PSYCHIATRIC AIDE

Psychiatric Aide

The position serves as part of the treatment team and is involved in planning, organizing and conducting adjunctive services (recreational and diversional activities) which involves the implementation of moderately complex therapeutic procedures and the application of various techniques in patient care services. The position also provides a variety of personal care and nursing services to patients in the unit.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Orient patients to the hospital setting, rules and regulations, patient rights and treatment team system.
• Perform as a companion for newly admitted patients to establish rapport and facilitate a social network with other patients on the unit.
• Take temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, height and weight. Monitor seclusion/restraint status. Record observations/findings in patients chart. Observe patients physical and psychological needs and report findings to the charge nurse.
• Participate as a member of the treatment team and provide input into the formulation of patients master treatment plans.
• Provide input and assist in planning therapeutic interventions in situational crises.
• Participate in/conduct daily community meetings with team members to set goals for the day.
• Implement training for patients in developing self-help skills such as toileting, feeding, bathing, dressing, basic oral hygiene and other activities of daily living.
• Implement adjunctive services (recreational and diversional activities) planned and developed by the RPN, Recreational Therapist and/or Occupational Therapist for the general therapeutic milieu of the unit.
• Maintain a safe and therapeutic milieu for patients and employees at all times. Report and initiate corrective measures of any known unsafe environmental conditions.
• Monitor contraband materials and enforce unit rules and regulations at all times.
• Evaluate, with the charge nurse and other team members, the effectiveness of approaches utilized in crisis intervention during the shift.
• Assist in the evaluation of patients conditions and progress based on their master treatment plans.
• Admit, transfer and/or discharge patients; assist in emergency procedures such as fire escape and drill (e.g., Code Red, Code Yellow, etc.), seclusion and restraints, patient searches, bomb threats and disaster drills, etc.; transport/escort patients as assigned; provide physical care to patients who are physically and/or emotionally unable to take care of themselves; attend in-service and other continuing educational programs; temporarily work on another unit, as necessary; participate in hospital-wide quality assurance and infection control activities; participate in research surveys, etc.

Basic Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED.

License, Certification, Registration:

• Basic Life Support within 1 months of hire from American Heart Association

Additional Requirements:

• Demonstrated proficiency in the application of all of the knowledge and abilities, specified below for the Full Performance level, in providing the full range of services to the clientele of the work site, independently.
• Knowledge of the policies, procedures and work rules of the work site.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Minimum one (1) year of work experience in a mental health facility/unit which involved learning and performing selected therapeutic activities involving various types of mental health problems and general behavioral and psychiatric procedures.
• Minimum one (1) year of mental health work experience in acute care setting.