Description
Provide continuous observation and non-clinical support to promote patient safety under the direction of licensed nursing staff. Monitor behavior and condition, offer companionship, assist with basic comfort and ADLs as permitted, and promptly report concerns. Assignments often include fall prevention, suicide/self-harm precautions, elopement risk, and protection of medical devices; no medication administration or invasive care.
- • Provide 1:1 or line-of-sight observation to prevent falls, self-harm, elopement, or device removal.
- • Answer call lights and promptly notify nursing staff of patient needs.
- • Communicate with patients, offering companionship, reassurance, and emotional support.
- • Document safety checks and observations per policy, such as Q15 notes or behavior logs.
- • Immediately report changes in behavior, pain, orientation, or condition to the nurse.
- • Assist with toileting, hand hygiene, and basic grooming as directed.
- • Provide standby assistance for ambulation or transfers following fall-prevention protocols.
- • Assist patients with meals or fluids and monitor intake as directed by nursing staff.
- • Verify diet orders and allergies before assisting with meals and prevent access to restricted foods.
- • Keep rooms clutter-free; ensure bed is low, wheels locked, and call light within reach.
- • Ensure bed, chair, and line or tube alarms are active as ordered; respond to alarms and notify staff.
- • Observe dressings, lines, and tubes for safety and integrity; report dislodgement or bleeding.
- • Assist patients with repositioning in bed or chair per nurse direction, using safe-handling techniques.
- • Set up meal trays and comfort items; tidy or restock personal care supplies as needed.
- • Escort or accompany patients to tests, procedures, or walks as directed by nursing staff.
- • Supervise at-risk patients during meals or hygiene to restrict ligature or sharp objects per protocol.
- • Remove environmental hazards from patient areas according to suicide or elopement precautions.
- • Use de-escalation and distraction techniques to reduce agitation; summon help if escalation occurs.
- • Reinforce safety instructions and orientation cues; defer clinical teaching to licensed staff.
- • Record and report oral intake, toileting frequency, or fluid offers as directed.
- • Assist with bedpan or urinal use; notify staff to empty and document output.
- • Provide general information to visitors and ensure adherence to unit safety rules; refer clinical questions to nurses.
- • Maintain patient privacy and confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA and facility policies.
- • Follow infection prevention practices, including hand hygiene and proper PPE use.
- • Receive and relay handoff information about patient risks, activity level, and the safety plan.
- • Support safe patient activities, such as conversation, puzzles, television, or light distraction.
- • Monitor exits and patient location to prevent wandering or elopement; notify security per protocol if needed.
- • Deliver non-controlled specimens, paperwork, or supplies to designated departments as directed.
- • Straighten or change bed linens and clean minor spills to maintain a safe environment, as assigned.
- • Report equipment malfunctions or environmental safety concerns to the appropriate staff.
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
