Behavioral Health Specialist

Banner Health • Tucson, AZ

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Specialist provides direct care to psychiatric patients under the direction of a registered nurse. The role is on the West DeEx unit at Banner University Medical Center - South Campus in Tucson, serving a hybrid population of geriatric psychiatric patients requiring full medical care and voluntary and involuntary patients with severe behavioral health needs. The position works with psychiatric providers, nurses, pharmacists, security officers, and other members of multidisciplinary teams.

The specialist supports the unit by helping make floor and Direct Patient Observer (DPO) assignments, supporting Behavioral Health Specialists and registered nurses, communicating with the Charge RN, conducting hand-hygiene audits, delegating admission tasks, and ensuring discharge processes and Direct Observer/Q15 documentation are completed. Floating to the campus's other two Behavioral Health units may be required based on daily census. Work is under moderate supervision and involves interaction with clinical staff, patients, families, and medical and psychiatric physicians.

The posting describes full-time positions with three 12-hour shifts per week, weekend rotation, and holiday work. It mentions both night and day shift schedules: 7 p.m.–7:30 a.m. and 7 a.m.–7:30 p.m. Employees may use a self-scheduling tool. A $1-per-hour weekend shift differential is offered when applicable.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a behavioral-health-related field, or a high school diploma or equivalent plus one year of direct patient care in an inpatient behavioral health setting.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Meet the age requirement specified by the state agency.
• For employees in a BUMCS Behavioral Health clinical setting, possess an Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card at hire and maintain it throughout employment.
• Relevant experience may include inpatient psychiatric care; assisting with grooming and activities of daily living; conducting educational, recreational, and skills groups; maintaining a therapeutic milieu and observation precautions; applying non-violent de-escalation in crises; recognizing common mental-illness symptoms and relating them to diagnoses and ordered interventions; and building therapeutic rapport and collaborative multidisciplinary relationships.

Nice To Haves

• Additional related education and/or experience.
• At least one year of inpatient Behavioral Health experience is identified as ideal.

Responsibilities

• Provide basic nursing care, including technical monitoring, taking vital signs, and physical care.
• Orient patients to the treatment setting and assist with activities of daily living as needed.
• Review and participate in implementing patient treatment plans.
• Make rounds; monitor patients' activities, physical and mental status; and report observations to nursing staff.
• Check patient belongings for contraband and conduct observational safety checks.
• Document observations, interventions, and group activities in patient medical records while maintaining confidentiality.
• Help maintain a safe, orderly, and therapeutic environment and protect patient safety and rights through observation and reporting.
• Recognize aggression, danger to self or others, crises, and medical emergencies; intervene through redirection and, when needed, participation in restraint or seclusion.
• Interact therapeutically with patients and families while promoting dignity, independence, individuality, strengths, privacy, and choice, and respecting cultural diversity and boundaries.
• Plan and facilitate social and didactic group activities and may participate in other rehabilitation and treatment programs.
• Maintain knowledge and skills related to behavioral disorder symptoms and treatment, commonly prescribed medications, and medication side effects and adverse reactions.
• Assist with patient admissions, discharges, and transfers, and complete required medical-record documentation.
• Assist with floor and DPO assignments, support BHSs and RNs, communicate with the Charge RN, conduct hand-hygiene audits, delegate admission tasks, and ensure discharge processes and Direct Observer/Q15 documentation are completed.
• Float to the other two Behavioral Health units on campus as required based on census.

Benefits

• Variety of benefit plans to support health and financial security for employees and their families.
• Self-scheduling tool.
• Additional $1-per-hour weekend shift differential when applicable.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED