PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIAN (ENTRY LEVEL & FULL PERFORMANCE)

Duties Summary

This position works in the psychiatric unit of an acute care hospital which provides acute adult and adolescent psychiatric services. The position serves as part of the treatment team and is involved in planning, organizing and conducting adjunctive services (recreational and diversional activities) which involves the implementation of moderately complex therapeutic procedures and the application of various techniques in patient care services. The position also provides a variety of personal care and nursing services to patients in the unit.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Orientation and Companionship:

  • Orient patients to the hospital setting, rules and regulations, patient rights and treatment team system.
  • Perform as a companion for newly admitted patients to establish rapport and facilitate a social network with other patients on the unit.

• Assessment and Planning:

  • Take temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, height and weight.
  • Monitor seclusion/restraint status. Record observations/findings in patient’s chart.
  • Observe patient’s physical and psychological needs and report findings to the charge nurse.
  • Participate as a member of the treatment team and provide input into the formulation of patients’ master treatment plans.
  • Provide input and assist in planning therapeutic interventions in situational crises.
  • Participate in/conduct daily community meetings with team members to set goals for the day.

• Implementation and Evaluation:

  • Implement training for patients in developing self-help skills such as toileting, feeding, bathing, dressing, basic oral hygiene and other activities of daily living.
  • Implement adjunctive services (recreational and diversional activities) planned and developed by the RN, Recreational Therapist and/or Occupational Therapist for the general therapeutic milieu of the unit.
  • Maintain a safe and therapeutic milieu for patients and employees at all times. Report and initiate corrective measures of any known unsafe environmental conditions.
  • Monitor contraband materials and enforce unit rules and regulations at all times.
  • Evaluate, with the charge nurse and other team members, the effectiveness of approaches utilized in crisis intervention during the shift.
  • Assist in the evaluation of patients’ conditions and progress based on their master treatment plans.

Knowledge and Abilities

To qualify, you must meet all of the following requirements:

• Knowledge of the policies, procedures and work rules of the work site.
• Knowledge of behavioral characteristics associated with various types of mental health problems;
• General behavioral and psychiatric procedures;
• Mental health principles and techniques involved in the care and treatment of individuals or groups of mentally ill patients;
• Intervention and de-escalation techniques;
• Common side effects of psychiatric medications;
• The ability to assist and participate in the activities of the treatment team;
• Independently provide adjunctive services (recreational and diversional activities) to a caseload of psychiatric patients.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

• Prerequisite Qualifications Required for the Entry Level:
  • One (1) year of work experience in a hospital or other medically oriented institution or program where the primary or basic objective was to observe and report on a variety of physical and/or mental symptoms and conditions and implement care and/or treatment procedures for a caseload of patients.
  • Such experience must have demonstrated knowledge of basic spoken and written English; basic nursing skills (i.e., taking vital signs, measuring output, recognition of abnormal signs and symptoms, etc.); patients’ rights; infection control; body mechanics; basic medical and nursing terminology; and the ability to read, write, speak and understand English; learn and apply general behavioral and psychiatric principles; establish effective therapeutic relationships with psychiatric patients; follow directions; keep appropriate records; and analyze situations accurately and take effective action.
• Prerequisite Qualifications Required for the Full Performance Level:
  • In addition to the qualifications required at the entry level:
  • One (1) year of work experience in a mental health facility/unit which involved learning and performing selected therapeutic activities under the supervision of a qualified professional.
  • Such experience must have demonstrated knowledge of behavioral characteristics associated with various types of mental health problems; general behavioral and psychiatric procedures; mental health principles and techniques involved in the care and treatment of individuals or groups of mentally ill patients; intervention and de-escalation techniques; common side effects of psychiatric medications; and the ability to assist and participate in the activities of the treatment team; and independently provide adjunctive services (recreational and diversional activities) to a caseload of psychiatric patients.

Who May Apply

Legal Authorization to Work Requirement: The State of Hawaii requires that all persons seeking employment with the government of the State shall be citizens, nationals, or permanent resident aliens of the United States, or eligible under federal law for unrestricted employment in the United States.

Other Information

Complete Application Packet at: https://health.hawaii.gov/employment/job-opportunities/

Recruitment deadline is continuous.