Mental Health Associate - Electroconvulsive Therapy - Full time - Day Shift

Meritus Health External • Hagerstown, MD

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a medical treatment for serious mental health conditions such as severe depression, bipolar disorder, and some forms of psychosis—especially when other treatments haven’t been effective. Patients are given short-acting anesthesia and a muscle relaxant, and a small, carefully monitored electrical stimulus is delivered to the brain to produce a brief therapeutic seizure. This process helps improve brain function and can significantly reduce severe symptoms. The procedure is safe, closely monitored, and evidence-based, and most patients wake up within minutes and recover in a supervised area before returning to their unit or going home the same day. Mental Health Associates assist patients in ECT before, during, and after treatment.

Before ECT Treatment:
Escort patients to ECT
Verify patient identity and treatment schedule
Take and document vital signs
Ensure NPO status (nothing by mouth) is followed

During the ECT Process:
Assisting with safe patient positioning and transfers
Helping manage patient flow in pre-op and recovery areas
Observing patients for anxiety, agitation, or confusion
Supporting nurses, psychiatrists, and anesthesia staff as needed

After ECT (Recovery Phase):
Monitor patients for post-anesthesia confusion, disorientation, or agitation
Recheck and document vital signs
Ensure patient safety (fall precautions)
Escort patients back to inpatient units or discharge areas

INPATIENT UNITS:
Position Summary: The Mental Health Associate provides direct care and therapeutic support to patients of all ages in a psychiatric setting. This role involves observing and documenting patient behavior, maintaining a safe and structured environment, and collaborating with the interdisciplinary team to promote patient well-being. The associate plays a key role in fostering a therapeutic milieu and supporting program activities. MHA's are cross trained in the Adult and Child/ Adolescent Units.

Requirements

• High school diploma required
• Ability to follow written and oral instructions using sound judgment
• Legally licensed to operate hospital vehicles
• Basic to moderate computer skills
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Current BLS (CPR) certification in compliance with policy
• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record preferred (no moving violations in the past three years)
• Annual submission of certified driving record required on date of birth
• Signed acknowledgment of “Attestation A” of Meritus Vehicle Management Use and Control policy

Nice To Haves

• bachelor’s degree in a social science preferred
• Prior mental health experience preferred
• clean driving record (no moving violations in the past three years)
• clean driving record preferred

Responsibilities

• Escort patients to ECT
• Verify patient identity and treatment schedule
• Take and document vital signs
• Ensure NPO status (nothing by mouth) is followed
• Assisting with safe patient positioning and transfers
• Helping manage patient flow in pre-op and recovery areas
• Observing patients for anxiety, agitation, or confusion
• Supporting nurses, psychiatrists, and anesthesia staff as needed
• Monitor patients for post-anesthesia confusion, disorientation, or agitation
• Recheck and document vital signs
• Ensure patient safety (fall precautions)
• Escort patients back to inpatient units or discharge areas
• Provide direct patient care with attention to safety, comfort, and therapeutic engagement
• Observe and report patient behavior to clinical staff; document in progress notes
• Respond appropriately to patient needs and behavioral interventions
• Build cooperative relationships with staff, patients, and families
• Demonstrate leadership and empathy in daily interactions
• Implement structured programming using the Theme of the Day concept
• Support and maintain a therapeutic environment on psychiatric units
• Assist in training and orienting new employees
• Modify interventions to be age-appropriate for each patient and family situation
• Enforce unit rules and organizational policies assertively and respectfully
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor

Benefits

• health, dental, and vision insurance available starting the 1st of the month following date of hire
• life insurance
• short and long-term disability coverage
• Paid Time Off begins accruing from day one
• 401k plan
• education assistance program
• employee assistance program
• shift differential

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees