Mental Health Technician - General Adult Unit - Full Time Days

About the Role

Our team members are the heart of what makes us better. At Hackensack Meridian Health, we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members who keep getting better, advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.

Responsibilities

• Provide patient care, based on physical, psychosocial, educational, safety, and related criteria, appropriate to the age of the guests/patients served in the assigned service.
• Provide for effective and safe guest/patient outcomes through practice, judgment, and critical actions.
• Ongoing communication with patients, nursing colleagues, and other members of the health care team regarding the patient's status and rendered care.
• Take self-directed or self-motivated initiative to do more than is expected or required in the job.
• Participate in interdisciplinary collaboration of our patients' plan of care from admission to ensure safe transitioning and continuum of care.
• Participate in Unit/Department Performance Improvement (PI) activities.
• Welcomes patients and completes initial triage in collaboration with the admissions triage nurse coordinator and/or admissions specialist.
• Participates in the orientation of patients to the unit/area and develops rapport with patients, family members, and significant others.
• Prepares the patient for assessment/admission, physical examination, and procedures.
• Participates in patient search at admission, upon return from pass, or as clinically indicated, under the direction of a Registered Nurse consistent with network policy.
• Recognizes and responds to opportunities to enhance patient satisfaction.
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skill necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of patients on the unit.
• Observes and reports patients' conditions, behavior, reaction to treatment, and complaints to the nurse, psychiatrist, and/or other advanced practice professional.
• Obtains clinical data, including temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, O2 saturation, and documents findings in the patient record; notifies the RN immediately of abnormal results.
• Draws intravenous or capillary blood as needed from newborn through geriatric-aged patients using proper aseptic collection techniques; ensures appropriate labeling and processing of specimens.
• Performs venipuncture for laboratory tests as needed.
• Follows through with designated responsibilities in collecting, labeling, and transporting specimens to the proper area at the appropriate time.
• Performs EKG for patients as needed and directed.
• Assures the presence, functionality, and cleanliness of all necessary equipment.
• Applies bandages, slings, compression boots, and hypothermia blankets according to standard, as needed and directed by the RN.
• Provides support to the psychiatry consultation liaison service by organizing the setup of equipment and direct observation of the patient and equipment during the consultation via telehealth.
• Assists in the transport of patients to departments or units upon request.
• Provides 1:1 direct observation as needed to monitor safety.
• Assists in the seclusion, restraint, and monitoring of agitated patients under the direction of the RN.
• Documents data on seclusion, restraint, precaution, and 15-minute check sheets in line with the network restraint policy.
• Performs 15-minute safety checks and documents data.
• Assists with preparation as necessary, ensuring the patient is assisted with meals or fed as needed.
• Checks inventory of assigned area and restocks as directed by RN.
• Ensures the room environment is prepared for admission, specifically for behavioral health patients.
• Provides direct hygiene and comfort care to patients, including bathing, toileting, oral hygiene, incontinent care, and bed making.
• Assists patients with dressing/undressing as needed and places patient belongings in the appropriate bag labeled with the completed property checklist.
• Inspects all clothing/property brought to patients during visiting hours and ensures prohibited material is not brought into the hospital.
• Monitors the return of clothing to the patient's family.
• Performs and documents glucose finger sticks and collects other specimens as needed and directed.
• Provides post-mortem care as directed.
• Facilitates group clinical treatment activities, as directed.
• Obtains and documents patient weights and observes and documents the patient's intake and output.
• Provides a safe patient environment by answering call lights promptly and communicating with the RN immediately for any change in the patient's condition.
• Identifies the needs of the patient population served and modifies and delivers care specific to those needs (e.g., age, culture, language, hearing, and/or visually impaired).
• Ensures that paperwork and electronic records are completed accurately and within procedural time limits.
• Answers incoming calls promptly and courteously, routing calls efficiently.
• Responds to and manages emergency codes (e.g., Traumas, Fires, Disasters) according to established procedures.
• Provides information regarding patient location, visiting hours, hospital departments and services, on-call schedules, and directory assistance.
• Operates the paging system upon request for overhead on-ground and off-ground.
• Operates and maintains communication systems and computer-based databases, troubleshooting issues and reporting malfunctions.
• Keeps all console log books and manuals updated.
• Maintains accurate records and documentation, including call logs, emergency reports, and database updates.
• Monitors Zero Eyes hardware and calls emergency alerts as necessary.
• Manages fleet vehicle logs and completes sign-out of vehicles.
• Greets visitors, registers their arrival, and provides visitor credentials.
• Provides directions to destinations and orientation to the facility and grounds layout.
• Notifies units of families or significant others who have arrived to pick up discharging patients.
• Other duties and/or projects as assigned.
• Adheres to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.

Physical Demands

• Long periods of sitting with frequent standing, walking, or moving.
• Requires periods of keying on the computer terminal to input information.
• Requires constant verbal communication in person or using the phone.
• Exposure to communicable diseases.
• Lifting more than 35 pounds.
• Extended wearing of PPE.
• Application of a surgical mask for long periods of time.

Requirements

• High School diploma, general equivalency diploma (GED), and/or GED equivalent programs.
• Ability to learn quickly and adapt to changing patient needs.
• Strong sense of accountability for improving the lives of our patients and their caregivers.
• Exceptional focus on teamwork and dedication to ongoing education.
• Ability and passion to deliver the highest quality of care and service based on a strong sense of patient focus.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient computer skills that include but are not limited to Google Suite and/or Microsoft Office platforms.

Qualifications

• Experienced or certified in phlebotomy and checking EKG, vital signs, and blood sugar (preferred).
• At least one (1) year of PCT, MHT, CNA, or other behavioral health experience in a hospital setting is strongly preferred.
• Experience with behavioral health patients (preferred).
• Certified Nursing Assistant, Certified Medical Assistant, Mental Health Technician, or Patient Care Technician who has successfully completed a PCT program which includes Phlebotomy, EKG, and nursing assistant course both in the theoretical and clinical setting (preferred).

Licenses and Certifications

• AHA Basic Health Care Life Support HCP Certification within 60 days of entering the position.

Pay

HMH is committed to pay equity and transparency for our team members. The posted rate of pay in this job posting is a reasonable good faith estimate of the minimum base pay for this role at the time of posting in accordance with the New Jersey Pay Transparency Act. The starting rate of pay is provided for informational purposes only and is not a guarantee of a specific offer. Posted hourly rates may be stated as an annual salary in the offer and posted annual salaries may be stated as an hourly rate in the offer, depending on the level and nature of the job duties and credentials of the candidate.

The base compensation determined at the time of the offer may be different than the posted rate of pay based on labor market data, experience, education and certifications, skills, geographic location, internal equity, budget and grant funding.

Certain positions may also be eligible for shift differentials for work performed on evening, night, or weekend shifts. In addition to our compensation for full-time and part-time (20+ hours/week) job positions, HMH offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance.