Mental Health Assistant I

Responsibilities

• Assist patients with personal care, including bathing, dressing, grooming, hydration, and belongings management.
• Perform clinical measurements such as vital signs and intake/output, documenting findings accurately.
• Ensure patient comfort and safety by following proper body mechanics, equipment use, and policies on restraints and monitoring techniques.
• Conduct frequent patient rounds to observe and anticipate needs.
• Support patients in unstructured activities to promote leisure and participation.
• Report patient or unit issues to supervising healthcare staff.
• Assist with ECT treatments, including equipment setup, patient transport, and post-procedure monitoring.
• Follow procedures for managing potentially violent or self-harming patients, including observation, seclusion, and restraints, maintaining safety protocols.
• Respond to emergency situations like Code Blue, utilizing verbal de-escalation and physical restraint techniques under supervision, and document accurately.
• Escort patients during transfers and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams for planning.
• Perform clerical duties, errands, housekeeping, and other unit tasks as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required; college courses in mental health or nursing preferred.
• Experience in healthcare settings or Nursing Assistant certification preferred.
• Work involves physical activity, exposure to cleaning solutions, and use of PPE, in environments serving all age groups.
• Access to patient information is restricted to Level 4 per HIPAA policies.