Mental Health Specialist, Full-Time, Day Shift, Jackson South

Responsibilities

• Performs patient care observations and duties as directed by the RN and outlined in the hospital's policies and procedures.
• Manages patient activities and provides patient education.
• Affords assistance in maintaining a therapeutic milieu in accordance with policy.
• Supervises patient activities in the milieu and responds/intervenes per protocol.
• Utilizes verbal de-escalation techniques and coping strategies to help reduce the risk of patients' disruptive and aggressive behavior.
• Identifies behaviors that may require seclusion, restraint, or other clinical intervention, and escalates to the primary nurse or nurse leader.
• Participates in the restraint and seclusion of patients according to hospital policy and procedures.
• Escorts and monitors patients during fresh air breaks.
• Performs a variety of tasks associated with generalized patient care including, vital signs, feeding, mobility, personal hygiene, bathing, dressing, bed making/linen changes, assists the health care team with preparing supplies, and sets up/or removes equipment.
• Utilizes specialized equipment as needed when providing patient care (glucometer, restraints etc.).
• Affords assistance in the preparation of patient treatment areas between patient use (seclusion room, quiet room), etc.
• Performs ongoing observations of patients and documents their status in the electronic observation record.
• Reports unusual findings to the primary nurse or the nurse leader.
• Maintains accurate precautionary monitoring (suicidal, violence, and elopement) q. 15 minutes; reports and records patient's physical and emotional whereabouts, activity, and behavior.
• Engages patients in daily activities, including group facilitation.
• Assists, as needed, in the preparation of patient treatment areas between patient use (seclusion room, quiet room), etc.
• Engages in culturally sensitive and developmentally appropriate interventions in order to work with patients from a variety of backgrounds and diverse populations.
• Assists with orientation of new employees, as needed.

Requirements

• Generally requires 0 to 3 years of related experience.
• High School diploma is required.
• Basic knowledge of psychiatric, psychological and medical terminologies and their clinical implications for treatment of patients.
• Ability to analyze, organize and prioritize work accurately while meeting multiple deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form.
• Ability to handle difficult and stressful situations with critical thinking and professional composure.
• Ability to understand and follow instructions.
• Ability to exercise sound and independent judgment.
• Knowledge and skill in use of job appropriate technology and software applications.
• Valid Florida Behavioral Health Technician Certification preferred.
• American Heart Association and any additional applicable life support certification for Healthcare Providers may be required at the unit level upon hire with at least 6 months validity and maintenance at JHS for the duration of employment.

Qualifications

• Must meet and maintain current all unit specific and organizational skills/competencies, certifications/licensures, as required by the nursing area.

Skills

• Basic knowledge of psychiatric, psychological and medical terminologies and their clinical implications for treatment of patients.
• Ability to analyze, organize and prioritize work accurately while meeting multiple deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form.
• Ability to handle difficult and stressful situations with critical thinking and professional composure.
• Ability to understand and follow instructions.
• Ability to exercise sound and independent judgment.
• Knowledge and skill in use of job appropriate technology and software applications.