MENTAL HEALTH TECH (FT Days)

Riverside Healthcare • Kankakee, IL

1d • $19 - $23 • Onsite

About The Position

A Mental Health Technician (MHT) performs selected patient care activities under the supervision of the Program Director and/or Nurse Manager. Primary duties include observing and recording patient information pertinent to the treatment plan and reporting this information to the Staff Registered Nurse. This position is also responsible for escorting and monitoring patient activities and attending to their personal needs. The MHT must be capable of physically assisting patients, dealing with patient emergencies and working as a member of the clinical team.

Requirements

• High School diploma or GED
• Crisis prevention certification as required prior to working on the unit
• CPR certification required
• Ability to manage anger, fear, hostility, and violence of others appropriately
• Ability to make decisions under pressure
• Ability to manage stress appropriately
• Proficient in applicable software applications
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and deadlines
• Comfortable working in confined or crowded areas
• Comfortable working alone or in a team environment
• Proficient written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to read and comprehend instructions and correspondence moderate in complexity
• Ability to communicate the needs of the patients
• Exposure to: Chemicals: Refer to MSDS Sheets Video Display Terminals: Average Blood and Body Fluids: Obtaining and transporting patients' body fluids. Cleaning patients who are incontinent of urine and/or stool. Controlling the agitated student such as scratches, bites,etc. This potential exposure reduced through non-violent crisis intervention education and the use of universal precautions. TB or Airborne Pathogens: Minimal - Exposure potential reduced through the use of universal precautions.
• Sensory requirements (speech, vision, smell, hearing, touch): Speech: Needed for communication with patients and other staff. Vision: Needed to read materials such as medical records. Smell: Needed to detect the odor of ETOH on patients, smoke in patients' rooms or electrical hazards. Hearing: Required for patient safety, telephone use, intercom announcements, listening to employees, patients, and staff, and taking vital signs. Touch: Contact with patients, need to distinguish between hot and cold.
• The employee must be able to physically perform the requirements of the crisis prevention model utilized in order to provide safe physical holding of patients and transport techniques.
• MHU staff is required to assist with the control and transport of patients. Patients may weigh as much as 300# and be carried waist high up to 100'. Assists with lifting patients from wheelchairs to beds. Carries linens for bed making and supplies weighing up to 10# up to 100'.
• Repetitive use of hands (Frequency indicated): Simple grasp -15 lbs: Frequently Pushing & pulling- 50-200 lbs: Occasionally Fine Manipulation: Writing, taking vital signs. Opening juice and milk containers. Opening silverware, soap packages. Handling CS tags. Using writing instruments.
• Repetitive use of foot or feet in operating machine control: Up to 50 lbs: Occasionally-utilized in positioning beds during transport; x-ray, surgery or in an emergency situation from floor to floor, locking beds or cardiac chairs.
• Gloves to maintain MHU universal precautions.

Nice To Haves

• One-year experience with appropriate education.
• College level courses in Psychology or related field.
• Experience in medical or psychiatric setting.

Responsibilities

• Restore and promote patients health by assisting in their individual therapeutic treatment plan
• Conducts activities in accordance with patient diagnosis and needs
• Attend to patient personal needs (oral hygiene, toileting, bathing, dressing, transferring, etc.) as required.
• Escort and monitor patients; and provide line-of-sight or one-to-one support to patients as ordered by the physician
• Check and document luggage and personal belongings upon admission; maintain patient property list
• Regularly observe and document patients behaviors, temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure and weight
• Monitor and document patients food and fluid intake; feeding patients as required
• Complete and document 15 minute (or less) visual checks on patients per unit/hospital policy
• Insure patient dignity and respect patient values
• Establish a compassionate environment by providing emotional and psychological support to patients, families and staff
• Maintains patient privacy and confidentiality; and protects operations by keeping patient and program information confidential
• Operate within ethical standards
• Collaborate with physicians, nurses and multidisciplinary team members
• Assure quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards, measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and regulatory standards
• Coordinate and supervise therapeutic activities for individual patients and for groups in accordance with patient care treatment plans
• Help maintain unit cleanliness and neatness for patient comfort
• Assist in orientation for patients and families
• Per RN direction, and using approved methods, assist in safely placing patients in seclusion or restraints; observe suicide/seclusion precautions
• Monitor visitors and supervise visitation
• Intervene with patients who disregard, violate, or ignore unit safety rules. Report any signs of increasing aggression, suicidal behavior, and danger of elopement, violation of smoking rules, or violation of any other unit/facility safety rules.
• Assist in emergency care if necessary
• Maintain continuity among peers by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities, and continuing needs
• Protect patients and employees by adhering to safety standards; infection-control policies and protocols; storage procedures; and controlled substance regulations
• Use hygienic practices and teach patient hygienic practices
• Attends and contributes to therapeutic groups, community meetings and activities
• Attends appropriate facility in-service training programs
• Completes all required educational sessions, including staff meetings and competencies per unit/hospital policy
• Insure operations of equipment by calling for repairs; and evaluating new equipment and techniques
• Assist with tele psych equipment as required
• Provide feedback to supervisor on ongoing basis in regards to concerns, improvements, changes, etc.
• Reports patient observations (assigned, group, milieu) to RN every shift and as needed and documents appropriately.
• Demonstrates flexibility with assignments within professional scope/duties/licensure.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off programs
• Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
• Educational Assistance Program
• Paid Leave Hours accrued as you work

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED