Marshall I. Pickens Mental Health Specialist PRN

Prisma Health•Greenville, SC

21d

About The Position

The Mental Health Specialist performs direct patient care duties as assigned or delegated by the Charge Nurse to meet the physical, social, emotional, and behavioral needs of psychiatric and/or chemically dependent patients. The role serves voluntary and involuntary patients of all ages and applies knowledge of population-specific developmental tasks gained through training and experience. As delegated, the specialist performs basic nursing activities and other clinical responsibilities appropriate to the patient population served. This is a non-management position reporting to a supervisor, manager, director, or executive. The work shift is variable at Marshall I Pickens Hospital, Nursing Service Unit B.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent, or a post-secondary degree in a related field of study.
No previous experience required.

Nice To Haves

Acute inpatient hospital care or long-term care experience.

Responsibilities

Provide attentive, caring, and therapeutic support to mentally ill and/or chemically dependent patients, using active and reflective listening.
Deliver individualized care to voluntary and involuntary patients while considering age appropriateness, safety, comfort, and the therapeutic environment.
Interact with and assess assigned patients for level of functioning and mental status.
Observe, collect, and communicate relevant patient information verbally and through the medical record to treatment team members.
Document assigned patient care promptly, legibly, and accurately according to hospital and unit procedures.
Monitor patients’ distress, anxiety, and agitation to reduce or prevent incidents.
Respond to patient crises and codes using de-escalation and de-stimulation techniques; routinely interact with patients in crisis or at risk for self-harm or other destructive behavior.
Attend and/or facilitate therapeutic groups and psycho-educational programs, using psycho-therapeutic techniques and mental health principles and practices.
Maintain patient confidentiality and use sound judgment to protect patient privacy and dignity.
Build positive relationships with team members and communicate effectively; provide prompt and appropriate customer service to patients, physicians, and staff.
Participate in developing, implementing, and evaluating patient treatment programs and suggest improvements to unit and facility processes.
Follow departmental policies and procedures, objectives, quality assurance programs, and safety, environmental, and infection-control standards.
Notify the Charge Nurse or direct supervisor of activities, issues, or concerns that may affect patient safety or the therapeutic milieu.
Collect and document vital signs; weigh patients; collect routine and clean-catch urine, stool, and sputum specimens; and perform other assigned duties.
Perform point-of-care testing when trained and delegated by an RN, document the work in the medical record, and inform the RN of activities performed.
Attend staff meetings, annual in-services, and mandatory educational experiences, and keep abreast of current psychiatric issues and methods.
Perform other duties as assigned.