Marshall Pickens - Mental Health Specialist - Full-Time - Day - South Wing

Prisma Health•Greenville, SC

About The Position

The Mental Health Specialist performs direct patient care duties 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. The specialist provides individualized, therapeutic care; observes and assesses patients’ functioning and mental status; monitors distress and agitation; and responds to crises using de-escalation and de-stimulation techniques. The position also supports therapeutic groups and psycho-educational programs, contributes to treatment programs, communicates and documents patient information, and performs delegated clinical tasks such as collecting vital signs and specimens and conducting point-of-care testing after training and delegation by an RN. The role maintains patient confidentiality and follows departmental policies, safety standards, and infection control procedures.

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 therapeutic, individualized care to psychiatric and/or chemically dependent patients, including voluntary and involuntary patients of all ages.
Interact with and assess assigned patients for level of functioning and mental status.
Observe, collect, and communicate relevant patient information to the treatment team, verbally and through timely, accurate medical-record documentation.
Monitor patients’ distress, anxiety, and agitation to reduce or prevent incidents; respond to crises and codes using de-escalation and de-stimulation techniques.
Attend and/or facilitate therapeutic groups and psycho-educational programs, using psycho-therapeutic techniques and mental health principles.
Maintain patient confidentiality, privacy, and dignity.
Establish positive relationships with team members and communicate effectively with patients, physicians, and staff; respond promptly and appropriately to inquiries and requests.
Participate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of patient treatment programs, and provide suggestions for unit and facility process improvements.
Follow departmental policies and procedures, quality assurance requirements, safety practices, environmental standards, and infection control standards.
Inform 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, and collect urine, stool, sputum, and other specimens as assigned.
Perform point-of-care testing when trained and delegated by an RN; document work in the medical record and inform the RN of activities performed.
Attend staff meetings, annual in-services, and mandatory educational experiences; keep abreast of current psychiatric issues and methods.
Perform other duties as assigned.