Behavioral Health Technician - Post-Surgical Unit * Days (7a-3p) - 8hrs/wk

Shift: Days (7a-3p), 0.2 FTE, weekends required

About the role

The Behavioral Health Technician assists the nursing staff by providing continual observation of the patient to maintain patient safety, ensures safety of the patient and patient environment, and interacts appropriately with patients. Under the direction and supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN), the behavioral health technician assists nursing staff in providing basic nursing care to patients and assisting with activities of daily living.

Requirements

• High School diploma required
• Ability to communicate appropriately with staff and patients
• Knowledgeable of infection prevention including hand hygiene and standard precautions
• Demonstrates knowledge of and respect for patient rights and confidentiality
• Basic computer operation skills
• Completion of behavioral health education/training within 90 days of hire

Responsibilities

• Patient Safety: Continuously observe patients and report behavior changes, problems, or difficulties to nursing staff in a timely and effective manner. Monitors patient environment at all times to ensure safety. Attempt to redirect, notify nursing, or push stat alarm for any patient on fall precautions attempting to independently get out of bed, wheelchair, or chair. Intervenes should a patient be in an at-risk situation for a fall.
• Activity and Comfort: Assist with activity and provide for comfort, including making unoccupied beds, assisting with occupied beds, turning and positioning patients, and transferring patients using chairs, wheelchairs, slideboards, stretchers, cardiac chairs, and lifts.
• Hygiene: Assist with hygiene activities, including washing patient’s hands and face, combing hair, and assisting with complete baths.
• Nutrition: Assist patients with nutrition and offer fluids as ordered to maintain hydration. Set up trays, feed patients who are not at risk for aspiration, and notify the RN if the patient is having problems eating.
• Elimination: Assist patients with elimination needs, including giving urinals and bedpans, emptying them, documenting amounts, and assisting patients with bedside commodes (if not at increased risk for falls).
• Equipment: Use equipment and supplies safely and appropriately.
• Infection Prevention: Function to prevent the spread of infection by using effective hand hygiene, adhering to universal/standard precautions, caring for patients with special isolation precautions, and handling linen appropriately.
• Documentation: Document care given, mental health precautions flow sheet, behavioral changes, and other items as directed by the RN.
• Communication: Communicate effectively using the telephone and Vocera system, report observations to the RN, keep the RN informed of care delivered, notify the RN when family is present, and maintain patient confidentiality. Work with the interdisciplinary team to develop and implement the plan of care.
• Orientation: Successfully complete department-specific core competencies as defined in the Behavioral Health Technician Initial Competency Evaluation.
• Miscellaneous: Talk with patients, read to patients, reorient patients to time, place, and self. Perform other tasks appropriate to scope of practice as delegated by the RN. Actively participate in maintaining a clean, safe, and efficient work environment. Attend and participate in meetings and in-services related to the job description. Maintain a current knowledge base of department processes, protocols, and procedures, pursue self-directed learning and continuing education, and participate on committees, task forces, and work groups as determined by management.