Mental Health Technician - Behavioral Health Unit - Full Time/Evenings - Req# 2117967252

## Description **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. 1. 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). 2. 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. 3. 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…