What You Will Do:

Come elevate your skills and experience by working with a world-class, Magnet® designated Academic Medical Center with comprehensive and technologically advanced surgical suites. The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) is the flagship academic medical center at the heart of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) and includes the 789-bed downtown Baltimore campus and the 177-bed midtown campus one mile north. Home to the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center and The R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, we’re the highest-volume trauma center in the United States. We are looking for talented members to join our nursing support team here at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

As a Safety Observation Companion at UMMC, you’ll experience:

• A supportive and collaborative work environment
• An Achievable Professional Advancement Model: Opportunities to progress in function, skills, and pay through our achievable promotion schedule.
• The opportunity to work in a specialized care environment at an Academic Medical Center with a nursing-centered care model and Magnet® Designation.
• A comprehensive benefits package including health, vision, and dental coverage including prescription drug coverage, Tax-Free Savings Plans, and more!·
• A highly competitive wage scale: Annual merit increases and a base wage scale that is measured against market standards.
• Generous tuition reimbursement of up to $10,000 per year for your graduate degree at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. Located in downtown Baltimore near the Inner Harbor and Camden Yards, you won’t find a more vibrant place to work!

General Summary

Functions in a dependent role under the direct supervision of a registered nurse. The Safety Observation Companion’s primary role is to be a supplement to the nursing staff by providing observational skills to selected patients who are deemed to be at risk to self or others. They will only have responsibility to assist the nursing staff with positioning, feeding and ambulation. They do not provide any hands on patient care independently: no vital signs, no feeding, no bathing, and no ambulation.

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

• Provides constant observation and companionship for assigned patient to ensure patient’s safety.
• Establishes and maintains courteous and effective relationships with patients, visitors, co-workers, and other members of the health care team; demonstrates sensitivity and awareness to the needs of patients, visitors and co-workers and responds promptly to verbal and/or written instructions.
• Monitors and attempts to prevent patient from self-harm, falls, eloping, smoking, dislodging IV lines, O2 apparatus, catheters, and /or drains and dressings through calling for assist (call bed, personal alarm) and attempting to redirect with communication.
• Request immediate assistance for noted changes in patient condition and/or disruptive behaviors.
• Maintain a calm composure and a soft tone when communicating with the patient.
• Maintain direct eye contact on the patient, with the patient’s hands visible at all times. Do not turn his/her back on the patient and remain within arm’s length of the patient not unless otherwise directed by the primary nurse.
• Keeps the call bell within reach in case of an emergency, unless you have been provided a panic device to use in the case of an emergency.
• The relaxation channel or other educational channels may be on to be used as a distraction if it is not over stimulatory to the patient.
• Initiates C.P.R. procedure as needed for patient care and safety.
• Attends all mandatory hospital in-services including CPR training

What You Need to Be Successful:

• High School diploma or equivalent (GED).
• Current CPR certification required.
• Evidence of effective communication skills.

We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.