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Patient Sitter Job Description

What does a Patient Sitter do?

A Patient Sitter is responsible for keeping watch over patients who need constant observation to ensure their safety and wellbeing. Their duties may include monitoring vital signs, assisting with activities of daily living, keeping patients comfortable and engaged, and communicating with nurses and other healthcare professionals. Patient Sitters may work in hospitals, nursing homes, or private homes, and their work can be physically and emotionally demanding. They must be compassionate, patient, and able to remain alert and focused for extended periods of time.

Our Patient Sitter job description includes the Patient Sitter responsibilities, duties, skills, education, qualifications, and experience.

Patient Sitter Example


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If you need an example job description for a Patient Sitter download the one below, alternatively we have many other Personal Care job description samples and a job description library with over 3000 job descriptions templates that you can download for free.

What does a Patient Sitter do?

Patient Sitter Job Summary

We are looking for a reliable and caring individual to join our team as a Patient Sitter. The successful candidate will provide companionship to patients in need and act as a reassuring presence to those who are often feeling lonely or anxious.

The role will involve providing physical assistance to patients, including helping them to move around and ensuring they take their medication on time. You should be comfortable working with patients of all ages and abilities, and be able to provide emotional support when necessary. The ideal candidate will have experience in a similar role, with a good understanding of medical terminology and patient confidentiality.

If you enjoy working with people and have a compassionate nature, this could be the perfect job for you.

Responsibilities:

• Provide companionship and emotional support to patients

• Ensure patients take their medication on time

• Help patients with activities of daily living such as bathing and dressing

• Assist patients with getting around and attending activities

• Maintain patient confidentiality

• Monitor patient’s behaviour and report any changes

• Respond to medical emergencies and alert appropriate personnel

• Follow safety protocols and infection control policies

Requirements:

• Experience in a similar role

• Good understanding of medical terminology

• Compassionate and caring nature

• Ability to follow instructions and adhere to safety protocols

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• Ability to multitask and work well under pressure

• Flexible to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required

Patient Sitter Role Purpose

The purpose of a Patient Sitter is to provide supervision and monitoring to patients in a healthcare setting. This role involves staying with the patient to ensure their safety, providing emotional support and companionship, monitoring their health and wellbeing, and providing assistance as necessary. The Patient Sitter may also be responsible for providing assistance with activities of daily living such as eating, drinking, grooming and toileting.

Patient Sitter Role

A Patient Sitter is responsible for providing companionship, observation and assistance to patients in hospitals and healthcare settings. They ensure that patients are comfortable and safe, and provide care and support as needed.

Patient Sitter Duties

  • Provide companionship to patients
  • Assist patients with activities of daily living
  • Monitor patient's condition
  • Assist with light cleaning and meal preparation
  • Help transport patient to medical appointments

Patient Sitter Requirements

  • Provide companionship to patients
  • Assist with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, eating and exercising
  • Ensure that patients adhere to prescribed medication and treatment plans
  • Monitor vital signs and report any changes to medical staff
  • Assist with household tasks such as cleaning and laundry

Patient Sitter Skills

  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Ability to follow instructions
  • Ability to remain calm in challenging situations
  • Flexibility and reliability

Patient Sitter Personal Traits

  • Friendly
  • Caring
  • Reliable
  • Responsible

How to write a Patient Sitter Job Advert

Use our job advert template to write a job advert for posting on job sites and job boards. Our job advertising templates are carefully created to help you reach your audience and beat the competition to the best talent.

A job description informs the reader about a job, whereas a job advert’s main objective is to sell the job opportunity to attract as many suitable applicants possible. A job advert maybe the first touch-point a candidate has with your company so it is important to create a great impression.

Job Advertisements should enticing, so considering using short, exciting language which get the reader’s attention.

How to write a Patient Sitter Job Description

To write a job description, we recommend starting with a job description template from our job description library, which contains examples for 800+ positions and professions. Our job description examples include a job summary with duties and responsibilities and skills and requirements, which can be personalised for your job vacancy.

Job Description Advice - Guidance on How to Personalise a Patient Sitter Job Specification

The hiring process and recruiting new employees to fill your key roles requires a degree of personalisation if you are to attract the best employees in a competitive employment market. The right person for a crucial role or more senior roles will likely have other employers targeting them. As your job description will be the first point of contact, you need to nail your pitch and provide the best possible service.

Job Description Tips - Help on formatting a Patient Sitter Job Specification

When creating your bespoke description and advert, you should cover and promote these points:

Job title: This should accurately reflect the role and include keywords that top talent might be using to search for jobs.

Job duties: The day to day duties, such as administrative tasks, which vary depending on the company and inform the candidate if they can complete the role.

Technical skills: These are the hard skills required through training, such as proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Soft skills: These include the interpersonal skills and general abilities the right candidates will possess. For example, the competency to prioritise multiple tasks, handle customer queries and customer complaints, work alone, or build a good relationship with coworkers.

The company's culture: Highlighting your company culture and values ensures employees thrive and find outstanding job satisfaction. Candidates that are not the right fit won’t waste their time completing the application process, meaning you can focus on qualified individuals and hire in a more timely manner.

Career progression: Including the career path will entice candidates looking for career growth. 

Training and development programs: Smaller companies may need employees with previous experience or provide educational assistance over internal training offered by larger organisations with more significant resources. 

Employee benefits: Compensation and benefits often fail to appear in job ads and while you may want to hold your cards close to your chest, failing to include them is a mistake. Consider answering common questions, such as working hours and paid leave. Researching the average salary for the role in these early stages will ensure you don’t waste your interviewer’s and the candidate’s time.

Skill gaps: Your company may need to bring in new skills beyond those required to complete the key role and duties. Thinking on an organisational level can be beneficial when contemplating skills diversity.

Legal requirements: Ensure your job advert and description does not ask for inappropriate or discriminatory personal details, such as age, marital status, or religion.

How to Hire a Patient Sitter

Once you have selected your Job Description download it or convert it to a Job Advert. From here you can post/advertise your job across our network of job boards. If you wish to use the job description for a CV Template click through for advice and Convert to a CV

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