Psychiatric Social Health Tech

About the Organization

NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan is the community hospital of choice for residents of East Harlem, northern Manhattan, and neighboring communities. The hospital provides culturally-sensitive care in a welcoming and hospitable setting, emphasizing primary care medicine and utilizing the latest advances in medical science. Metropolitan delivers high-quality health services with compassion, dignity, and respect to all, without exception.

Since its founding in 1875, the hospital has been affiliated with New York Medical College, representing the oldest partnership between a hospital and a private medical school in the United States. Metropolitan is part of NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest municipal hospital and health care system in the country. Every employee takes a person-centered approach that exemplifies the ICARE values (Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence) through empathic communication and partnerships between all persons.

About the Role

Under the direct supervision of a professional Nurse or other assigned professional staff member, this role performs functions related to assisting patients with activities of daily living and personal hygiene. The position participates as a member of a treatment, nursing, or health care team in implementing appropriate regimens for patients in Behavioral Health service areas.

Responsibilities

• Observes patient’s physical condition, mental state, and social behavior and reports to team leader or Nurse-in-charge; provides individual nursing care for patients who are acutely ill, either physically or emotionally.
• Participates in planning and implementing an orientation program for new patients.
• Gathers information for intake, social histories, referrals, and related purposes to augment understanding of cases.
• Participates in planning and implementing daily living activities on the ward for patients and contributes to the development of a therapeutic ward environment.
• Assists in planning and implementing therapeutic activities with groups of hospitalized psychiatric patients; encourages client involvement in individual and group activities as part of planned treatment programs.
• Assists with the physical care and personal hygiene of selected patients, including bathing, turning and positioning, skin care, passive and active range of motion, mouth care, foot care, nail care, and applying hot and cold packs.
• Assists patients with meal selection, feeds patients if necessary, delivers/removes trays, distributes water, nourishment, and ice.
• With successful completion of NYC Health + Hospitals program, assists the behavioral health team in the application and removal of restraints and the implementation of restraints/seclusion when deemed necessary by appropriate personnel, ensuring patient safety.
• On direction of a registered nurse or other professional staff member, escorts patients to required locations within and outside the health care setting.
• Takes patient vital signs when directed and enters data into the electronic medical record; performs finger stick tests.
• Changes linen and makes beds; keeps ward/unit, linen, utility, treatment, storage rooms, and recreational areas neat and orderly.
• Disinfects personal items with appropriate products when required.
• May perform functions and activities of the basic Nurse’s Aide in support of the above tasks and other related work as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or its educational equivalent, approved by a State’s Department of Education or a recognized accrediting organization.
• Successful completion of NYC Health + Hospitals training program in the application and use of restraints and seclusion prior to performing such work.
• Successful completion of NYC Health + Hospitals training in the performance of vital signs and grooming within ninety (90) calendar days of appointment.
• Holds or obtains a valid and current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) through the American Heart Association (AHA) within sixty (60) calendar days of appointment.