Behavioral Health Associate NIGHTS $3,000 Sign On

Acadia•Burns, TN

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Associate provides care to patients in accordance with instructions from physicians and other health practitioners. The role supports patient safety and well-being by maintaining a positive, supportive, and structured environment, responding promptly to patient requests, and treating patients and customers with empathy and professionalism. The associate works as part of a multidisciplinary team to support treatment goals, coping skills, wellness, and patient independence. Responsibilities include conducting and documenting safety checks and patient observations at required intervals; maintaining a safe, secure, comfortable, clean, and uncluttered environment; documenting appropriate clinical information; and reporting significant changes in a patient’s condition or response to treatment to the nurse promptly. The associate may obtain and document vital signs, height, and weight; help patients with activities of daily living; support admissions and discharges; lead or co-lead individual or group activities; participate in rehabilitation and treatment programs; and arrange or provide patient transportation as needed. The role also involves responding to distressed patients, using de-escalation techniques, and assisting with seclusion and restraint when necessary. Work quality, attendance, and adherence to the work schedule are expected. Other duties may be assigned as circumstances require.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
CPR certification required; training is available upon hire and offered by the facility.
De-escalation and restraint certification required; training is available upon hire and offered by the facility.

Nice To Haves

Six months of experience as a BHA1 preferred.
Six months or more of experience working with the specific population of the facility preferred.
First aid may be required depending on state or facility requirements.

Responsibilities

Demonstrate urgency regarding patient safety and excellent customer service.
Maintain a positive, supportive, structured, safe, secure, and comfortable environment for patients, visitors, and staff.
Conduct safety checks and supervise patients at 15-minute intervals, according to special precautions or individualized guidelines.
Complete required patient rounds on time and maintain clean, uncluttered patient rooms.
Document timely, accurate, and appropriate clinical information in patient records.
Obtain and document patients’ vital signs, height, and weight when assigned.
Identify oneself to patients and visitors and respond promptly to patient requests.
Engage patients in activities and interactions that encourage achievement of treatment goals.
Respond to distressed patients non-threateningly and attempt to understand the source of distress.
Use de-escalation techniques and assist with seclusion and restraint when necessary.
Work with the multidisciplinary team to promote patient safety, coping skills, and independence.
Monitor behavioral improvements, reinforce positive behaviors, communicate patient changes and treatment responses to the team, and report significant changes to the nurse immediately.
Reinforce skills patients learn from nurses, physicians, and therapists that promote physical and mental wellness.
Oversee or assist with activities of daily living, including toileting, bathing, dressing, grooming, oral hygiene, meals, snacks, hydration, and changing bed linens.
Assist with admissions and discharges as needed.
Lead or co-lead individual or group sessions as part of recreational or therapeutic procedures.
Participate in rehabilitation and treatment programs and teach strategies that promote wellness and independence as needed.
Provide or coordinate patient transportation as needed.
Maintain accurate, neat, and timely work and adhere to the work schedule and attendance expectations.
Acknowledge and work to resolve unmet patient needs and complaints.
Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.