Sitter questions

[xoloveinautumn]

What were your experiences as a sitter?

I just had an interview for a CNA position and on some shifts i may have to be a sitter..(if i get the job)

I am wondering what EXACTLY do you do in certain situations?

What if they are trying to pull their IV's out?

Are the patients usually incontinent?

What CAN you leave the room for..anything?

If the patients are talkative what exactly do you talk to them about?

[*Blessed2BaNRS*]

I have worked as a sitter a couple of times, and DID NOT care for it. I work as an extern for the most part, and like posted above, you NEVER, EVER shove a patient back down. That is considered assault and you can go to jail for that.

I have worked as an extern at two different hospitals, and both were pretty much the same for sitting. You need to be aware of what is going on with the patient at all times, which means that if you need to take a break, go the the restroom, etc., you must call someone to relieve you until you get back. Some hospitals have a policy about no reading, watching TV, etc., but mine was pretty lenient. You could watch TV as long as the patient didn't mind, or you could read a book (great for studying!!) but you must be able to stay focused on your patient also. I just didn't care for it as I like being busy and just sitting there always tended to put me to sleep!!!

As far as doing everything for that patient, we don't do that, the PCA/CNA or extern does. We are simply there to watch the patient to keep them from harming themselves, or pulling lines or to keep them from climbing out of bed. If, in fact, the patient is attemping those things, we are to call the nurse. Some sitters are there simply for sitting. They don't always have the training as a PCA/CNA or extern to do anything else for that patient. So you need to find out exactly what your particular facility expects.

[MaineEMT2RN]

In our facility, sitters are generally CNA students or other people already employed by the hospital. These folks all get special training on how to deal with all of the situations mentioned (how to diffuse/distract, when to call for help, etc.).

Our protocol is to check in with the staff on the floor before going to the patient's room to get info from the RN & CNA assigned to the patient, so the sitter has an idea of what to expect and what has and hasn't worked well for this patient already - this is a huge help so that you're not starting from scratch and guessing your way through it.

Staff at our hospital is always great about checking in with the sitters every hour to offer a break or see if they need anything. Sitters are encouraged to use the call bell if the patient escalates. If the sitter is a CNA, they handle all the usual CNA responsibilities with that patient while they are with them.

I like working as a sitter - I often do one long night shift (8 or 12 hours) every weekend. I know it sounds crazy, but I almost always get hours of studying done because more often than not my patient sleeps for a good part of the night. Between the study time and the OT, it's well worth it for me :-)

[michigansstudent]

I work as a CNA on a peds unit. Sitting is great for students. When we have to sit with a pt it is due to them trying to do personal harm. Usually the pt will ask you some silly stuff about life, school etc then want to watch tv or whatever leaving you time to read your notes from school. Your job is to try to prevent damage and to call for help whenever things look rough. You need to let the nurses know that you are unsure of what to do. They are very helpful and will give you good direction. When a bathroom break is needed you call the desk and the secretary, nurse or aid on the floor will cover you. I have found that being honest of your apprehension is the best route. The nurses are extremely helpful. They donot seem to mind the aid that asks for help. It seems to me that they would prefer someone who says I dont know what to do over someone who tries to do what they think they should and is wrong. Pushing someone back into bed, wrong. Speak up. You are new and do not know what to do and that is OK. I love sitting. It is perfect time management. I have learned a lot while being on the floor stuck in a room for eight hours with the same person. I wish I could be a sitter for the entire time I am in NS but they only come around once in a while and you get called in for sitting at my hospital. No position for sitting alone. Good Luck. I hope you enjoy your new job. FYI learn from the nurses on the unit they are a priceless tool for us!

[OhBoy123]

Personally as a student, I LOVE being a sitter. In the hospital I work at you usually sit for a patient who has fallen while in the hospital, has been pulling out IVs, is detoxing, or is just generally combative. Your job is to make sure the patient does not harm themselves. Also you are able to give this patient extra care and attention, that normally you are not able to. The patient usually falls asleep and I watch t.v. or study for 8 hours getting paid 12 bucks an hour. :heartbeat

[Nessybear]

What do patient sitters usually wear on the job? Do they usually wear scrubs like the nurses?

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

Overall, I loved my sitter jobs. I took care of 1 patient and did it well. It does get kind of boring, but it also takes alot of patience. When pts sleep, I usually read a book. If they were restless, we walked and walked. If they were combative, I let the nurse know and tried to maintain a quiet atmosphere. I met so many people that hated 1:1, but I loved it. I made sure the room was clean, trash was emptied, bed changed. No rushing around like a chicken. It often does make for a long shift though.

I always wore scrubs, name tag, steth, and had pen and paper to write vitals down (if I couldn't get to the chart).

[MaineEMT2RN]

In our facility, if the sitter is a CNA they wear scrubs because they are able to perform that patient care role for that patient as needed while they are their sitter. Other people who are sitters, but not CNA's, usually wear nice street clothes (no jeans) so that other staff won't have any expectations of them providing care to the patient.

[msjack]

Personally I hate sitting. At my hospital, usually the transporters are also sitters. But most of the time there are not enough so the techs have to fill in. On my floor whatever tech is taking care of the pt becomes the sitter. I guess I don't work on a floor with a lot of help from the "team" because it is like pulling teeth to have someone relieve you, even for a bathroom break or just a 15 min break. I'm one that can't stand to sit still for very long, especially 12 hours. Now if it were only for a few hours I could deal with that, but my experience sitting there for 12 hours kills me. I do know people who love it, like a PP stated you can get a lot of studying done.