NR 630 PROJECT MANAGEMENT PAPER – THE RISE OF
PATIENT SITTERS
The Rise of Patient Sitters: The Financial Burden on Organizations
This Nurse Executive Practicum Management Project, will be looking at the rise in the
need for patient sitters at Houston Methodist Willowbrook hospital and the financial burden
on the hospital. This project will aim to address some of the following points. How well are
patient’s sitters being utilized at Houston Methodist Willowbrook hospital? What is the
financial impact on the facility with patient sitters working an average of 4574 hours per
year? The reason why 34 full time employee (FTEs) patient sitters were utilized in 2017 that
weren’t forecasted in the budget. Is it the norm for patient sitters to work 4574 hours
annually? What are policies and procedures required for patient sitters? Lastly, what are the
patient requirements for the need of a sitter? In addressing each of the points, the matter can
be assessed in a complete manner and future decisions on the subject can be taken
objectively.
Patient sitters, are a requirement within the structures of Houston Methodist
Willowbrook hospital, currently patient sitters are working over 4000 hours annually, with
high budgetary expenses, can other non-expensive options be explored? Patient sitters
increase hospital costs and reduce available resources for the healthcare team. When a patient
is deemed a sitter case, employees are pulled from there assigned floor and re-assigned to the
patient sitter to cover the shift. Employing patient sitters are one aggressive approach,
however; it assures patient safety. How does employing patient sitters affect the patients, the
hospital and the budget are what needs to be assessed during this Nurse Executive
Management Project.
Discussion: Utilization of Patient Sitters
, THE RISE OF PATIENT SITTERS 2
Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital is a regional hospital with 312 beds and is
registered as a complete service acute care hospital caring for people in the region of
Northwest Houston and the surrounding areas. The hospital offers a full spectrum of medical
services for patients including emergency care, cardiology, orthopedics, sports medicine,
woman’s healthcare services, neurology, surgical services and psychiatric.
In 2017, it was noted an increase in patient falls, confusion, delirium, self-harm and
elopement on many of the hospital wards. (i.e., ER, ICU and medical surgical floors). With
so many patients in need of constant observation, these forces have driven the need for the
increased use of patient sitters. The hospital decided to use 34 Full Time Employees as
patient sitters, the need was so great that these Full Time Employees had accumulated
working hours of 4752 for the year, which placed severe pressure on the nursing staff budget.
This project will supply an in-depth investigate research of how patient sitters can
either be an asset to the facility or if there are other options available to the nursing team
which could be implemented. According to Feil (2014) in her article she cites Harding (2010)
who supplied research into the clinical effectiveness of sitter programs, claiming that it has
produced inconsistent results. Harding (2010) further stated, the cost-effectiveness of patient
sitter programs is being questioned, and there are also questions surrounding the subject of
high costs associated with their maintenance (these costs include salaries, non-licensed hours
and dollars and median hourly based rates). Feil (2014) expressed there has been resounding
evidence in showing that patient sitter programs are effective system in keeping patients safe
from falling, harming themselves or others (i.e., homicidal/suicidal).
Hence, there is sufficient evidence of patient sitters being of critical need to be used
further in the hospital yet based on staff being a costly expense it’s required to fully
investigate whether in room sitters will be of a better advantage, or should it be considered
PATIENT SITTERS
The Rise of Patient Sitters: The Financial Burden on Organizations
This Nurse Executive Practicum Management Project, will be looking at the rise in the
need for patient sitters at Houston Methodist Willowbrook hospital and the financial burden
on the hospital. This project will aim to address some of the following points. How well are
patient’s sitters being utilized at Houston Methodist Willowbrook hospital? What is the
financial impact on the facility with patient sitters working an average of 4574 hours per
year? The reason why 34 full time employee (FTEs) patient sitters were utilized in 2017 that
weren’t forecasted in the budget. Is it the norm for patient sitters to work 4574 hours
annually? What are policies and procedures required for patient sitters? Lastly, what are the
patient requirements for the need of a sitter? In addressing each of the points, the matter can
be assessed in a complete manner and future decisions on the subject can be taken
objectively.
Patient sitters, are a requirement within the structures of Houston Methodist
Willowbrook hospital, currently patient sitters are working over 4000 hours annually, with
high budgetary expenses, can other non-expensive options be explored? Patient sitters
increase hospital costs and reduce available resources for the healthcare team. When a patient
is deemed a sitter case, employees are pulled from there assigned floor and re-assigned to the
patient sitter to cover the shift. Employing patient sitters are one aggressive approach,
however; it assures patient safety. How does employing patient sitters affect the patients, the
hospital and the budget are what needs to be assessed during this Nurse Executive
Management Project.
Discussion: Utilization of Patient Sitters
, THE RISE OF PATIENT SITTERS 2
Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital is a regional hospital with 312 beds and is
registered as a complete service acute care hospital caring for people in the region of
Northwest Houston and the surrounding areas. The hospital offers a full spectrum of medical
services for patients including emergency care, cardiology, orthopedics, sports medicine,
woman’s healthcare services, neurology, surgical services and psychiatric.
In 2017, it was noted an increase in patient falls, confusion, delirium, self-harm and
elopement on many of the hospital wards. (i.e., ER, ICU and medical surgical floors). With
so many patients in need of constant observation, these forces have driven the need for the
increased use of patient sitters. The hospital decided to use 34 Full Time Employees as
patient sitters, the need was so great that these Full Time Employees had accumulated
working hours of 4752 for the year, which placed severe pressure on the nursing staff budget.
This project will supply an in-depth investigate research of how patient sitters can
either be an asset to the facility or if there are other options available to the nursing team
which could be implemented. According to Feil (2014) in her article she cites Harding (2010)
who supplied research into the clinical effectiveness of sitter programs, claiming that it has
produced inconsistent results. Harding (2010) further stated, the cost-effectiveness of patient
sitter programs is being questioned, and there are also questions surrounding the subject of
high costs associated with their maintenance (these costs include salaries, non-licensed hours
and dollars and median hourly based rates). Feil (2014) expressed there has been resounding
evidence in showing that patient sitter programs are effective system in keeping patients safe
from falling, harming themselves or others (i.e., homicidal/suicidal).
Hence, there is sufficient evidence of patient sitters being of critical need to be used
further in the hospital yet based on staff being a costly expense it’s required to fully
investigate whether in room sitters will be of a better advantage, or should it be considered
