Milieu Counselor

Summary

The Milieu Counselor is a member of the multidisciplinary team who, under the supervision of a Registered Nurse, is responsible for a safe and structured service as well as attending to the individual needs of patients in crisis on an inpatient psychiatric setting. The Milieu Counselor provides quality patient care according to The CHA standards of nursing practice to assess, plan, implement, evaluate, and document that care and to develop professionally.

Responsibilities

• Performs specific nursing care under the supervision of staff nurse. Delivers care according to the Nursing Department Standard of Care.
• Accurately takes and records patients’ B/P, TPR and weight. Notifies RN of changes in vital signs.
• Affords assistance to patient in maintaining nutritional and hydration needs, monitors and assists with elimination needs as appropriate for the patient’s age, development and physical status.
• Accurately measures and documents patient’s input and output as needed. Provides constant observation, when needed, as directed by the Registered Nurse.
• Assists patients in following through with ADLs (i.e. bathing, laundry, organizing room), as appropriate for the patient’s age, development, and clinical needs.
• Communicates accurately and in a timely manner via verbal reports to the charge nurse and other members of the clinical team, written reports, and the electronic medical record as appropriate and required by unit procedure.
• Performs appropriate daily documentation. Enters progress notes, group notes, vital signs, patient belonging information, and other data as indicated or assigned, into the medical record.
• Collaborates with the primary nurse/charge nurse regarding implementation of a patient’s daily plan.
• Participates as a member of an interdisciplinary team. Shares observations of patient behavior in clinical meetings. Attends nursing staff meetings and team meetings when scheduled. Participates in unit based Quality Improvement Plans. Attends meetings and participates in committees as required.
• Participates in unit monitoring and unit safety. Follows unit safety maintenance and checks procedures at all times, and demonstrates accurate and timely documentation of safety checks surveillance, and close observation. Knowledgeable about hospital fire and safety procedures and completes annual reviews. Maintains current BLS certification for Healthcare Providers. Has completed training, and is able to act appropriately in a physical hold/restraint procedure. Familiar with DMH guidelines and regulations on restraint and seclusion of children and adolescents. Understands and implements the Physical Hold Restraint Policy when indicated.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the principles of caring for patients across the lifespan and trauma informed care. Participates as an integral member of the unit-based group treatment program team. Leads and co-leads a variety or groups as assigned by the nurse manager/charge nurse. Reviews and follows the nursing care plan for each patient assigned to him/her. Demonstrates initiative in establishing relationships with patients through walks, group activities, individual meetings and activities, etc. Demonstrates availability to patients and active engagement in the development and maintenance of the therapeutic milieu. Demonstrates appropriate use of collaboration, negotiation, limit setting and other strategies to promote a positive learning experience for the child and adolescent patient. Works with individual patients to plan and utilize milieu therapeutically. Incorporates the principles of trauma informed care and strength-based approaches to formulations and care. Learns from work experience, colleagues, and supervision, and applies new knowledge to further develop skills.
• Complies with all policies and procedures of the Cambridge Health Alliance. Follows Hospital and Department of Nursing policies and procedures. Delivers care according to the Nursing Department’s Standards of Care. Complies with the Alliance policy on confidentiality of information regarding patients, families and coworkers. Identifies the unique needs and implements appropriate interventions for the Pediatric, Adolescent, Geriatric and Adult patient populations. Integrates growth and development needs into the delivery of patient care for the population served. Uses communication methods appropriate for the patient’s developmental stage and/or as appropriate to the age of the patient. Assesses the patient’s ability to follow directions for the completion of treatment, and makes adjustments as appropriate. In collaboration with the multidisciplinary team, identifies and manages any special issues, concerns and risks for the patient population. Performs other related duties as assigned or directed. Completes annual educational requirements and in-service training as required.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma required; B.A, B.S., or M.A. preferred or equivalent years human service experience.
• Certification (BLS).
• Human Services experience preferred.
• Newly hired candidates are required to successfully complete a job specific agility test.

Other Information

In keeping with federal, state and local laws, Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) policy forbids employees and associates to discriminate against anyone based on race, religion, color, gender, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. We are committed to establishing and maintaining a workplace free of discrimination. We are fully committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not tolerate unlawful discrimination in the recruitment, hiring, termination, promotion, salary treatment or any other condition of employment or career development. Furthermore, we will not tolerate the use of discriminatory slurs, or other remarks, jokes or conduct, that in the judgment of CHA, encourages or permits an offensive or hostile work environment.