Behavioral Health Specialist Emergency Department

About the Role

As a Behavioral Health Specialist in the Emergency Department at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center (BTMC) in Glendale, Arizona, you will provide direct care to psychiatric patients under the direction of a registered nurse. This role is part of a 56-bed Behavioral Health Unit that cares for a wide range of mental health diagnoses, including patients with co-morbidities requiring acute medical care. BTMC is a premier West Valley Level I Trauma Center for adults and a Tertiary Care destination for all ages, recognized for excellence in surgical, oncological, cardiovascular, neuroscience, orthopedic, pediatric, and women and infant services.

Responsibilities

• Provide basic nursing care, including technical monitoring, taking vital signs, and physical care.
• Orient patients to the treatment setting and assist with activities of daily living as needed.
• Review and participate in the implementation of the patient treatment plan.
• Conduct rounds, monitor patient activities, physical and mental status, and report to nursing staff.
• Check patient belongings for contraband and conduct patient safety monitoring activities such as observational checks.
• Document observations, interventions, and group activities in the patient medical record while maintaining confidentiality.
• Assist in maintaining a safe, orderly, and therapeutic environment.
• Maintain patient safety and protect patient rights through observation and reporting of behaviors, communications, and interactions.
• Recognize and intervene in situations where patients are behaving aggressively or pose a danger to themselves or others, including participating in restraint or seclusion as needed.
• Assess and interact therapeutically with patients and families, promoting dignity, independence, and respect for cultural diversity.
• Plan and facilitate social and didactic group activities, and participate in other rehabilitation and treatment programs.
• Maintain knowledge of behavioral disorders, medications, and their side effects relevant to the patient group.
• Assist in the admission, discharge, and transfer process of patients, completing required documentation.
• Work under moderate supervision, interacting with clinical staff, multidisciplinary teams, patients, families, and physicians.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in a behavioral health-related field OR High School diploma or equivalent with 1 year of direct patient care in an inpatient behavioral health setting.
• Experience should include:
  • Assisting with personal grooming and activities of daily living.
  • Conducting educational, recreational, and skills groups.
  • Creating and maintaining an inpatient therapeutic milieu.
  • Maintaining observation precautions and applying non-violent de-escalation interventions in crisis situations.
  • Recognizing symptoms of mental illness (e.g., depression, psychosis, mood dysregulation, substance abuse, anxiety).
  • Understanding how symptoms relate to mental illness diagnoses and providing appropriate treatment interventions.
• Competence in building therapeutic rapport, developing collaborative relationships with multidisciplinary teams, and using de-escalation techniques.
• Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card required for employees working in behavioral health clinical settings serving children (must be maintained for the duration of employment).
• Arizona Criminal History Affidavit required upon hire.
• State of Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card required for Banner Staffing (BSS) Behavioral Health roles in Arizona.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
• Must meet age requirements as specified by state agency.

Schedule

Full-time day shift: 6:00 AM – 6:30 PM, 3 (12-hour) shifts per week, with rotating weekends and holidays. Weekend shift differential of $1/hour. Self-scheduling tool available.

Benefits

Banner Health offers a variety of benefits to support health and financial security, including:

• Health and financial security options.

Pay

Competitive pay structure with a weekend shift differential of $1/hour.