Psychiatric Technician, 6 Ridgeway, PRN-AFSCME

About the Role

UC Health is hiring a PRN Psych Tech-Psychiatric Therapeutic Program Worker (TPW) for the 6 Ridgeway Psychiatry unit at UC Medical Center. This is a 20-bed, mixed geriatric/psychiatric co-ed unit focusing on the treatment of older adults, many of whom are 55 and older, with primary psychiatric diagnoses.

Become part of the only psychiatric unit in Southwest Ohio where you can gain exposure to a variety of behavioral health diagnoses and treat patients that other institutions may not accept.

About University of Cincinnati Medical Center

As part of the Clifton Campus of UC Health, University of Cincinnati Medical Center has served Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky for nearly 200 years. Each year, hundreds of thousands of patients receive care from world-renowned clinicians and teams. The medical center offers advanced specialty and subspecialty care, conducts groundbreaking research, and provides access to the latest treatments.

UC Medical Center houses Greater Cincinnati’s only Level I adult trauma center, equipped with specialists and resources for complex medical conditions and injuries.

Location

Cincinnati, OH, United States

Qualifications

• Minimum Required: High School diploma or GED.
• Preferred: Relevant college coursework.
• STNA certification preferred or college-level coursework in nursing, psychiatry, or social work.
• Minimum Required: Six months of direct patient care experience in a psychiatric setting or equivalent college-level coursework in nursing, psychology, or social work.
• Preferred: Specialized training in phlebotomy, vital signs, and assistance with activities of daily living.
• For employees working in UCMC Psychiatric Services, NCI-APS (Nonviolent Crisis Intervention with Advanced Physical Skills) Certification must be obtained within 90 days of hire.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a therapeutic milieu and safe environment for all psychiatric patients on the unit in collaboration with the healthcare team.
• Perform duties under the direction of the Registered Nurse, including:
  • Monitoring the unit for safety and maintaining a quiet, peaceful atmosphere.
  • Managing patient behavior and preparing rooms for patient arrival.
  • Orienting patients to the unit and checking belongings for hazardous objects or weapons.
  • Securing patient belongings and conducting routine bed checks.
• Provide clinical duties as directed by the Registered Nurse, including:
  • NIPPAS for vital signs and daily weights, phlebotomy, EKG, finger sticks.
  • Assistance with feedings, personal hygiene, grooming, and activities of daily living (ADLs).
  • Collecting meal trays, cleaning dining areas, and providing clean linen.
  • Assisting with inventory control and distribution of supplies.
• Co-lead treatment groups (e.g., Goals Group, Exercise Group) and organize therapeutic leisure activities (e.g., Bingo, card games, chess).
• Observe individual behaviors and group interactions, reporting any major changes in patient behavior or medical condition to the RN.
• Initiate basic psychiatric interventions, provide redirection, and use age-appropriate communication skills.
• Assist in physical crisis management and provide non-punitive limit setting, modeling, and reinforcement to meet patients' emotional needs.
• Participate in quality improvement activities, staff meetings, in-service sessions, and crisis intervention programs.
• Transport patients to appointments (e.g., X-ray, EEG, MRI, clinic).
• Perform other duties as delegated by the RN, Clinical Manager, or Nursing Supervisor.