Behavioral Health Associate PRN

Patient Care Specialist

Responsible for providing personal care services to patients at the facility under the direction of clinical or nursing leadership.

Essential Functions:

• Ensure the well being of patients and provide a positive, supportive and structured environment, under direction of charge nurse or supervisor.
• Patient safety is addressed through required rounds completed timely. Patient room is clean and uncluttered. Observation may be assigned every 15 minutes, within reach of patient and/or 1:1 patient care.
• Obtain patient's vital signs, height and weight as assigned. Ensure documentation of information.
• Identify self to patient and visitors promptly and respond to patient requests quickly.
• Engage with patient in activities and interactions designed to encourage achievement of treatment goals.
• Respond to distressed patient in a non-threatening manner and attempt to understand the source of distress.
• Applies de-escalation techniques to help manage patient's emotions, behavior and participation in treatment and assist with seclusion and restraint when necessary.
• As part of the multidisciplinary team provide safety and increase coping skills of patient and assist in developing strategies for helping patients to be as independent as possible.
• Collaborate with other staff in working with the population of the facility to treat, rehabilitate and return patient to the community.
• Monitor behavioral improvements and reinforce these behaviors. Report changes and responses to treatment by communicating with team. Significant changes are reported to nurse immediately.
• Reinforce skills patients learn from nurses, physicians, therapist that promote improved physical and mental wellness.
• Lead or co-lead individual or group sessions as part of specific recreational or therapeutic procedures.
• May participate in rehabilitation and treatment programs as well as teach strategies to promote patient wellness and independence.
• May oversee or assist patients with activities of daily living, including toileting, bathing, dressing, grooming, oral hygiene, meals, snacks, hydration and changing bed linens.
• Deliver care based on the priority of needs and available resources to the specific service population of the facility.
• May help with admissions and discharges.
• Assist in providing guidance and direction to other staff members, including training of new staff.
• May provide transportation for patient or coordinate transportation with appropriate staff member.
• Quality of work exhibited through accuracy, neatness, and timeliness of work completed.
• Adherence to work schedule and overall attendance.