Mental Health Technician - Behavioral Health Unit - Full Time/Nights - Req#2047140484

Job Objective:

Under the direction of a registered nurse, provides direct patient care through the performance of a variety of non-professional patient care duties.

Duties and Responsibilities:

A. Provides interventions to meet the patient’s physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs as directed, or as specified, by the patient’s plan of care.

• Observes patients’ behavior and documents it in the patients’ medical record in a non-judgmental and professional manner, in addition to communicating observations to the designated licensed nurse (patient's assigned RN or charge nurse).
• Identifies patient needs/problems via accurate observation of the patient and recording those observations in the patient’s medical record and communicates these needs to the patient's RN/charge nurse.
• Documents in patients’ medical record in a competent, non-judgmental manner.

B. Provides appropriate structure for the patients via consistency and teamwork.

C. Acts as a role model for patients through active participation in the program activities and/or sessions.

C. Prevents contamination and/or transfer of infection by use of Exposure Control Plan and Standard Precautions in daily work

D. Provides assistance to patients in need of help with activities of daily living, such as personal hygiene needs (bathing, dressing, shaving, brushing teeth and hair); feeding patients.

• Obtains specimens from patients as instructed.
• Implements therapeutic modalities, including measurement of intake and output, monitoring patient vital signs, feeding patients, etc.

E. Formulates patient care needs based upon integration of assessments in the medical record, under the direction of a Registered Nurse

F. Accompanies patients on fresh air breaks/outside the unit and maintains constant observation of assigned patients in the group at the time

G. Assists in maintenance of a safe, comfortable and therapeutic environment. Responds to Code Greys within the hospital dependent on needs of the unit

H. Demonstrates knowledge regarding special needs and behaviors of age specific groups.

• Participates in age specific educational and training programs.
• Demonstrates proficiency in required age specific competencies
• Gathers information from outside sources and integrates it with patient’s own statements.
• Elicits information and other data from the patient with appropriate questioning.
• Identifies patient information needs and satisfies those needs on both an individual and group basis.

J. Recognizes and intervenes in admission and discharge needs of the patient in coordination with the interdisciplinary treatment team.

K. Acts as a back-up for telephonic crisis calls

Non-Essential Duties:

• Assists in special projects/assignments, as needed
• Assists in the orientation of other new staff members, as assigned
• Participates in department task forces, teams, and committees

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge

• Knowledge of basic crisis intervention and listening skills normally acquired through 1 year of experience on a crisis line or handling crisis calls

Skills

• Skill in communicating in an empathetic manner
• Skill in handling crisis calls on the unit phone
• Skill in performing basic mathematical calculations and understands basic scientific principles as generally acquired through the completion of the requirements for a high school diploma or equivalent

Abilities

• Supports and adheres to the mission statement and values established by the Mental Health Services Department
• Ability to assist the Registered Nurse during a crisis situation.
• Ability to read, write and learn at a level generally achieved by a high school graduate or the equivalent
• Ability to be flexible in meeting the staffing requirements and needs of the department and its patients
• Ability to understand and follow written and verbal instructions
• Ability to gather information from outside sources and complete required paperwork
• Ability to integrate information obtained from outside sources with patient statements
• Ability to satisfy patient educational needs, both on an individual as well as a group basis
• Ability to recognize patient admission and/or discharge needs and communicate those needs to the Registered Nurse on a consistent basis
• Ability to formulate patient care needs
• Ability to formulate a patient behavioral contract
• Ability to elicit information and other data from the patient with appropriate questions and communication style
• Ability to chart in the patients’ medical records in a timely, competent, non-judgmental manner. Charting is legible and understandable.
• Ability to perform audits of charts as assigned in a competent manner

Core Competencies: All AVH employees will effectively demonstrate these behaviors:

Accountability

Action Oriented

Customer Focused

Compassion

Effective Communication

Teamwork

Ethics & Values

Integrity & Trust

Education and Experience:

Education

• Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) certification preferred, but not required

Experience

• Has worked as a Mental Health Technician for a one (1) year period of time, or equivalent experience

Required Licensure and/or Certifications:

• High school graduate or the equivalent
• Restraint Certification within 6 months of hire date; recertification annually
• Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Certification within 6 months of hire date; recertification annually
• Biannual CPR Certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support prior to hire

AVH Conduct/Compliance Expectations:

• Ability to adhere with AVH Absenteeism and Tardiness Policy
• Ability to adhere with AVH Leaves of Absence Policy
• Ability to adhere with AVH Paid Time Off (PTO) Policy
• Ability to adhere with AVH Recording of Hours Worked Policy
• Ability to adhere to the department dress code
• Ability to organize work and establish priorities
• Ability to expand on own initiative in performance of duties
• Skill and ability to follow the telephone etiquette/standards
• Conforms to AVH Standards of Excellence
• Ability to function effectively under pressure and meet time parameters
• Ability to communicate effectively while maintaining good working relationships with co-workers, managers and other hospital staff
• Ability to adhere to the normal standards of courtesy and conduct as defined under the rules of hospitality at AVH
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of patient, hospital and department information
• Ability to adhere to safety rules and regulations
• Safely and effectively uses all equipment necessary to carry out duties
• Ability to interpret and function under hospital and department policies and procedures
• Conforms with required and appropriate JCAHO requirements
• Conforms with and supports hospital quality assurance and improvement guidelines
• Ability to participate effectively in department and hospital staff education
• Display a willingness to work as a team player
• Ability to give and support the highest level of patient/customer satisfaction at all times
• Supports and adheres to the values and mission statement established by the AVH Board of Directors
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the Compliance & Integrity Program and its requirements; complies with duty to report behavior standard; demonstrates understanding of purpose for a Compliance hotline and the importance of seeking guidance from a supervisor or the Compliance Officer when in doubt regarding a possible compliance issue
• Ability to follow the Code of Business Conduct (Standards of Business Ethics and Integrity)

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Work is performed in the sometimes hectic and changeable atmosphere of the MHS Department.
• On occasion will be called upon to assist with the physical management of assaultive behavior.

A detailed description of the physical requirements of this job is maintained in the Employee Health Department.

Education and Experience:

Education

• Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) certification preferred, but not required

Experience

• Has worked as a Mental Health Technician for a one (1) year period of time, or equivalent experience

Required Licensure and/or Certifications:

• High school graduate or the equivalent
• Restraint Certification within 6 months of hire date; recertification annually
• Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Certification within 6 months of hire date; recertification annually
• Biannual CPR Certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support prior to hire