companionship /kəmpan″yənship′/ [L, com, together, panis, food] , 1. (in psychiatric nursing) the assignment of a staff member to stay with a disturbed patient to provide support and to protect the patient from self-harm or harm to others. In constant companionship the disturbed patient is accompanied in all activities until the staff member is convinced the patient has regained control. Also called constant observation. 2. an inherent human social need for contact with another.
