Patient Sitter Job

I am applying to be a patient sitter (per deem) at a hospital here in New Jersey. I am a nursing student right now and about to end my summer semester. I just thought it would be good to keep myself occupied for the rest of the summer so I can get some hospital experience. Plus it would be good when school starts again in the fall, I'll be able to work and get some studying done while I work (if possible)

My main question is: How much do patient sitters usually get paid in New Jersey?? Do night shifts get paid more??
At our hospital you are not allowed to have personal items in the room while you are sitting a pt.

per diem

Sorry I meant "per diem" Sorry for the typo! Thanks for the replies so far!

A classmate used to work as a sitter--she was allowed to bring her textbooks with her and could read as long as it didn't interfere with her job (e,g. after the patient was asleep). Not sure what her rate was, but she did have a night shift differential.

In the acute care hospital if you are sitting a patient you are not allowed to bring anything into the room with you maybe your purse and you are definetley not be allowed to study. I would recommend you get your cna and work as a patient care tech - you will learn much more vital skills usefull in nursing than sitting, I was a care tech and did a lot of patient sitting and sometimes I had patients that keept me on my feet all night long. Bottom line - if you're thinking about studying while sitting - not going to happend, you may get in serious trouble, but if you are looking for a summer job and some pocket change sitting is great. Good luck.

Well the facility I applied at I've seen patient sitters read their text books or study even with the patient awake.

Quote from thekidisbackWell the facility I applied at I've seen patient sitters read their text books or study even with the patient awake.

I work at a hospital in NJ as a nursing assistant but have been pulled many times to be a sitter on the floor (but a lot of times in the ER). I think it depends on the shift and what the patient is doing. If it's the 7a-3p shift, I wouldn't bring materials in. More than likely, the patient will be awake and/or watching TV. There's been many times when a patient has taken a nap and has thrown me the remote. On the 3-11p shift, they can be mainly still awake. A lot of times, the patient will talk to me and I'll talk back and we'll mainly talk. But other times, they've been asleep. I've actually have nurses throw me a magazine to keep me occupied. I've never done an 11p-7a shift but I cannot imagine you just sitting there, staring into space, in the dark, while the patient is soundly asleep. You won't have the TV because they'll be sleep..so what on earth are u suppose to do..stare at them sleeping? Sometimes they aren't sleep..and in that case, no..I wouldn't be reading or studying. But, if they are sleeping soundly, I have seen many a sitter, include myself, read a magazine or book or (gasp!) play on their phone. Definitely find out the hospital's policies. Whatever you do..don't fall asleep! Lol! Good luck!

Was the question even answered?

I work as a sitter PRN and it is only $8.75 )= I can't remember if night shift pays more though!

My bf is working as a patient sitter while doing his prereqs for nursing school and he gets min wage (in my state, that's $8.50) plus shift differentials ($3.50 nights, $3.50 weekends). So, he ends up making $12.00-$15.50/hr since he works nights. It's nice change. He can study if his patient is mellow. Other nights, he gets no studying done, so don't depend on your work shift to get school work done!

We don't have dedicated sitters at my facility, the CNAs/HCTs rotate out who is sitting. So we get paid CNA wages. I work night shift and I get a lot of studying done some nights. Some nights, however, I am in a 4 pt sitter room running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Tonight (I am on break right now) all four of my pts are asleep, continent, and don't need to be woken until the morning. I have done about 300 NCLEX questions so far. I always bring something to do, but I never count on it as primary study time. It is absolutely okay here to study, read, etc. as long as your pts are taken care of and you are keeping one eye one them at all times. If we couldn't that would be one LONG 12 hours shift of sitting in the dark listening to snoring.