Behavioral Safety Assistant II

Responsibilities:

• Provide continuous observation or 1:1 observation and supervision to patients based upon eligibility criteria. Stays at the patient’s bedside and keeps the patient in their direct line of vision at all times. Personal activities such as reading, studying, crafts, and using personal social media devices (i.e. tablets, cell phones) are not permitted while on duty supervising patients.
• Document patient behaviors and interventions in the Electronic Medical Record or Paper Documentation as appropriate.
• Communicates with patient using interventions to decrease agitation/confusion. This includes the use of optimal stimulation based upon individual patient needs. De-escalates agitated or aggressive patients/family.
• Maintains safety measures for fall and ligature risk patients.
• Ambulates with independent patients.
• Provide divisional activities when appropriate.
• Assist with basic toileting, such as providing urinal and placing bedpan under patients when needed.
• For patients who are independently ambulatory, the BSS should ambulate to the bathroom; with patients and remain present keeping patient in line of sight at all times until patient is returned back to bed.
• Assists patients with Activities of Daily Living and Performs AM care/ PM care as instructed. AM/PM care includes but is not limited to complete/partial and set up bath, mouth/ denture care, hair grooming, facial shave.
• Assist with basic meal tray set-up; and assist with feeding patients excluding patients who are on Swallowing Precautions. These tasks include: assisting with menu selections for patients; prepares meal tray and patient for meal time; communicate intake on all patients as indicated.
• Observes or monitors behavior/health state and reports observations to the care team.
• Reports skin breakdown
• Maintains a safe environment and protects the patient from injury by observing for potential aggression, self-harm, falls, confusion, disorientation, wandering or elopement according to patient’s orders. Documents per observation policy.
• Monitors patient restraints in a manner that protects the safety of patients and others.
• Performs safe patient transfers utilizing proper ergonomics and safe patient handling equipment. Transfers include bed to chair, bed to wheelchair, bed to stretcher.
• Accompanies patients while traveling through the hospital.
• Performs duties in accordance with Penn Medicine and entity values, policies, and procedures
• Other duties as assigned to support the unit, department, entity, and health system organization
• Participates in hand-off of pertinent information/behavior about assigned patients when arriving on the unit and completion of shift, and hand off during breaks. Arranges meal break times with nurse and informs nurse prior to leaving patient bedside for any reason so that relief may be provided to ensure constant patient observation.

Credentials:

• Basic Cardiac Life Support (Required)
• Training provided if certification not held at time of hire.

Education or Equivalent Experience:

• H.S. Diploma/GED (Required)
• 1+ years Previous training and/or experience in a patient care environment preferred such as medical, behavioral health or clinical assistant or health technician, or patient safety assistant.