CNA/MENTAL HEALTH TECH (Days)

Job Type

Full-time

Description

The CNA / Mental Health Geriatric Tech is an entry level position applying principles and techniques of evaluation, therapeutic intervention, and treatment of patients. The CNA / MHT manages a safe and therapeutic environment for mental health patients.

Essential Duties

• Ability to transfer patients within the hospital environment and assist with bed mobility.
• Able to perform mental status evaluations to report to appropriate doctor to determine appropriate disposition.
• Able to effectively follow through with recommended dispositions.
• Actively participates in self development by attending educational programs and has completed annual hours of continuing education as required for assisted living regulations.
• Answer call lights in a timely and courteous manner.
• Assists to maintain MHU standards of safety and cleanliness within the therapeutic milieu.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the action and side effects of psychotropic medications.
• Documents observations, interventions, and progress towards planned outcomes according to charting standards.
• Ensures that group and milieu programming occurs as scheduled.
• Implements planned treatment interventions and documents patients' response.
• Monitors assigned patients and assists with their personal care needs.
• Observes patient's mental status and documents per MHU charting guidelines.
• Possesses the knowledge and skill required to evaluate patients' mental status to determine treatment needs / interventions.
• Provides orientation / reordination of residents to their environment and provides redirection as appropriate for residents level of understanding.
• Reports patient observations (assigned, group, milieu) to RN every shift.
• Serves as clinical partner to the nurse giving input into challenging care issues.
• Communicates creative ideas and methods to other team members for continuity.
• Take temperatures, pulse, respirations, B / P's, and measure and document I & O's.
• Assist patients with all aspects of ADL's.
• Understands and implements the principals of infection control, consistently using standard precautions and washes hands after each resident contact.
• Removes and disposes of gloves after each resident contact.
• Utilizes approved behavioral management techniques when appropriate.

Requirements

Preferred Experience

Required Licensure / Education

Preferred Education

College level courses in Psychology or related field preferred or Bachelor's Degree preferred.

Employee Health Requirements

Exposure :

Chemicals : Refer to MSDS sheets

Video Display Terminals : Average

Blood and Body Fluids : Diagnostic composite of patients, frequent contact with intravenous devices, and high potential for contact with contaminated body fluids (blood, stool, vomitus) and administration of blood does create a high risk. use of needleless IV system, universal precautions and protective equipment minimize risk.

TB or Airborne Pathogens : Patient diagnostic presentations do pose high risk; however, usage of protective wear, appropriate size TB mask from fit test and universal precautions reduces risk.

Sensory requirements (speech, vision, smell, hearing, touch) :

Speech : Required to communicate with patient / families / staff / doctors, coworkers, ancillary personnel and other department heads. Ability to ask for help.

Vision : Required to observe patients and their physical assessment, ability to read reports, ability to read machines.

Smell : Helpful to note presence of incontinence, vomitus, blood; electrical / fire safety.

Hearing : Necessary to hear alarms, calls for help and to hear patient verbalizations; ability to listen for lung, bowel, heart sounds.

Touch : Necessary to assess patients, need to distinguish between hot and cold.

Activity / Lifting Requirements :

Average Hours per Week : 6-40

Shift : Variable for 24-hour coverage

Percentage of time during the normal workday the employee is required to :

Sit : 10%

Twist : 4%

Stand : 40%

Crawl : 0%

Walk : 25%

Kneel : 1%

Lift : 10%

Drive : 0%

Squat : 1%

Climb : 1%

Bend : 30%

Reach above shoulders : 3%

The weight required to be lifted each normal workday according to the continuum described below :

Up to 10 lbs : Frequently

Up to 20 lbs : Frequently

Up to 35 lbs : Frequently

Up to 60 lbs : Occasionally

Up to 75 lbs : Not Required

Up to 100 lbs : Not Required

Over 100lbs : Not Required

Describe and explain the lifting and carrying requirements :

Lifting of patients off their beds that are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment.

Horizontal movement of patients to and from carts / beds who are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment.

Lifting equipment - carry 25'- 150' waist high (IV bags, patient trays).

Carry charts 25'- 150' waist high. Filled laundry bags are filled half full so as not to weigh over 35 lbs.

Carry fire extinguishers up or down 3-4 flights of stairs and several yards in an emergency.

Maximum consecutive time (minutes) during the normal workday for each activity :

Sit : 30

Twist : 15

Stand : 60

Crawl : 0

Walk : 10

Kneel : 0

Lift : 5

Drive : 0

Squat : 2

Climb : 1

Bend : 15

Reach above shoulders : 2

Repetitive use of hands (Frequency indicated) :

Simple grasp 10 lbs. Normal weight

Pushing & pulling - 50-200 lbs : Occasionally

Fine Manipulation : Typing in computer, medical / supply dispensing cabinet, using pens to chart, drawing up meds in syringe and administration, starting IV's.

Leg Strength :

Up to 50 lbs : Occasionally- (repetitive use of foot or feet in operating machine control : utilized in positioning beds during transport; x-ray, surgery or in an emergency situation from floor to floor, locking beds or cardiac chairs.)

Environmental Factors and Special Hazards :

Environmental Factors (Time Spent) :

Inside hours : 6-40

Outside hours : 0

Temperature : Normal Range

Lighting : Average

Noise levels : Average

Humidity : Normal Range

Atmosphere : Odors

Special Hazards :

Chemical -drugs / work with patients receiving chemotherapy-Explosive-oxygen; Radiation-cesium implants and radioactive iodine therapy direct radiation for radiology equipment; mechanical- use of Hoover lift bed scales, motorized wheelchairs, bathtub lift chair.

Protective Clothing Required : As required for chemotherapy or in cases of isolation, i.e. gloves, gowns, masks, goggles.

Salary Description

19.95 / hr - $23.89 / hr

Salary : $20 - $24