Top 12 Patient Sitter Skills to Put on Your Resume

As a patient sitter, a strong skill set can lift your resume and your impact at the bedside. The twelve skills below matter most for delivering safe, steady, compassionate support in hospitals, long-term care, and home settings. Clear focus, calm presence, prompt action—these skills anchor it all.

Patient Sitter Skills

1. CPR Certified
2. First Aid
3. HIPAA Compliance
4. Patient Monitoring
5. Vital Signs
6. Alzheimer's Care
7. Dementia Care
8. Non-Violent Crisis Intervention
9. Electronic Health Records (EHR)
10. Patient Transport
11. Infection Control
12. Basic Life Support (BLS)

1. CPR Certified

CPR certification shows you’ve been formally trained to respond when breathing or circulation stops. It signals readiness to act when seconds count and calm is thin.

Why It's Important

CPR skills bridge the gap until the code team arrives. Immediate, effective compressions and rapid AED use can double or triple survival chances in cardiac arrest.

How to Improve CPR Certified Skills

1. Renew on time: Recertify every two years or sooner if your employer requires it.
2. Drill the fundamentals: Practice compressions at 100–120/min with proper depth and full recoil; switch compressors every two minutes.
3. Know your gear: Learn AED locations and pads placement; check batteries and readiness during shifts if it’s part of your role.
4. Run mock codes: Join simulations and debriefs to sharpen teamwork, roles, and communication.
5. Measure yourself: Use feedback manikins when available to tighten rate, depth, and recoil.

How to Display CPR Certified Skills on Your Resume

2. First Aid

First aid is the rapid, practical help you give when illness or injury hits, aimed at preserving life, preventing worsening, and promoting recovery until a clinician takes over.

Why It's Important

Fast, confident care—bleeding control, choking response, wound care, positioning—can stabilize a patient and prevent minor issues from spiraling.

How to Improve First Aid Skills

1. Learn facility protocols: Know how your unit handles falls, bleeding, burns, seizures, and allergic reactions.
2. Practice core responses: Choking relief for adults/children, direct pressure and dressings, recovery position, heat/cold injury basics.
3. Stock smart: Keep first-aid supplies organized and ready; report low inventory promptly.
4. Communicate clearly: Give concise reports of what happened, what you saw, and what you did.
5. Rehearse scenarios: Short, regular drills improve speed, accuracy, and calm thinking.

How to Display First Aid Skills on Your Resume

3. HIPAA Compliance

HIPAA compliance means protecting patient information—spoken, written, or electronic. Share only what’s needed, with only those authorized, and only in private.

Why It's Important

Trust hinges on confidentiality. Patients deserve privacy; organizations require it. Lapses can harm people and careers.

How to Improve HIPAA Compliance Skills

1. Minimum necessary: Access and share only what your role requires.
2. Verify identity: Confirm who you’re speaking with before discussing any patient details.
3. Protect screens and papers: Lock computers, shield monitors, secure notes, and dispose of PHI in approved containers.
4. Avoid casual talk: No hallway, elevator, cafeteria, or social media discussions about patients.
5. Report quickly: Escalate suspected breaches immediately per policy; don’t wait.
6. Train yearly: Complete required privacy and security modules and refreshers.

How to Display HIPAA Compliance Skills on Your Resume

4. Patient Monitoring

Patient monitoring is deliberate, ongoing observation—safety checks, behavior cues, comfort, and changes in condition—paired with timely reporting.

Why It's Important

Early recognition stops small problems from becoming emergencies. It keeps patients safe, seen, and supported.

How to Improve Patient Monitoring Skills

1. Establish a baseline: Learn the patient’s usual behavior, risks, and care plan at the start of your shift.
2. Round with purpose: Use set intervals and checklists—pain, bathroom needs, position, personal items in reach, environment safety.
3. Document precisely: Time-stamp observations, note triggers, describe behaviors objectively, and escalate trends, not just events.
4. Prioritize safety risks: Know fall, elopement, aspiration, and self-harm precautions and act fast when risks rise.
5. Escalate early: Use clear frameworks (such as SBAR) to alert nursing when something shifts.

How to Display Patient Monitoring Skills on Your Resume

5. Vital Signs

Vital signs—temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure—offer a quick snapshot of the body’s status. Some settings ask sitters to observe and report; others permit measurement with training.

Why It's Important

Changes can signal distress or decline. Spotting and reporting them promptly keeps care moving in the right direction.

How to Improve Vital Signs Skills

1. Know your scope: Only obtain vitals if your role, training, and policy allow; otherwise, observe and report concerning symptoms immediately.
2. Learn normal ranges: Recognize what’s expected for the patient and when to alert the nurse.
3. Support accuracy: Help position patients comfortably and reduce talking or movement during measurement.
4. Watch trends: One number matters; patterns matter more. Share both.
5. Never ignore monitors: Don’t silence alarms; notify licensed staff right away.

How to Display Vital Signs Skills on Your Resume

6. Alzheimer's Care

Alzheimer’s care blends safety, structure, and warmth. You guide daily routines, reduce confusion, prevent harm, and preserve dignity.

Why It's Important

Familiarity and gentle guidance cut anxiety, smooth behaviors, and brighten moments that might otherwise unravel.

How to Improve Alzheimer's Care Skills

1. Keep routines steady: Predictable schedules calm nerves and reduce agitation.
2. Use simple cues: Short sentences, one-step directions, visual prompts.
3. Validate, then redirect: Acknowledge feelings; steer toward safe, soothing activities.
4. Create a safer space: Clear walkways, good lighting, secure hazards, use signage.
5. Engage gently: Reminiscence, music, tactile activities matched to ability.
6. Plan for sundowning: Earlier activities, limited caffeine, calming evening routines.
7. Collaborate with family: Learn personal preferences, triggers, and calming strategies.

How to Display Alzheimer's Care Skills on Your Resume

7. Dementia Care

Dementia care means tailoring support to changing cognitive and sensory needs, protecting safety while encouraging independence where possible.

Why It's Important

Person-centered strategies reduce distress, improve cooperation, and protect quality of life.

How to Improve Dementia Care Skills

1. Personalize everything: Match routines and activities to history, likes, and current capabilities.
2. Communicate thoughtfully: Face the person, maintain eye contact, speak slowly, and allow time to respond.
3. Lower environmental noise: Reduce clutter and distractions that can overwhelm.
4. Offer choice, not overload: Two options beat a menu of ten.
5. Track triggers: Note what precedes agitation and adjust proactively.
6. Stay patient: Resist correcting; support the emotion behind the words.

How to Display Dementia Care Skills on Your Resume

8. Non-Violent Crisis Intervention

Non-violent crisis intervention centers on prevention, de-escalation, and safety—calming words, open body language, space, and support. Physical intervention belongs only to trained personnel and per policy.

Why It's Important

De-escalation protects patients and staff, reduces injuries, and keeps care therapeutic, not confrontational.

How to Improve Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Skills

1. Spot early signs: Restlessness, pacing, raised voice, clenched fists—move early, not late.
2. Use a calm stance: Nonthreatening posture, hands visible, give personal space, keep an exit route clear.
3. De-escalate with words: Low, slow voice; reflect feelings; set simple limits; offer choices.
4. Call for help: Know when to summon the team; your safety matters too.
5. Debrief and learn: After incidents, review what worked and adjust approaches.
6. Protect boundaries: Follow policies; avoid restraint unless specifically trained and authorized.

How to Display Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Skills on Your Resume

9. Electronic Health Records (EHR)

EHRs are digital charts. For a sitter, that often means reviewing care plans, safety precautions, allergies, activity orders, and documenting observations if your role permits.

Why It's Important

Quick access to the right details—fall risk, isolation status, code status, alerts—keeps patients safer and your work aligned with the plan of care.

How to Improve Electronic Health Records (EHR) Skills

1. Learn your system: Know where to find care plans, precautions, and patient alerts quickly.
2. Document correctly: If authorized, chart sitter rounds and observations in the right flowsheet with objective, time-stamped notes.
3. Use flags and tasks: Pay attention to alerts, special instructions, and activity orders.
4. Protect privacy: Log off, shield screens, and follow policy for all entries and lookups.
5. Ask for shortcuts: Learn common navigation tips from super users or educators to save time.

How to Display Electronic Health Records (EHR) Skills on Your Resume

10. Patient Transport

Patient transport is moving individuals safely and comfortably between rooms, departments, and procedures—protecting dignity, lines, and equipment along the way.

Why It's Important

Safe, timely movement keeps care on schedule, reduces falls and line dislodgement, and lowers stress for patients.

How to Improve Patient Transport Skills

1. Safety first: Lock brakes, raise rails as required, secure lines and tubes, manage oxygen and pumps.
2. Use two identifiers: Confirm the right patient and destination before moving.
3. Mind your body mechanics: Push, don’t pull; keep loads close; ask for help with heavy transfers.
4. Communicate handoffs: Share destination, concerns, and special needs; confirm receipt at arrival.
5. Comfort counts: Blankets, proper positioning, and clear explanations ease anxiety.

How to Display Patient Transport Skills on Your Resume

11. Infection Control

Infection control means stopping the spread: hand hygiene, correct PPE use, clean environments, and strict adherence to isolation and standard precautions.

Why It's Important

Fewer infections. Safer patients. Safer staff. Shorter stays and better outcomes.

How to Improve Infection Control Skills

1. Hand hygiene every time: Before and after patient contact, after glove removal, and after touching surroundings.
2. Wear PPE correctly: Don and doff in the right order; change when soiled; never reuse single-use items.
3. Respect isolation: Know the difference between contact, droplet, and airborne precautions and follow signage.
4. Clean high-touch areas: Wipe rails, call bells, remotes, and tables as directed.
5. Avoid cross-contamination: One patient, one set of supplies; perform hand hygiene when switching tasks.
6. Speak up: Report symptoms, exposures, or breaches immediately.

How to Display Infection Control Skills on Your Resume

12. Basic Life Support (BLS)

BLS is foundational emergency care—CPR, AED use, and relief of choking—focused on airway, breathing, and circulation until advanced help takes over.

Why It's Important

When emergencies erupt, practiced BLS turns fear into action and action into a fighting chance.

How to Improve Basic Life Support (BLS) Skills

1. Keep current: Renew certification at least every two years; many teams refresh annually.
2. Perfect compressions: 100–120/min, adequate depth, full recoil, minimal pauses.
3. Know your environment: Locate the nearest AED, code button, and crash cart; know your role during a code.
4. Train as a team: Practice roles, closed-loop communication, and quick defibrillation in simulations.
5. Rehearse choking relief: For adults and children, conscious and unconscious.
6. Respect directives: Be aware of code status and advance directives; act appropriately.

How to Display Basic Life Support (BLS) Skills on Your Resume