Mental Health Technician - Acute Psychiatric Adult

Summary:

Performs clinical duties as delegated by RN and within the scope of this job description and training.

Responsibilities:

Behavioral Expectations:

• Genesis modules completed by assigned date.
• Fulfill Goal requirements.
• Attend majority of mandatory meetings throughout the year, including, but not limited to staff meetings and direct connects.

Job Specific Activities:

• Standard I: Associate demonstrates competence in the performance of duties and responsibilities related to the application of Christus St. Patrick Hospital’s Core Values:
  • Dignity/Integrity:
    • Maintains confidentiality of information as required
    • Conducts and presents self in a professional manner
    • Respects the culture and ethnic heritage of others
    • Demonstrated honesty consistently in all relationships
    • Follows the Christus Health Guidelines related to Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA), designed to prevent or detect unauthorized disclosure of Protected Health Information (PHI)
  • Excellence:
    • Accepts constructive criticism and modifies actions accordingly
    • Seeks opportunity for professional and personal growth
    • Actively seeks ways to improve level of performance/service
  • Stewardship:
    • Flexible and adaptive to changes in work processes and functions
    • Support department objectives and the Strategic Plan of the hospital
    • Uses resources/assets in a cost effective manner
    • Notifies appropriate personnel of facility’s needs or issues
  • Compassion:
    • Assists others in completing tasks or duties effectively
    • Responds to needs/requests of others in a caring and timely manner
    • Open to different ideas and alternatives to solutions
• Standard II. Patient Safety and Security:
  • 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
    • 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
    • Complies with regulatory agency guidelines/rules
• Standard III. Regulatory Compliance, Confidentiality and Patient Rights:
  • Adheres to Christus policies and procedures and the standards of DNV, 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
• Standard IV. Communication:
  • Communicates with patient/family/staff members in ways that demonstrate:
    • Responsiveness to verbal and behavioral patient communication
    • 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
  • 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
    • Proper telephone etiquette
  • Performs communication using various technology applications:
    • Communicates with patients and staff via intercom
• Standards V. Professional Development:
  • 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
• Standard VI. Patient Care Tasks:
  • 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. 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
    • Performs delegated tasks
  • Participates in care of the patient environment and equipment:
    • Maintains cleanliness of room and bedside area
    • Replenishes water, linen, towels, etc.
• Standard VII. Business Literacy:
  • Ensures effective use of supplies

Requirements:

Education/Skills

• High School Diploma required

Experience

• 1 year of mental health technician experience preferred. 

Licenses, Registrations or Certifications

• BLS required.
• Current de-escalation training or completion within 90 days of employment with annual recertification.

Work Schedule:

PRN

Work Type:

Per Diem As Needed