Mental Health Technician - Acute Psychiatric Adult

Summary:

Facilitates the provision of patient care by performing specific nursing tasks in accordance with organizational and regulatory compliance. This position requires the full understanding and active participation in fulfilling the Mission of CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital and demonstrating behavior consistent with the Core Values.

Responsibilities:

• Maintains continuous alertness and response to patient safety issues and participates in maintaining a safe and secure patient care environment
  • Uses patient identifiers as defined by policy
  • Makes rounds to assure patient safety and satisfaction
  • Answers call lights promptly
  • Maintains falls precautions
  • Performs complete hand-off communication clearly and effectively
  • Provides emergency assistance within the defined role
  • Maintains a hazard-free work environment
  • Maintains unit security
  • Participates in emergency and disaster plans
  • Initiates call for emergencies and responds to staff needs
  • Complies with regulatory agency guidelines/rules
  • Performs appropriate luggage package checks removing and properly securing contraband.
  • Make rounds on patients at least every 15 mins intervals on both day and night
• Adheres to Christus policies and procedures and the standards of JC, OSHA, DHH, HIPAA, etc
  • Maintains infection control standards by using proper isolation techniques, handwashing and standard precautions
  • Provides privacy and maintenance of confidentiality
  • Promotes patients right to make personal choices to accommodate their needs and be free from abuse, mistreatment and neglect, reporting any instances of maltreatment to appropriate personnel
  • Gives assistance in resolving grievances and disputes
  • Provides needed assistance in getting to and participating in patient and family meetings and other activities
  • Maintains care and security of patient’s personal possessions
  • Works with nursing staff to reduce need for restraints
  • Screens telephone calls and visitor requests to protect patient confidentiality
  • Restricts access to patient information (e.g., charts, computers, etc.)
  • Demonstrates knowledge of informed consent
  • Recognizes age, diversity specific needs/issues of customers served
• Communicates with patient/family/staff members in ways that demonstrate
  • Spends time with and listens to patients and families as needed. Reports patients and family’s fears, problems and anxieties to the professional staff.
  • Awareness of age-specific needs and developmental tasks
  • Sensitivity and openness for allowing the patient to make personal choices
  • Reinforcement of the patient plan of care and education goals, e.g. use of incentive spirometer, frequent ambulation, NPO status, etc.
  • The ability to involve the patient/family as a source of emotional support
  • Has good listening skills
  • Treats patients with compassion
  • Exhibits motivation and interest in working with psychiatric patients
• Communicates with team members demonstrating
  • Prompt reporting of changes in patient condition
  • Timely awareness & reporting of clinical and equipment alarms
  • Appropriate access to the chain-of-command
  • Collaboration with the multidisciplinary team
  • Exhibits capability to handle crisis situations appropriately
  • Exhibits assertiveness skills when enforcing guidelines and rules
  • Exhibits independent decision-making skills, yet is able to discern the need for professional staff input.
• Performs communication using various technology applications
  • Communicates with patients and staff via intercom
  • Sends/receives documents via fax
  • Sends/receives email and uses other programs/tools
  • Contacts personnel via telecommunication systems (e.g., pagers, cell phone)
  • Answers and processes calls using proper telephone etiquette
• Maintains responsibility for learning needs and remains current on all aspects of the nursing assistant role
  • Attends inservices, department, staff or other required meetings
  • Reviews facility specific publications, memos, policies and other job related publications
  • Yearly CPI Training
  • Yearly CPR
  • Utilize knowledge of computer skills as changes occur
• Performs basic nursing skills competently and in accordance with Christus policies and procedures following initial competence validation
  • Taking, recording and reporting vital signs
  • Taking, recording and reporting other clinical measurements such as pulse oximetry and bedside glucose
  •  Measuring, recording and reporting height/weight, nutritional and fluid intake/output
  •  Recognizing and reporting abnormal changes in body functioning
  • Care of catheters, colostomies and ileostomies within scope of practice
  • Specimen collection and delivery
  • Using appropriate moving and lifting techniques and equipment
  • Caring for the dying patient including post-mortem care
• Performs patient care skills needed to assure patient comfort and safety
  • Bathing, grooming (mouth care, shaving, hair care) and dressing
  • Toileting, walking and skin care
  • Tray distribution and assisting with eating (proper feeding techniques and aspiration precautions) and hydration
  • Transferring, positioning, turning and encouraging range of motion
  • Recording patient care activities
  • Assisting with transporting patients
  • Assisting with admission, transfer and/or discharge processes including securing assistive devices and personal effects
• Participates in care of the patient environment and equipment
  • Maintains cleanliness of room and bedside area
  • Replenishes water, linen, towels, etc.
  • Maintains cleanliness of bedside mechanical equipment including oxygen and suction
  • Reapplication of sequential compression devices

Requirements:

Education/Skills

• High School Diploma required

Experience

• 1 year of mental health tech experience preferred. 

Licenses, Registrations or Certifications

• Current certification with the American Heart Association Basic Life Support or completion within 90 days of employment. 
• Current de-escalation training or completion within 90 days of employment with annual recertification. 

Work Schedule:

MULTIPLE SHIFTS AVAILABLE

Work Type:

Full Time