Pct - Geri Psych, FT

Whitfield Regional Hospital•Demopolis, AL

4d•Onsite

About The Position

This position involves providing direct patient care to patients aged 18 to 65 years in a Geriatric Psychiatry setting. The role requires managing stress, making decisions under pressure, and handling the anger, fear, hostility, and violence of others appropriately. The individual must be able to manage multiple priorities, work independently, and function in confined or crowded areas. There is a possibility of exposure to communicable diseases and blood/body fluids. Computer skills and department-specific skills are necessary. The role also includes assessing and acting upon the physical, social, developmental, and environmental needs of patients, providing age-specific healthcare, and maintaining education and development. The position requires adherence to hospital and department guidelines, supporting the hospital's mission, vision, and values, and performing position-specific job functions at an acceptable level. The role may require overtime to meet staffing needs during high acuity or call-ins. The individual must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position, set a proper example, function independently, and possess personal integrity. Good health and emotional stability are essential. The role emphasizes ensuring patient dignity, respecting patient values, and operating within ethical standards. Specific duties include assisting with protective devices, using equipment correctly, explaining procedures, escorting patients, responding to call lights, assisting with deceased patients, providing emergency care, notifying RNs/LPNs of patient condition changes, assisting in managing violent patients, orienting patients/families/new staff, attending in-services, providing feedback to supervisors, ensuring facility safety, reporting deficiencies, checking for and reporting malfunctioning equipment, completing required competencies, ensuring confidentiality, documenting patient belongings, and utilizing Universal Precautions.

Requirements

Certified Nursing Assistance preferred, not required
A minimum of one (1) year of experience working in Mental Health or with patients with a Cognitive Deficit, Intellectual Deficit and /or Developmentally Delayed preferred.
Must possess the following skills: organizational, verbal, interpersonal, good customer relations, mathematical, analytical, grammar/spelling, reading and comprehend written and verbal instruction.
Current BLS, and CPI.
Able to work with a computer and other department specific skills.
Must be able to administer patient care to patient’s ages 18 years to 65 years, plus manage stress appropriately, make decisions under pressure, and manage anger/fear / hostility and violence of others appropriately.
Handle multiple priorities, work alone and work in areas that are confined and or crowded.
Work in an area where there is a possibility of exposure to communicable diseases and exposure to blood and/or body fluid.
Computer skills.
Good verbal and written communication skills.
Visual/hearing ability sufficient to comprehend written/verbal communication.
Ability to perform tasks including physical activity which may include heavy lifting, i.e., patient from bed to wheelchair or to bedside commode, and extensive bending and standing, i.e., range of motion, dressing changes.

Nice To Haves

Certified Nursing Assistance preferred
A minimum of one (1) year of experience working in Mental Health or with patients with a Cognitive Deficit, Intellectual Deficit and /or Developmentally Delayed preferred.

Responsibilities

Assess, distinguish, report and act upon the physical, social, developmental, and environmental needs of all patients; and the knowledge to provide age specific healthcare to patients as appropriate and necessary.
Complete position responsibilities by following established guidelines and protocols within the appropriate time frame.
Demonstrate good skills in all forms of communication.
Works well with others in a spirit of teamwork and cooperation.
Maintain education and development appropriate for position.
Adhere to established hospital and department guidelines and protocols.
Supports hospital mission, vision, and values.
Perform position specific job functions at an acceptable level.
Maintain Position Specific Skills.
Willingness to work overtime to assure the unit staffing needs are met in time of high acuity and/or call ins.
Must be able to cope with mental and emotional stress of the position and set the proper example.
Must be able to function independently and have personal integrity and the ability to work effectively with personnel and agencies.
Must be in good health and demonstrate emotional stability.
Ensure patient dignity and respect patient values.
Operate within ethical standards.
Assist in placing and removing protective devices such as bedside rails, Posey vest and wrist restraints.
Demonstrate the ability to use equipment according to accepted procedures.
Explain procedures and treatments to the patient.
Assist and escort patients during admission, transfers, discharges, and outside activities.
Answer patient’s call lights and leaves call lights within reach of patient.
Assist in care of deceased patients.
Assist in emergency care if necessary.
Notify the RN or LPN/LVN of anything in the patient’s condition that requires attention.
Must be able to assist in managing violent and assaultive patients.
Assist in orientation of patients, families, and new staff members.
Attend appropriate facility/unit in-services and trainings.
Provide feedback to supervisor on ongoing basis regarding concerns, improvements, changes, etc.
Ensure facility is safe and reports deficiencies to supervisor.
Check for and report malfunctioning or damaged equipment, destruction of property or signs of contraband.
Completes all required competencies per program regulations.
Ensure confidentiality of all information encountered.
Check and document luggage and personal belongings upon admission and maintain patient property list.
Always utilize Universal Precautions to prevent and control infections.