Psychiatric Technician, Advanced

Responsibilities

• Affords a safe and hazard-free environment by observing and documenting patient behavior, conducting patient room searches, reporting unsafe conditions, and applying appropriate emotional and physical support.
• Assists with the admission of new patients by gathering routine information for nursing assessment, searching patients and personal effects for contraband, and documenting personal effects and other appropriate information.
• Orients patients and their families to the facility and the policies and procedures.
• Escorts patients to off-unit appointments and activities using therapeutic interventions to ensure the safety of the patient, hospital staff, and other patients and visitors.
• Supports a therapeutic milieu for patients by encouraging participation in recreational activities and group therapies.
• Assists with supportive therapy for select patients by leading activity and conversation groups.
• Develops patient behavioral expectations.
• Might function as a preceptor to new Psychiatric Technicians.
• Participates in unit's training and quality assurance programs, as well as ordering, stocking, and maintaining clerical and patient supplies.
• Contributes to patient treatment planning, teaching, and discharge planning.
• Shares observations of patient's progress toward identified goals during patient care team conferences and assists the primary Registered Nurse with developing, evaluating, and revising patient care plans.

Qualifications

• An Associate degree OR two years of behavioral health OR direct patient care experience; may include CNA, MA, HCA, Teacher’s aide or assistant.
• Licenses Required: Current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system. The eCredential is to be obtained within 30 days of hire. Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Recognizes adverse reactions to medication and reports them promptly to the Registered Nurse.
• Absorbs potential self-harm or harm to others by patients and reports this information to the Registered Nurse, and assists with restraints and seclusion if necessary.
• Builds trust with patients and responds appropriately in crisis situations.
• Utilizes group dynamics principles to facilitate social, behavioral, and communication skills among group members.
• Knows and applies principles of life span growth and development to assess patient status and provide care.
• Demonstrates human relations and effective communication skills.

Required Qualifications

• Employee must be able to meet the following requirements with or without an accommodation:
• Carrying, Lifting, Listening, Manual Dexterity, Pulling and/or Pushing, Reaching, Sitting, Speaking, Standing, Stooping and Crouching, Walking.

Physical Requirements

• Exercises up to 50 pounds and may consistently require lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling or otherwise moving objects, such as medical equipment, or patients while providing care in a psychiatric setting.
• Exposure to infectious diseases.