Mental Health Assistant I

NY United Health Services•Binghamton, NY

12h•Onsite

About The Position

UHS Binghamton General Hospital is hiring a Mental Health Assistant to support individuals with mental health needs by providing compassionate, patient‑centered care. In this role, the Mental Health Assistant ensures individuals with mental health conditions receive appropriate care and treatment, collaborating with Mental Health Technicians, Registered Nurses, Social Workers, Rehabilitation staff, and Physicians. Provides services across inpatient and outpatient mental health settings in accordance with provider and nursing orders. Serves patients, their families and significant others, and supports Registered Nurses and interdisciplinary team members within mental health services.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED

Nice To Haves

College courses leading to a degree in a mental health related field or Nursing
Previous education in a Nursing Assistant program
Previous work experience in a health care environment
Certified Nursing Assistant

Responsibilities

Assists patients or provides complete care including bathing, dressing, grooming, hydration and nutrition, and care of personal space and belongings.
Performs clinical measurements including Vital Signs, Intake and Output and documents findings.
Ensures comfort and safety in the environment for individual patients, families, self and coworkers through good body mechanics when assisting patients with mobility and transportation, proper use of equipment, following policy for restraints and seclusion, and use of monitoring techniques.
Makes frequent rounds observing patients to anticipate possible patient needs.
Plans, initiates, and assists patients with unstructured activities to address leisure time needs and encourages patient participation in all activities.
Reports patient or unit problems to the appropriate RN or Mental Health Tech.
Assists with ECT treatments according to procedure including obtaining, set up and cleaning of equipment; providing support and assistance to physicians and nurses; transporting patients; and monitoring patient oral intake post ECT recovery.
Follows procedures in caring for the potentially violent patient and the patient in danger of hurting him/herself or others including monitoring all levels of observation, assisting with the initiation of seclusion and application of restraints, and caring for restrained and secluded patients.
Responds to Code Blue situations in all areas of the hospital as directed utilizing all CPI principles in verbal de-escalation, physical restraint (appropriate to age), 4 point restraint and maintaining a safe environment in all situations, under the clinical supervision of a CPI trained RN.
Initiates and maintains appropriate and accurate documentation as required by UHS policy and procedure.
Escorts patients away from the hospital campus and works closely with the interdisciplinary staff in the planning of transfers.