]

We always sit with one patient 1:1

[Buckeye007]

What is the point of a sitter if it is not 1:1? If your getting one patient into a bed, what keeps the other(s) from getting out?

Also, how do you watch 4 pts at once, are they all in the same room?

They are all in one room. It's very annoying and sometimes unsafe when you more than one getting out of bed at the same time.

[tori3195]

Depending on the patient it's very difficult to watch one. Especially if they have a sitter because they are at risk for falls or pulling out IVs

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

The only experience I have with sitters has all been on a 1:1 basis. There's a REASON they need a sitter and undivided attention.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

Sitters are always 1:1. If they're not, what's the point?

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

If patient needs a sitter because the patient has suicidal ideations, the sitter must be 1:1. If the sitter leaves the room, to use the bathroom, go to lunch, etc., someone else must be in the room with the pt.--not just "keep an eye out for things."

At my facility, if there is a sitter to make sure someone does not get out of bed, they can be 2:1--i.e., two patients in adjacent rooms with 1 sitter sitting between the rooms. If there is a sitter to prevents falls, that sitter can leave for a time, and another staff member can watch the room(s) without physically sitting in there. While I am not a big fan of this, in my facility restraints can be used in the place of this type of sitter.

[WCSU1987]

1 sitter to 1 person rarely you'll see a 1 patient to 2 sitter. Only time a tech has 5 to 6 patient's to observe if in the ED they are in holding at my hospital.

[Paws2people]

The the most we have is 2. If it's a suicide watch the ratio is 1:1.

[funtimes]

I think patients or their families should have to sign waivers on admission that state they either accept being put in restraints if deemed necessary to ensure safety, or accept that they might fall and suffer injuries if they get up without asking for help.

Its not the RN or techs fault gravity exists.