Overview:
The Mental Health Technician (MHT) supports the nursing staff in maintaining a therapeutic setting by performing routinely assigned tasks and carrying out patient care activities within the scope of the MHT's training and experience. The MHT will maintain a safe and professional standard for patient care in accordance with Federal and State regulations, policies and procedures and accreditation and quality standards
Responsibilities:
- Continually monitors and enforces compliance with unit rules.
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Effectively applies supportive behavior when assisting in the control of patients who exhibit
unacceptable behavior.
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Demonstrates the ability to employ de-escalation, crisis intervention, and therapeutic
interventions as needed.
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Completes unit safety checks.
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Inventories patient belongings accurately and secures contraband as needed.
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Complies with standard/universal precautions and infection control policies and attends
required in-services to keep self-informed.
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Implements patient care activities under the direction and supervision of licensed nursing
personnel.
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Performs vital signs, weights, ADL monitoring, nutritional monitoring, and communicates
findings to the nurse.
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Assists patients with laundry, meals, bathroom functions and maintaining of belongings as
needed.
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Assists at risk/physically challenged patients with mobility needs as needed.
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Individualizes all patient care activities to the age specific/disability/cultural sensitivity needs of
the patient.
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Communicates and documents patient observation and date effectively.
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Documents patient's departure from unit with 100% accuracy and within defined timelines.
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Documents significant occurrences, observed behavior, vital signs, nutrition intake and patient
observation findings on assigned patients and as requested by the registered nurse, with
100% accuracy and within defined timelines.
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Communicates outcome of assigned tasks to nursing staff in a timely manner.
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Communicates follow-up on patient care responsibilities, incomplete assignments, ongoing
activities and current patient needs to relevant staff to assure continuity of care.
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Escorts patients in and out of weekly Treatment Team meetings and in and out of visits with
practitioners and therapists.
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Performs goals and activity groups to keep patients engaged outside of required therapy
groups and report findings to clinical services.
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Performs other duties and projects as assigned.
Qualifications:
- High school graduate or equivalent.
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Certified Nursing Assistant preferred
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At least 1 year experience working with psychiatric patients in an inpatient setting preferred
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Valid driver’s license
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Crisis intervention experience preferred