Patient Safety Associate - Acute Care - PRN Nights

Job Overview

12 hour shifts - 7p – 7:30a – no guarantee of hours; working as needed.

The Patient Safety Associate (PSA) provides 1:1 safety observation and basic direct patient care, under the direction of the RN to include, but not limited to direct visual observation, verbal re‑direction, safety checks, environment check care and comfort, personal care and hygiene, ADLs and mobility/fall prevention. The PSA serves as a liaison between patient and nurse to report concerns or changes to nurse on duty, providing customer service to patient, patient family and visitors and if applicable, provides documentation for patient care.

• Provides 1:1 safety observation for patients requiring safety observation, including but not limited to high risk suicidal, psychiatric, medical and surgical compromised patients with dementia, delirium, traumatic brain injury, substance abuse withdrawal and other diagnoses for potential patient harm.
• Provides appropriate verbal intervention/de‑escalation with the patient; provides patient with explanation of care as necessary, but does not counsel or offer opinion.
• Maintains environment conductive to patient safety and recovery, including but not limited to safety checks, environment of care room checks for ligature points and contraband, keeping patient room clean and organized, changing bed linens, and emptying linen bins.
• Under the direction of RN or independent licensed practitioner, provides safe and direct care to patients on assigned units, making age appropriate adjustments as needed; cares for patients with and without medical complications to meet comfort, ADLs such as personal hygiene (bathing, feeding, transporting, toileting, ambulating) and safety needs per nursing and medical plans of care and VCUHS policy and procedure.
• Upon discovery, immediately reports any incident posing harm or threat to a patient to the supervising RN or independent licensed practitioner.
• Identifies own learning needs and demonstrates a commitment to meeting those needs; complies with written clinical and administrative directives; resolves interaction problems with co‑workers; attends staff meetings or reads minutes; participates in mandatory CA activities and unit‑based QA/CQI activities.
• Documents patient care and clinical support activities in accordance with VCUHS Hospital and Nursing policies, procedures and standards of care within specified time frames; completes documentation for 100 % of assigned patients and reports pertinent patient observations to the supervising RN or independent licensed practitioner.
• Performs other duties as assigned and/or participates in special projects to support the mission of VCUHS and department; provides assistance to team members and accepts alternate assignments as required.

Required Education – High school diploma or GED

Preferred Education – Certified Nursing Assistant or Medical Assistant program; current enrollment (or planned) in accredited school in healthcare and/or humanities related associates or baccalaureate (e.g., Nursing, Medical, PT/OT, Pharmacy, Health Administration, Dental, Nutrition, PA, Psychology, Sociology, Biology, Chemistry, Forensics)

Licensure/Certification Required – Current AHA BLC HCP certification

Licensure/Certification Preferred – Certified Nursing Assistant or Medical Assistant

Other Knowledge,

Skills and Abilities

Preferred – One-year experience as a certified nurse assistant or medical assistant; one-year experience in healthcare related field with direct patient care.

EEO – Employer/Disabled/Protected Veteran/41 CFR 60-1.4.