Mental Health Technician, Psychiatric Acute, Day Shift, Full-time
About The Position
The Mental Health Technician provides direct and indirect care to a patient or assigned group of patients under the direction of a registered nurse (RN). The role supports patient care needs through the nursing process and uses age-related interventions for patients of different age groups as assigned by the RN. The technician helps maintain a safe, structured psychiatric acute-care program by supporting activities of daily living, therapeutic activities, patient monitoring, care documentation, and communication with patients and families. The role also assists nursing staff with routine clerical duties and performs other job-related duties as assigned.
Requirements
- High school education, GED, or equivalent.
- Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI), Techniques for Effective Aggression Management (TEAM), or TEAM-A certification.
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from an approved vendor per Adventist Health policy.
Nice To Haves
- Associate’s or technical degree, or an equivalent combination of education and related experience.
- Two years of experience in a behavioral healthcare setting.
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification.
- Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NCI) certification.
- Management of Assaultive Behavior certification.
Responsibilities
- Implement psychosocial interventions and assist patients with activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, oral hygiene, ambulating, transferring, and elimination needs.
- Assist with therapeutic program participation, meal supervision, patient safety checks, structured therapeutic activities, and supportive interactions.
- Use seclusion and restraint interventions when needed.
- Conduct therapeutic interventions with patients experiencing significant emotional, cognitive, or physical behavioral disturbances.
- Facilitate or co-facilitate therapeutic groups, including verbal process, patient education, and groups using nonverbal expression and communication.
- Recognize and report abnormal patient behaviors or physical symptoms to the RN so that interventions may be implemented.
- Collect patient data, perform physical examinations, and participate with the RN and other team members in planning and implementing care according to the care plan.
- Conduct required patient monitoring according to policy and document individual patient care information.
- Support patients and families through empathetic interaction and education within scope of practice; identify and reinforce teaching plans.
- Encourage patient participation in the program environment and support patients in coping with immediate situations.
- Assist nursing staff with clerical duties, prepare admission charts, complete routine forms, and answer telephones.
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
