Mental Health Specialist - General Adult Unit

Mass General Brigham•Belmont, CA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Registered Nurse, the Mental Health Specialist (MHS) provides direct patient care and participates in the therapeutic milieu. This role is crucial for advancing our mission of patient care, research, teaching, and community service. The MHS will assist the RN in providing direct patient care, establishing therapeutic relationships with patients, participating in patient rounds, completing patient care assignments, and identifying behaviors that contribute to crisis situations. The MHS will utilize de-escalation techniques, intervene in managing complex patient situations, and communicate changes in patient status to the RN, always promoting least restrictive alternatives and following Standards of Care. The MHS will also work effectively in the therapeutic milieu by participating in patient groups, providing and supervising recreation and other activities, offering patients direction and support, and actively assessing the milieu for safety concerns. Additionally, the MHS will assist in maintaining the unit environment, reporting maintenance and supply needs, and initiating activities to promote a clean, organized, and safe patient and staff environment. The MHS will also assist patients with activities of daily living, including hygiene and nutritional needs, and provide reassurance and escort services for patients during tests, exams, and procedures. A commitment to professional growth and competency is expected, including completing in-service requirements, identifying development needs, maintaining age-specific competency, seeking feedback, and participating in critical incident de-briefing.

Requirements

High School Diploma or Equivalent required
One year of clinical experience, preferably in a psychiatric setting
1-2 years preferred
Previous experience in direct patient care preferred
Verbal and written communication skills, and ability to work in collaboration with others.
Must complete and pass Epic training within 30 days of hire.
Successful passing (80% or higher) of Epic training modules(s) is a minimum requirement of the job.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience in direct patient care preferred

Responsibilities

Assists the RN in providing direct patient care.
Accurate and timely documentation of AFS, progress notes, and observation sheets.
Establishes therapeutic relationships with patients, maintaining professional boundaries.
Participates in patient rounds or teams.
Completes patient care assignments.
Identifies patient behaviors that contribute to the development of a crisis; utilizes non-verbal and verbal techniques to de-escalate crisis situation.
Intervenes in managing complex patient situations and patient schedules, utilizing department policies and procedures, always promoting the least restrictive alternatives.
Communicates changes in patient status to RN.
Follows Standards of Care and protocols for assigned patients.
Remains awake and alert at all times while on the job.
Performs Point of Care testing (POC).
Works effectively in the therapeutic milieu.
Participates in planning and implementation of patient groups.
Provides and supervises recreation and other off-hall activities according to needs.
Provides patients with direction, support, and supervision as needed.
Follows established Nursing policies, procedures, and protocols.
Active milieu assessment while assigned to checks, particularly attuned to safety concerns.
Participates in the maintenance of the unit environment to ensure safe care.
Identifies and reports house cleaning problems to Unit Secretary/ND.
Identifies and reports equipment problems to Unit Secretary/ND.
Participates in the unit’s inventory system, reporting when supplies are low.
Initiates activities that assist patients in maintaining a clean environment.
Initiates activities that promote an organized, safe patient and staff environment.
Assists patients in their activities of daily living.
Identifies patient hygiene needs; initiates and implements interventions to meet these needs.
Provides for patients’ nutritional needs according to unit procedure.
Assists and reassures patients during tests, exams, and procedures.
Escorts and supervises patients on and off ground, maintaining patient safety.
Maintains a commitment to professional growth and competency.
Completes mandatory in-service requirements.
Identifies areas of strengths and areas in need of professional development with supervisor.
Maintains competency for treating age-specific patient populations.
Seeks constructive feedback, regarding work performance, from peers and professional colleagues.
Participates in critical incident de-briefing.