Patient Observation Assistant

We’re looking for a Patient Observation Assistant, someone who’s ready to grow with our company. In this position you will ensure the safety of patients at risk of harm to self or others, under the direction and supervision of the Registered Nurse (RN). Care will be delivered that incorporates Family Centered Care in a cost-effective manner and is developmental and age appropriate for the patient population.

 

Think you’ve got what it takes?

Job Duties & Responsibilities

Provides direct continual observation of patients requiring special precautions to ensure a safe environment during their hospital stay.

Patient Observation Assistants (POA) are responsible for remaining with the assigned patient at all times during their assigned shift.

Direct observation of the patient and monitoring for at-risk behavior.

Assists the R.N. to provide an environment conducive to safety for patients, visitors and employees.

Promotes healthy coping via verbal support, implementation of behavior plan by therapeutic team and management of the environment.

Assists in identifying patient response to care provided and reports patient condition to the RN to assure achievement of desired outcomes.

Ensures and participates in ongoing communication with other health care team members in order to enhance the patient’s plan of care, advocate for the patient/family, and facilitate unit operations.

Uses knowledge of behavioral health diagnosis/issue to understand the presenting problem and provides therapeutic direction and feedback to the patient.

Evaluates patient responses to interventions; documents observations in the patient's medical record and communicates findings for appropriate team members.

Responds during a psychiatric emergency using the least restrictive measures to ensure patient safety.

Uses verbal de-escalation techniques to prevent escalation and violence.

Maintains therapeutic boundaries.

Participates in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) as a means of reinforcing safety in structured routines.

POAs will provide ADLs for patients who require observation for medical needs or alone patients.

POAs will not provide ADLs for patients who require observation of behavioral health conditions.

Monitors the environment for items that could be used as weapons to harm self or others.

Use safe and effective oral feeding practices to ensure eating safety.

Demonstrates willingness and ability to acquire new knowledge, demonstrates new skills needed to improve individual, team, and organizational performance.

Demonstrates commitment to team, flexibility, professional interpersonal, communication, and customer service skills.

 

Skills & Requirements

H.S. Diploma or GED required

BLS - Cert-Basic Life Support by the American Heart Association preferred  

CNA - Certified Nurse Assistant preferred 

About Texas Children’s

Since 1954, Texas Children’s has been leading the charge in patient care, education and research to accelerate health care for children and women around the world. When you love what you do, it truly shows in the smiles of our patient families, employees and our numerous accolades such as being consistently ranked as the best children’s hospital in Texas, and among the top in the nation by U.S. News & World Report as well as recognition from Houston Business Journal as one of this city’s Best Places to Work for ten consecutive years. 

Texas Children’s comprehensive health care network includes our primary hospital in the Texas Medical Center with expertise in over 40 pediatric subspecialties; the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (NRI); the Feigin Tower for pediatric research; Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston; Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, the first hospital devoted to children’s care for communities north of Houston; and Texas Children’s Hospital North Austin, the new state-of-the-art facility providing world-class pediatric and maternal care to Austin and Central Texas families. We have also created Texas Children’s Health Plan, the nation’s first HMO focused on children; Texas Children’s Pediatrics, the largest pediatric primary care network in the country; Texas Children’s Urgent Care clinics that specialize in after-hours care tailored specifically for children; and a global health program that is channeling care to children and women all over the world. Texas Children’s Hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine, one of the largest, most diverse and successful pediatric programs in the nation. 

 To join our community of 15,000+ dedicated team members, visit texaschildrenspeople.org for career opportunities.

 Texas Children’s is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants and employees are considered and evaluated for positions at Texas Children's without regard to mental or physical disability, race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, genetic information, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or any other protected Federal, State/Province or Local status unrelated to the performance of the work involved.