Psychiatric/Social Health Technician

About the role

Elmhurst Hospital Center (EHC) is the major tertiary care provider in the borough of Queens. The hospital is comprised of 545 beds and is a Level I Trauma Center, an Emergency Heart Care Station and a 911 Receiving Hospital. It is the premiere health care organization for key areas such as Surgery, Cardiology, Women's Health, Pediatrics, Rehabilitation Medicine, Renal and Mental Health Services. At NYC Health + Hospitals, our mission is to deliver high quality care health services, without exception. 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.

Responsibilities

• Observes patient's physical condition, mental state and social behavior and reports to team leader or Nurse-in-charge and 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 which would augment the 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 and encourages client involvement in various individual and group activities as part of planned treatment programs.
• Assists with the physical care and personal hygiene of selected patients, consisting of, but not limited to: bathing, turning and positioning, skin care, passive and active range of motion, mouth care, foot care, nail care, applying hot and cold packs, etc.
• Assists patients with meal selection and feeds patients if necessary, delivers/removes trays, distributes water, nourishment, ice, etc.
• With successful completion of NYC Health + Hospitals program, assists behavioral health team in the application and removal of restraints and the implementation of restraints/seclusion, when deemed necessary by appropriate personnel, ensuring the physical and emotional health and safety of the patient when using such methods.
• On the direction of a registered nurse or other professional staff member, either individually or as part of behavioral health team may escort patient to required location(s), within and outside of the health care setting.
• Takes patient vital signs, when directed to do so by clinical staff, and enters patient vital sign data into the electronic medical record performs finger stick tests.
• Changes linen and makes beds.
• Keeps ward and/or unit, linen, utility, treatment, storage rooms and recreational areas in a neat and orderly fashion.
• Disinfects personal items with appropriate disinfectant 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 must be completed prior to an individual 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 to the title.
• 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 to the title.