TECH - MH/BH (NO DEGREE) PRN

Mental Health Technician

River Vista Behavioral Health sits along the bluffs overlooking the San Joaquin River. This brand new, 128-bed facility will provide high-quality and advanced behavioral health services to residents and visitors in the Central Valley. The new hospital will employ more than 250 people, including clinicians, nurses, mental health technicians, support staff, and administration. We are currently seeking a forward-thinking and compassionate MENTAL HEALTH TECHNICIAN to be part of our Nursing Team. The Mental Health Technician functions as an active part of the treatment team, providing continuous patient care, supervision, interaction, and role modeling to patients ranging in age from adolescents through geriatrics. Mental Health Technicians work under the direction of a Registered Nurse. This is a per diem position that provides coverage on an as-needed basis. Hours may vary based on department staffing needs, employee absences, vacations, and operational demands. Must be available to work flexible shifts, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Qualifications

Education: High school diploma or GED required. Experience: Two (2) years of related experience, with knowledge of psychiatric patient care techniques, and understanding of mental illness required. Licensure: Certified Nursing Assistant preferred. Additional Requirements: CPR certification and successful completion of Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training. CPI Training may be obtained during new hire orientation.

Essential Job Functions

Demonstrate responsibility for observation and application of sound judgment in patients' physical and mental condition/needs. Provide continuous patient care and maintain safety of all assigned patients demonstrated by verifying patient safety every 15 minutes on appropriate forms. Observe and document changes in patients' appearance, behavior, and ability to work towards treatment plan goals. Communicate changes in patient's condition to Charge Nurse or Nurse Manager. Interventions: Ensure timely documentation of interventions and ensure interventions are based on the patient's plan of care. Apply appropriate crisis intervention techniques, as required. Assist patients in achieving their optimum level of independent functioning. Document services rendered in accordance with established criteria. Performance Accountability: Demonstrate excellent guest relations in communication and cooperation, assisting patients, licensed practitioners, co-workers, and visitors in a prompt and courteous manner. Act as a patient advocate and assures patient rights are upheld. Demonstrate understanding of and compliance with reporting and supervisory hierarchy. Attend program meetings and maintain related records. Participate in performance improvement activities as assigned (i.e. in-services, auditing). Utilize time constructively and in an organized manner to accomplish assigned responsibilities. Demonstrate good judgment when making decisions. Adhere to facility, department and Corporate Personnel Policies and Procedures. Attend all mandatory facility in-services and staff development activities as scheduled. Maintain confidentiality of facility employees and patient information. Conducts safety rounds to ensure no contrabands is allowed on units. Mental health technicians escort patients to meals and activities, and may escort patients to other healthcare facilities. Demonstrate appropriate therapeutic boundaries. Consistently follow established procedures. Treatment Planning: Provide pertinent feedback to the interdisciplinary treatment team regarding patient response to didactic group offerings, treatment interventions, and therapeutic objectives, as appropriate and necessary.

Specific Standards for the Care of Child Patients Ages 5 through 11

Maintain knowledge of the Child Program rules, protocols and handbooks guidelines. Maintain knowledge of children's stages of development and seek guidance from the nurse in charge when questions about the norms for the behavior related to child development arise. Assess patients for behaviors consistent with the developmental stages and make note of any deviations in behavior. Recognize acting out behavior of child specific age group and set appropriate limits in clear, concise, behavioral and non-judgmental terms based on the age of the patient. Demonstrate an awareness of learning disabilities and translates treatment/program expectations to the learning-disabled child. Relate to child patients in an age-appropriate manner. Utilize seclusion and restraint procedures with an understanding of the need of modification in regard to smaller body sizes of children, abandonment issues and the history of physical and/or sexual abuse.

Specific Standards for the Care of Adolescent Patients Ages 12 through 18

Maintain knowledge of the Adolescent Program rules, protocols and handbooks guidelines. Assess patients for behaviors consistent with the developmental stages and makes of any deviations in behavior. Recognize acting out behavior of adolescent specific age group and set appropriate limits in clear, concise, behavioral and non-judgement terms based on the age of the patient. Demonstrate an awareness of learning disabilities and translates treatment/program expectations to the learning-disabled adolescent. Relate to adolescent patients in an age-appropriate manner. Utilize seclusion and restraint procedures with an understanding of the need for modification in regard to smaller body sizes of adolescent, abandonment issues and the history of physical and/or sexual issues.

Specific Standards for the Care of Adult Patients Ages 19 through 64

Gather information from the patient, family and interdisciplinary team and use judgments based on knowledge of adult behaviors in treatment planning and interventions. Recognize behaviors and set appropriate limits in clear, concise, behaviors and non-judgement terms. Utilize seclusion/restraint procedures applicable to adult body size and past history of violent or emotional behaviors and/or history of physical and/or sexual abuse issues. Utilize theoretical concepts to guide the effective practice of adult care within Specific Standards of Care for this age group. Maintain knowledge of the Adult program rules, protocols and handbook guidelines.

Specific Standards for the Care of Geriatric Patients Ages 65 and Older

Maintain a knowledge of the developmental tasks and sociological theories of aging. Utilize theoretical concepts to guide the effective practice of gerontological health care and behavioral care. Gather the appropriate information from the patient, family and interdisciplinary team and use therapeutic judgments based on knowledge of gerontological health/behavioral care practices to develop a comprehensive plan of care.

Specific Standards for the Care of Chemically Dependent Patients

Knowledgeable of special patient needs as related to chemical dependency. Effectively collaborate with other chemical dependency staff professionals in facilitating the plan of care. Maintain an awareness of how personal issues relating the co-dependency can impact work performance/relationships.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of personal hygiene training techniques. Knowledge of all code procedures. Knowledge of psychiatric care techniques. Knowledge of assaultive behavior management techniques. Knowledge of admitting procedures. Knowledge of P.I.E. (problem, intervention, evaluation) charting. Skill in organizing and prioritizing workloads to meet deadlines. Skill in telephone etiquette and paging procedures. Effective oral and written communication skills. Ability to communicate effectively with patients and co-workers. Ability to adhere to safety policies and procedures. Ability to maintain confidentiality of information. Ability to work as a team player. Ability to demonstrate tact, resourcefulness, patience and dedication. Ability to accept direction and adhere to policies and procedures. Ability to recognize the importance of adapting to the various patient age groups (adolescent, adult and geriatric). Ability to participate in all aspects of patient care. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment. Ability to react calmly and effectively in emergency situations. Ability to operate a stethoscope competently.

Physical, Mental, and Special Demands

Must be able to hear sufficiently, with or without correction, to competently perform all essential job functions. Ability to stand, sit or walk up to six hours, sit for up to two hours. Ability to move frequently as necessary in the delivery of patient care. Visual acuity is needed for accurate reading of patient charts and for demonstrating activities or assisting patients in activities. Ability to spend 20% of the work day outdoors in temperatures varying form 30°-110°F and 80% of the work day indoors in temperatures varying from 60°-85° Ability to occasionally push or pull wheeled carts from 200 lbs. (i.e., crash cart, EKG machine, patient on stretchers or in wheelchairs). Ability to frequently lift and carry up to 10 lbs. (i.e. juices, charts, patient's belongings) and occasionally lift and carry up to 25 lbs. with assistance. Ability to frequently reach above, at or below shoulder height (to obtain supplies, reach in cabinets, use refrigerator), kneel, bend, stoop, turn, twist. Ability to frequently handle, through gross and fine manipulations, simple grasping, twisting and fingering of small objects (telephone buttons, thermometers with both hands). Ability to see well enough to read written material and discern a variety of odors. Ability to occasionally handle hazardous/infectious waste. Ability to work in an environment where the noise level is frequently high; where chemicals are frequently used for cleaning; where mechanical and electrical hazards may be occasionally present; and where dust, mist and steam are frequently generated in housekeeping tasks. The ability to competently and fully perform Handle with Care techniques is an essential position function. Must work every other weekend, both Saturday and Sunday, as required.