Mental Health Specialist - Short Term Unit: Depression & Anxiety

Job Summary

Under direction of the Registered Nurse, the MHS provides direct patient care and participates in therapeutic milieu.

Responsibilities

• Accurate and timely documentation of AFS, progress notes, and observation sheets
• Establishes therapeutic relationships with patients, maintaining professional boundaries
• Participates in patient rounds or teams
• Completes patient care assignments
• Identifies patient behaviors that contribute to the development of a crisis; utilizes non-verbal and verbal techniques to de-escalate crisis situation
• Intervenes in managing complex patient situations and patient schedules, utilizing department policies and procedures, always promoting the least restrictive alternatives
• Communicates changes in patient status to RN
• Follows Standards of Care and protocols for assigned patients
• Remains awake and alert at all times while on the job
• Performs Point of Care testing (POC)
• Works effectively in the therapeutic milieu
• Participates in planning and implementation of patient groups
• Provides and supervises recreation and other off-hall activities according to needs
• Provides patients with direction, support, and supervision as needed
• Follows established Nursing policies, procedures, and protocols
• Performs a milieu assessment while assigned to checks, particularly attuned to safety concerns
• Participates in the maintenance of the unit environment to ensure safe care
• Identifies and reports house cleaning problems to Unit Secretary/ND
• Identifies and reports equipment problems to Unit Secretary/ND
• Participates in the unit's inventory system, reporting when supplies are low
• Initiates activities that assist patients in maintaining a clean environment
• Initiates activities that promote an organized, safe patient and staff environment
• Assists patients in their activities of daily living
• Identifies patient hygiene needs; initiates and implements interventions to meet these needs
• Provides for patients' nutritional needs according to unit procedure
• Assists and reassures patients during tests, exams, and procedures
• Escorts and supervises patients on and off ground, maintaining patient safety
• Maintains a commitment to professional growth and competency
• Completes mandatory in-service requirements
• Identifies areas of strengths and areas in need of professional development with supervisor
• Maintains competency for treating age-specific patient populations
• Seeks constructive feedback, regarding work performance, from peers and professional colleagues
• Participates in critical incident de-briefing

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or Equivalent required
• One year of clinical experience, preferably in a psychiatric setting (1-2 years preferred)
• Previous experience in direct patient care preferred

Skills

• Verbal and written communication skills, and ability to work in collaboration with others
• Must complete and pass Epic training within 30 days of hire
• Successful passing (80% or higher) of Epic training modules(s) is a minimum requirement of the job

Additional Job Details

The Short Term Unit (AB1 North & South) focuses on depression, anxiety, suicidality, self-injurious behavior, trauma, and personality disorders. We also commonly see comorbid substance use disorder, OCD, and eating disorders. Our patient interactions/interventions are therapeutic, highly interpersonal, and skills-based.

Pay

$22.40 - $29.73/Hourly

Schedule

Night shift, 40 hours per week