What a Hospital Sitter Is

A hospital sitter is a staff member or trained volunteer tasked with staying in your room 24 hours a day. They are there specifically to keep you safe when you are at risk of falling or becoming confused. They do not provide medical treatments like medication, but they alert your nurse immediately if you need help or experience a sudden change in health.

We assign sitters when you have a high risk for delirium, which is a state of sudden confusion caused by illness or medication. We also use them if you are unsteady on your feet and might try to get out of bed alone. Preventing a fall is critical because a broken bone or head injury could significantly delay your recovery and ability to go home.

Your sitter acts as an extra set of eyes to make sure you do not accidentally pull out an intravenous line or a breathing tube. They can help you reach your call button so you do not attempt to stand up unassisted. Their presence provides a layer of protection that allows our nursing staff to manage multiple patients while ensuring you are never truly left alone.

You can speak to your sitter, though their primary focus is monitoring your movements. They cannot make clinical decisions or interpret your test results, so please ask your doctor or nurse for updates on your medical plan. If the sitter's presence bothers you, tell your nurse directly so we can discuss the safety reasons behind the assignment.