RN's required to be sitters???

[anneRN96]

So, our unit decided that if we have low census they are floating us to be "sitters" elsewhere in the hospital. AND apparently we can't refuse. I personally would rather be called off then go sit somewhere. What are your thoughts? Am I just overreacting?

[Lynker, LPN]

I can understand the frustration, but this reminds me of a similar post about working in laundry.

You're getting paid to sit and watch someone, for RN pay. If it were me, I wouldn't complain.

?‍♀️

[JKL33]

I would reluctantly rather do that than use up "vacation" time paying myself to sit at home. Maybe. Pretty sure after one block of time doing so I would be fine just sitting at home whether I was paying myself from PTO or not getting paid at all.

Given the expectations at my place (no activities allowed other than sitting inside the doorway and watching or interacting with the patient) it would be rough; I can start up with the yawns and yawn-tears just thinking about it.

Personally I think full-shift sitter duties (or anything more than about 2-4 hours at a time) is a cruel assignment regardless who is asked to do it. ? And people act all holier-than-though when someone is caught sleeping or being less than vigilant.

[Sour Lemon]

I absolutely hate being a sitter, because I absolutely hate sitting for 12 hours. It is super-easy $$$ though. I've been lucky enough to have had patients who binge-watch something good on television once in a while, too.

What's worse is being a sitterx3. I work in an older hospital that can have up to three patients in one room. Sometimes I've been assigned a "room-in" nurse for three confused patients. I do all of the nursing care, medications, charting, etc. and can not leave the room. It's like purgatory.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

When I worked Peds ICU- Summer was our slow season and we were sitters on the adult units all the time. It's part of being a team player. A patient has a need. You are available to meet that need.

[RNNPICU, BSN, RN]

OP:

I can understand your frustration on having to sit for 8 or 12 hours. Just remember that is what sitters do. It is in the job description of an RN.. It could be a good way to see what the sitters experience as well as gaining a different perspective of pt care for those pts that need a sitter.

I would rather do that than waste my hard earned vacation hours for a day off when I did not want it

[Nunya, BSN]

I have a feeling that some people commenting have never been sitters for a 12 hour shift, especially on nights. I've done it, and I'd rather use vacation time. At least I was allowed to read or look at the internet, the poor techs had to just sit there. On nights, watching people sleep. ?

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

3 minutes ago, Elaine M said:

I have a feeling that some people commenting have never been sitters for a 12 hour shift, especially on nights. I've done it, and I'd rather use vacation time. At least I was allowed to read or look at the internet, the poor techs had to just sit there. On nights, watching people sleep. ?

I hear you about how mind-numbing boring it can be, but all in all, I'd rather save my PTO for something planned ahead of time. Boring (once in awhile) is preferable to crazy/stressed/manic as some regular shifts can be...

[RNNPICU, BSN, RN]

14 hours ago, Elaine M said:

I have a feeling that some people commenting have never been sitters for a 12 hour shift, especially on nights. I've done it, and I'd rather use vacation time. At least I was allowed to read or look at the internet, the poor techs had to just sit there. On nights, watching people sleep. ?

Many on this site who are nurses also worked as techs prior to becoming a nurse and have had to sit as part of that role. I tend to disagree with your statement. While nights are toughter, it still is better than using a vacation day.

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

I bet that if in every single case you offer to trade sitter shift for the worst assignment in the unit, there will be a small line of nurses eager to switch.

Boredom vs. PTO, it is anyone's choice. I could afford it and I always picked PTO. But I knew many others who would do night 1:1 sitter at any time and quietly use the time for schoolwork.

[Davey Do]

On 7/26/2020 at 10:45 PM, anneRN96 said:

So, our unit decided that if we have low census they are floating us to be "sitters"...

Being a Sitter is better than being a Door:

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

7 minutes ago, Davey Do said:

Being a Sitter is better than being a Door:

I'm not too sure about that. Listing "door" on one's resume certainly would allow it to stand out from the rest...