Mental Health Technician - Raritan Bay - Full Time Nights

Hackensack Meridian Health•Perth Amboy, NJ

5d•$21

About The Position

The Mental Health Technician provides direct and indirect care to a specific patient population as part of an interdisciplinary team. Under the direction of a registered nurse, the technician promotes patient satisfaction, comfort, safety, and effective outcomes while assisting with patient-, unit-, and environment-related tasks. The role may be assigned or floated during a shift to an inpatient unit, crisis unit, or emergency room to meet patient-care needs. Care includes supporting patients’ physical, psychosocial, educational, safety, and other needs according to age and individual circumstances. The technician communicates patient status and care to nursing colleagues and other healthcare team members, participates in care planning from admission through discharge, and contributes to patient-safety and performance-improvement activities. Specific duties include admission support, observation and safety checks, collecting and documenting clinical data and specimens, performing EKGs and glucose checks as directed, assisting with hygiene and comfort, supporting behavioral-health interventions, maintaining equipment and supplies, and completing required documentation. The position requires a high school diploma or GED and completion of a relevant patient-care program or equivalent medical or behavioral-health experience, or active pursuit of a relevant associate’s or bachelor’s degree. AHA Basic Health Care Life Support HCP certification is required within 60 days of entering the position. The posting lists a minimum rate of $20.68 per hour. The role is full-time, nights, and the posting describes work in an acute-care setting; it may involve assignment to inpatient units, a crisis unit, or an emergency room.

Requirements

High school diploma, GED, or equivalent GED program.
Completion of one of the following: Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical Assistant, or Patient Care Technician program; Fundamentals of Nursing program at an accredited nursing school; HMH PCT Apprenticeship Program; or equivalent medical or behavioral-health background experience such as EMT, Home Health Aide, CMA, MA, PCT, or Nursing Assistant.
Alternatively, actively pursuing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree at an accredited college or university in social work, psychology, nursing, or a related field.
Ability to learn quickly and adapt to changing patient needs.
Strong accountability for improving the lives of patients and caregivers, teamwork, dedication to ongoing education, and ability and commitment to deliver high-quality, patient-focused care and service.
AHA Basic Health Care Life Support HCP certification within 60 days of entering the position.

Nice To Haves

Experience or certification in phlebotomy and in checking EKGs, vital signs, and blood sugar.
At least one year of PCT, MHT, CNA, or other behavioral-health experience in a hospital setting is strongly preferred.
Experience with behavioral-health patients.
CNA, CMA, MHT, or PCT certification following a PCT program that includes theoretical and clinical phlebotomy, EKG, and nursing-assistant coursework.

Responsibilities

Provide age-appropriate patient care based on physical, psychosocial, educational, safety, and related criteria.
Promote safe and effective patient outcomes through sound practice, judgment, and timely action.
Communicate patients’ status and care to patients, nursing colleagues, and other members of the healthcare team.
Participate in interdisciplinary care planning from admission through discharge to support safe transitions and continuity of care.
Participate in unit or department performance-improvement activities and patient-safety initiatives.
Welcome patients, verify identification bracelets, orient patients to the unit, and develop rapport with patients and their families or significant others.
Prepare patients for assessment, admission, physical examinations, and procedures.
Participate in patient searches at admission, after return from pass, or when clinically indicated, under RN direction and in accordance with network policy.
Observe and report patients’ conditions, behavior, treatment reactions, and complaints to the nurse, psychiatrist, or other advanced practice professional.
Obtain and document clinical data such as temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation when needed, and promptly notify the RN of abnormal results.
Collect, label, and transport blood and other specimens using appropriate techniques and procedures; perform venipuncture when needed.
Perform EKGs and glucose finger sticks as needed and directed, and document results.
Ensure necessary equipment is present, functional, and clean; check and restock assigned-area inventory as directed by the RN.
Apply bandages, slings, compression boots, and hypothermia blankets as needed and directed by the RN.
Support psychiatry consultation liaison services by organizing equipment and observing the patient and equipment during telehealth consultations, where applicable.
Assist with patient transport to departments or units when requested.
Provide one-to-one observation, perform and document safety checks, and assist with seclusion, restraint, and monitoring of agitated patients under RN direction.
Assist patients with meals or feeding as needed; provide hygiene and comfort care, including bathing, toileting, oral hygiene, incontinence care, and bed making.
Assist patients with dressing and belongings; complete property checklists, inspect clothing and property, prevent prohibited items from entering the hospital, and coordinate return of clothing to family.
Receive visitors during visiting hours and maintain safety checks and direct observation as required.
Provide post-mortem care as directed and facilitate group clinical treatment activities as directed.
Obtain and document patient weights and observe and document intake and output.
Maintain a safe patient environment by promptly answering call lights and immediately communicating changes in patient condition to the RN.
Adapt care to patient needs including age, culture, language, hearing, visual, developmental, educational, and literacy needs, communicating at an appropriate level with patients and caregivers.
Complete paperwork and electronic records accurately and within procedural time limits.
Perform other assigned duties or projects and adhere to HMH organizational competencies and standards of behavior.