Mental Health Technician - Psych Unit

Job Profile Summary

This role focuses on providing professional and nonprofessional nursing care services in accordance with physician orders. In addition, this role focuses on performing the following Nursing Support duties: Provides basic care services to patients, but does not have an RN or LPN license. Positions in this nursing support work under the direction of physicians, mid-level practitioners, and may work under the direction of registered nurses depending on their unit. A clinical technologist role that has specialized knowledge or skills gained through a combination of vocational education, training, and experience. This role will be most commonly applied to patient care and/or scientific/laboratory jobs. An experienced level role requiring basic knowledge of job procedures and tools obtained through work experience and requiring vocational or technical education. Works under moderate supervision, works through problems of a routine nature, but may at times require interpretation or deviation from standard procedures and communicates information that requires some explanation or interpretation.

Job Overview

The position according to the policies, procedures, philosophy, and objective of the department and hospital. Works cooperatively within the department and the contracted behavioral health services with other services to create a system of quality health care. Under the direct supervision of a registered nurse, this position provides physical and emotional care to patients on an assigned unit, as a member of the patient care team.

Job Description

Minimum Qualifications:

1. High school diploma or equivalent.

2. One (1) year of applicable experience in mental health services, addiction recovery.

3. Current Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s degree in Psychology or Behavioral Sciences

2. Three (3) years of applicable experience working with psychiatric patients.

Duties and Responsibilities: The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of work and are not intended to be an all-inclusive list. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.

1. Monitors the patient’s condition through general observations, taking vital signs neurological signs and determining weights and heights. Administers physical care and personal hygiene measures to assigned patients as appropriate.

2. Establishes a therapeutic and helping relationship with assigned patients and helps patients with daily living activities such as daily hygiene, showering and clothing. Responds promptly and appropriately to the needs and requests of patients as appropriate.

3. Facilitates effective patient reports. At the beginning of each shift, receives a report and an assignment from the nurse at the beginning of each shift. During the shift and after the shift, Communicates pertinent observations and information regarding the patient’s condition to the nurse

4. Assists the nurse or physician during exams and procedures. Completes specimen collection and test measurements. Observes the patient’s condition during and after the procedure as directed and supervised by the RN.

5. Assists in the pre-admission and discharge process as requested. This may include recording vital signs, checking ID bracelets, orienting patients to the unit and escorting patients and their families to the exit.

6. Assists with administrative duties such as documenting observations and activity of patient. Requires keeping detailed records, reporting changes in patients' behavior to the clinical care team.

7. Transports patients, equipment and specimens to designated areas.

8. Maintains the patient environment and the nursing unit in a clean, neat and safe manner.

9. Assists in managing meal times. Ensure that patients have received the proper meal trays and observes patients’ nutritional intake. Assists in setting up patient’s tray and feeding patient when appropriate.

10. Provides assistance during Code 99s by calling the page operator, obtaining equipment, transporting specimens and observing and assisting the other patients on the unit.

11. Assists in monitoring the safety of the unit.

12. Participates in the implementation of the treatment plan.

13. Participates in milieu activities and groups. Observes and reports patients’ interactions in the milieu.

14. Intervenes in crisis situations in collaboration with nurses and other mental health team members to maintain safety of patients and staff, and to promote therapeutic outcomes.

15. When assigned and following the established protocol, remains in constant attendance with patients who are suicidal or have behavioral problems.

Physical Requirements:

1. Prolonged, extensive, or considerable standing/walking.

2. Lifts, positions, pushes and/or transfer patients and equipment of 5-10 lbs.

3. Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching.

4. Frequent exposure to hazardous chemicals, sick patients, bodily substances, noise and possible exposure to radiation, lasers, electric shock, etc.

5. Regularly exposed to the risk of blood borne diseases and other transmissible infections.

6. Contact with patients under wide variety of circumstances.

7. Subject to varying and unpredictable situations.

8. Manual dexterity using fine hand manipulations for assisting patients and computer keyboard.

9. Requires ability to hear instructions from clinical staff.

Skills & Abilities:

1. Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.

2. Able to work with detailed, confidential material.

3. Computer experience.

4. Ability to handle stressful and demanding situations, and exceptional communication skills & requires observing skills.

5. Ability to take vital signs, weighs patients and collects routine specimens.