Mental Health Technician - Acute Psychiatric Adult - Lake Charles, LA

Summary

Performs clinical duties as delegated by RN and within the scope of this job description and training.

Responsibilities

Behavioral Expectations

• Genesis modules completed by assigned date.
• Fulfill Goal requirements.
• Attend majority of mandatory meetings throughout the year, including, but not limited to staff meetings and direct connects.

Job Specific Activities

• Standard I: Associate demonstrates competence in the performance of duties and responsibilities related to the application of Christus St. Patrick Hospital’s Core Values:
• Dignity/Integrity:
• Maintains confidentiality of information as required
• Conducts and presents self in a professional manner
• Respects the culture and ethnic heritage of others
• Demonstrated honesty consistently in all relationships
• Follows the Christus Health Guidelines related to Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA), designed to prevent or detect unauthorized disclosure of Protected Health Information (PHI)
• Excellence:
• Accepts constructive criticism and modifies actions accordingly
• Seeks opportunity for professional and personal growth
• Actively seeks ways to improve level of performance/service
• Stewardship:
• Flexible and adaptive to changes in work processes and functions
• Support department objectives and the Strategic Plan of the hospital
• Uses resources/assets in a cost effective manner
• Notifies appropriate personnel of facility’s needs or issues
• Compassion:
• Assists others in completing tasks or duties effectively
• Responds to needs/requests of others in a caring and timely manner
• Open to different ideas and alternatives to solutions
• Standard II. Patient Safety and Security:
• Maintains continuous alertness and response to patient safety issues and participates in maintaining a safe and secure patient care environment:
• Uses patient identifiers as defined by policy
• Makes rounds to assure patient safety and satisfaction
• Maintains falls precautions
• Performs complete hand-off communication clearly and effectively
• Provides emergency assistance within the defined role
• Maintains a hazard-free work environment
• Maintains unit security
• Participates in emergency and disaster plans
• Complies with regulatory agency guidelines/rules
• Standard III. Regulatory Compliance, Confidentiality and Patient Rights:
• Adheres to Christus policies and procedures and the standards of DNV, OSHA, DHH, HIPAA, etc:
• Maintains infection control standards by using proper isolation techniques, handwashing and standard precautions
• Provides privacy and maintenance of confidentiality
• Promotes patients right to make personal choices to accommodate their needs and be free from abuse, mistreatment and neglect, reporting any instances of maltreatment to appropriate personnel
• Gives assistance in resolving grievances and disputes
• Provides needed assistance in getting to and participating in patient and family meetings and other activities
• Maintains care and security of patient’s personal possessions
• Works with nursing staff to reduce need for restraints
• Screens telephone calls and visitor requests to protect patient confidentiality
• Restricts access to patient information (e.g., charts, computers, etc.)
• Demonstrates knowledge of informed consent
• Recognizes age, diversity specific needs/issues of customers served
• Standard IV. Communication:
• Communicates with patient/family/staff members in ways that demonstrate:
• Responsiveness to verbal and behavioral patient communication
• Awareness of age-specific needs and developmental tasks
• Sensitivity and openness for allowing the patient to make personal choices
• Reinforcement of the patient plan of care and education goals, e.g. use of incentive spirometer, frequent ambulation, NPO status, etc.
• The ability to involve the patient/family as a source of emotional support
• Communicates with team members demonstrating:
• Prompt reporting of changes in patient condition
• Timely awareness & reporting of clinical and equipment alarms
• Appropriate access to the chain-of-command
• Collaboration with the multidisciplinary team
• Proper telephone etiquette
• Performs communication using various technology applications:
• Communicates with patients and staff via intercom
• Standards V. Professional Development:
• Maintains responsibility for learning needs and remains current on all aspects of the nursing assistant role:
• Attends inservices, department, staff or other required meetings
• Reviews facility specific publications, memos, policies and other job related publications
• Standard VI. Patient Care Tasks:
• Performs basic nursing skills competently and in accordance with Christus policies and procedures following initial competence validation:
• Taking, recording and reporting vital signs
• Taking, recording and reporting other clinical measurements such as pulse oximetry. Measuring, recording and reporting height/weight, nutritional and fluid intake/output
• Recognizing and reporting abnormal changes in body functioning
• Care of catheters, colostomies and ileostomies within scope of practice
• Specimen collection and delivery
• Using appropriate moving and lifting techniques and equipment
• Caring for the dying patient including post-mortem care
• Performs patient care skills needed to assure patient comfort and safety:
• Bathing, grooming (mouth care, shaving, hair care) and dressing
• Toileting, walking and skin care
• Tray distribution and assisting with eating (proper feeding techniques and aspiration precautions) and hydration
• Transferring, positioning, turning and encouraging range of motion
• Recording patient care activities
• Assisting with transporting patients
• Assisting with admission, transfer and/or discharge processes including securing assistive devices and personal effects
• Performs delegated tasks
• Participates in care of the patient environment and equipment:
• Maintains cleanliness of room and bedside area
• Replenishes water, linen, towels, etc.
• Standard VII. Business Literacy:
• Ensures effective use of supplies

Requirements

Education/Skills

• High School Diploma required

Experience

• 1 year of mental health technician experience preferred.

Licenses, Registrations or Certifications

• BLS required.
• Current de-escalation training or completion within 90 days of employment with annual recertification.

Work Schedule:

MULTIPLE SHIFTS AVAILABLE

Work Type:

Full Time