Associate Behavioral Health Technician - ED Safety Attendant, CNA

Associate Behavioral Health Technician - ED Safety Attendant, CNA

Chapel Hill, NC $34,499 - $46,099 a year

Full Time

Overview:

Join a compassionate team dedicated to providing exceptional care in an emergency department setting. This role involves routine patient care duties such as observation, monitoring, and recording changes in patient conditions, obtaining vital signs, assisting with daily living activities, and offering emotional support under nursing supervision. You will also facilitate therapeutic groups and help maintain a safe, clean, and supportive environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver patient care that promotes safety, dignity, and comfort within a positive therapeutic atmosphere.
• Assist with new admissions by conducting contraband searches, orienting patients to their environment, obtaining vital signs, and securing personal belongings.
• Support patient transfers and discharges, including vital sign monitoring and managing belongings.
• Perform vital sign checks, weight measurements, and report abnormalities promptly to nursing staff.
• Help patients with personal hygiene and toileting as needed.
• Participate in therapeutic holds, restraints, and seclusion procedures following specialized training.
• Engage patients through play and group activities, reporting any concerns to nurses.
• Conduct regular rounding and constant observation as directed, documenting findings accurately.
• Assist with intake/output documentation and vital sign graphing.
• Facilitate therapeutic community meetings and wrap-up sessions when assigned.
• Contribute to educational and performance improvement initiatives and participate actively in cost containment efforts.

Education and Training:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate or Bachelor's degree in Psychology or Social Work preferred.
• Nursing Assistant certification accepted.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association required.
• Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NCI) training and certification must be completed within 30 days of employment.

Experience:

• Preferred: Minimum of 2 years psychiatric experience.

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Competency in working with children, adolescents, and adults with mental health conditions.
• Basic understanding of age-specific considerations for the served population.
• General computer proficiency.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to work variable shifts including nights.
• Capability to bend, stand for prolonged periods, walk, turn, and lift patients.
• Visual and auditory acuity for observation and manual dexterity for documentation.
• Potential exposure to blood or other infectious materials.