GENERAL SUMMARY:

The Patient Observation Aide, under the supervision of an RN, provides close observation of patients and assists in the provision of a safe and clean environment. Assists with activities of daily living, unless the patient needs are such that adverse health consequences are predictable.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

1. The RN delegates to the Patient Observation Aide the patient’s identified care needs, diagnosis, visual, auditory, or language barriers, as well as any special consideration (NPO, bed alarms, etc.).

2. Receives direction from the RN regarding: what to report, to whom, and how.

3. Positions self in the patient room to maintain constant visual observation of the patient. Never leaves the patient alone or out of sight unless relieved by another designated staff member or instructed to do so by the nurse.

4. Obtains instruction from nurse regarding ambulation limitations and course of action for redirection of the patient if needed.

5. During a patient or environmental emergency, may serve as a runner or transport patients as directed.

6. Maintains constant observation of the patient’s activity and behavior and communicates regularly to the nurse.

7. Contributes to and assists in maintaining a pleasant patient environment in a safe and orderly manner.

8. Functions cooperatively as a team member. Responds as directed by responsible nurse to changing patients'/unit's needs.

9. Accurately and legibly records data collected and notifies RN of any untoward events, i.e., behavioral changes, violent behavior, etc.

10. Offers consistent and visible support to team members, responsible for honest behavior in all matters.

11. Maintains the privacy and security of all confidential and protected health information. Uses and discloses only that information which is necessary to perform the function of the job.

This document represents the major duties, responsibilities, and authorities of this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions. It should be understood, therefore, that incumbents may be asked to perform job-related duties beyond those explicitly described.

STANDARD REQUIREMENTS:

1. Supports the Mission, Value and Vision of Beaumont Health (BH). Demonstrates personal commitment through active involvement in the performance improvement process.

2. Exhibits excellent customer service skills and behaviors toward internal and external customers and co-workers. Promotes positive public relations with patients/residents, family members, guests, and others.

3. Supports and adheres to all Beaumont Health’s customer service, service excellence, and performance standards. Supports and participates with all required compliance standards that may be department specific and/or identified by the organizations including in-service training, acceptable attendance, uniform and dress code.

4. Adheres to HIPAA requirements and maintains confidentiality of all data, including patient/resident, employee and operations information.

5. Supports and participates in a collaborative team-oriented environment – cooperates and works together with all co-workers, plans and completes job duties, uses appropriate communications in sensitive and emotional situations and follows up as appropriate regarding reported complaints, problems and concerns.

6. Supports, cooperates with and demonstrates safe work practices and attitudes, follows safety rules – including universal precautions - reports and prevents/corrects unsafe conditions and behaviors, and participates in organizational and departmental safety programs.

7. Completes all required compliance standards that may be department specific and/or identified by the organization.

8. Maintains current licensure, registration and/or certification, as applicable, at all times.

STANDARD QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

A. Education / Training:

• High school diploma/GED required.

B. Work Experience:

• None required.

C. Certification, Licensure, Registration:

• None required.

D. Other Qualifications:

• None required.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

A. Physical Effort:

1. Strength

Position requires ability to frequently push/pull up to 30 lb. objects with assist of others, occasional requires ability to lift objects more than 50 lbs. with others, constantly lift objects up to 20 lbs. And frequently lift up to 40 lbs.

2. Manual Dexterity

Position requires incumbent to constantly perform simple motor skills such as standing, walking and simple manipulative skills such as writing. Position requires incumbent to frequently perform moderately difficult manipulative skills such as positioning patients.

3. Coordination

Position requires incumbent to constantly perform gross body coordination such as walking. Frequently perform tasks which require hand-eye coordination such as assisting patients to eat, collections of specimens for transport to lab and tasks which require arm-hand steadiness such as taking patients temps and pulses.

4. Mobility

Positions requires incumbent to constantly walk and stand; occasionally sit for prolonged periods, frequently bend such as when caring for a patient in bed.

5. Visual Discrimination

Positions requires incumbent to constantly see objects far away as in driving and see close objects such as reading thermometers.

6. Hearing

Positions requires incumbent to constantly be able to hear normal sound with some background noise as in answering phone/intercom. Occasionally be able to distinguish sound as in equipment alarms.

B. Work Environment:

Employee may be:

• frequently exposed to electro-magnetic radiations as in VDTs

• occasionally exposed to hazardous material other than blood, body tissues, or fluids, dust, toxins, cytotoxins, chemical hazardous materials, bodily injuries, loud and/or unpleasant noises, high humidity, electrical hazards, or poisonous substances

• infrequently exposed to blood, body tissue, or fluids.

• seldom exposed to fluctuations in temperature, grease, oil, and radiation

• Beaumont Health grants equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, religion, genetic information, marital status, height, weight, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other legally protected category.