Job Description
Brief 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: - 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.
- Provides appropriate structure for the patients via consistency and teamwork.
- Acts as a role model for patients through active participation in the program activities and/or sessions.
- Prevents contamination and/or transfer of infection by use of Exposure Control Plan and Standard Precautions in daily work
- 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.
- Formulates patient care needs based upon integration of assessments in the medical record, under the direction of a Registered Nurse
- Accompanies patients on fresh air breaks/outside the unit and maintains constant observation of assigned patients in the group at the time
- Assists in maintenance of a safe, comfortable and therapeutic environment. Responds to Code Greys within the hospital dependent on needs of the unit
- 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.
- 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.
Requirements 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
Job Tags
Contract work, Flexible hours,