Mental Health Technician - Acute Psychiatric Adult

Clinical Duties

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

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

Standard 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:

7PM - 7AM

Work Type:

Part Time