Mental Health Technician

Responsibilities

• Takes and documents vital signs, weight, height, abdominal girth
• Assists with all aspects of direct patient care including providing personal care and hygiene and blood glucose testing
• Observes and documents patient's condition and behavior every 15 minutes per policy and reports significant changes including observed side effects of medications to the assigned RN
• Participates actively by providing input for interdisciplinary treatment team meetings; provides feedback concerning patient responses, problems, and progress; provides alternative plans for patients who are deemed inappropriate for typical groups offered
• Maintains and updates patients' records including; belongings inventories, patient food intake, observation, and vital signs documentation
• Reports all abnormal findings to assigned RN
• Maintains therapeutic communication with patient. Gives re-direction and/or reality re-orientation as needed
• Maintains a safe and therapeutic patient environment
• Performs and documents patient safety rounds/ room checks following unit policy and procedure
• Monitors for suicide/ homicide/elopement behaviors and reports them to RN immediately
• Responds to codes calmly and professionally
• Adheres to the principles of non-violent crisis intervention when dealing with aggressive patients
• Assists in placing patient in seclusion/ restraint and observes suicide/ seclusion precaution
• Provides care to patients in seclusion/ restraint including but not limited to: Assists with transport, transfer, and discharge of patient including the care of personal property and labeling. Accompany patients to Baker Act court and off-unit tests or treatment as necessary.
• Conducts patient belonging inventory upon admission and documents in the appropriate form. Checks packages brought in by visitors. Advises RN when contraband are found during inventory.
• Ensures that all patient meal requests are received in a timely manner
• Ensures that patients are wearing clean, safe, and appropriate clothing on unit
• Makes sure patient laundry needs are met
• Recognizes signs and symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol or other substances and reports to RN
• Attends at least 75% of scheduled departmental meetings and in-service programs

Qualifications

• Behavioral Health Technician certification- preferred
• Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Certificate within 90 days of employment
• CPR Certification required
• High School Diploma or equivalent preferred
• At least 1 year exp. caring for mentally ill and emotionally disturbed adult patients preferred