Patient Care Associate (PCA) - Psychiatry

Duties:

Job Summary:
Functions as a member of a multidisciplinary team providing a full range of services to patients admitted to the inpatient psychiatry service. Participates in the patients admission and orientation to the inpatient unit.

Essential Duties:

• Functions as a member of a multidisciplinary team providing a full range of services to patients admitted to the inpatient psychiatry service.
• Participates in the patients admission and orientation to the inpatient unit.
• Responsible for assisting patients with changing; searching of patients; securing of valuables; review of unit rules and regulations and providing orientation to room and unit.
• Assists with preparation and updating of the Nursing Care Plan and Interdisciplinary Treatment Team.
• Plan and assists with therapeutic interventions in order to implement the plans as established.
• Performs selected direct care duties including therapeutic intervention, taking of vital signs and other health related data (i.e., height, weight, etc.), simple dressing changes, sputum, blood and urine collection, urine testing, personal hygiene (i.e., feeding, bathing, shaving, dressing, etc.), and EKG's.
• Assists with the provision of concrete services, i.e., transportation, obtaining clothes, check cashing, etc.
• Leads and co-leads various patient activity groups both recreational and therapeutic in nature.
• Assists with the preparation and implementation of discharge plan, i.e., arranging transportation, maintaining contact with family/others, so as to facilitate the patient's discharge.
• Acts as patient escort both on and off the Medical Center (i.e., radiology for tests, day treatment and residential programs, Bellevue Court, recreational patient outings as ordered by MD, etc.).
• Intervenes with physical restraints of violent/aggressive patients.
• Assists with the care of patients in seclusion/restraint as per departmental policy.
• Initiates CPR when necessary and assists the nursing tam in carrying out the Code 77 protocol.
• Practices and maintains infection control.
• Maintains an assigned patient caseload providing ongoing supportive counseling to both the patient and family.

Skills:

Required Skills & Experience:

• If no Associate's degree: 2 years' experience working in law enforcement, Nursing or Psychiatric/Behavioral Health; or with Mental Health Population, Counseling, Group Family Dynamics.
• Venipuncture experience
• EKG skills

Education:

Required Education:
HS Diploma or equivalent AND 2 years of full-time experience in law enforcement, Nursing or Psychiatric/Behavioral Health; or Mental Health Population, Counseling, Group Family Dynamics
OR
Associate's degree, preferably in mental health or related focus.

Required Certifications & Licensure:

• BLS (American Heart Assoc.)
• Certificate of Medical Assistant training
• CPI or PMCS certification
• SEL and SCR background checks

Languages:
English (Read, Write, Speak)