Mental Health Technician

Mosaic Health System•Saint Joseph, MO

35d

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Technician works under the supervision of the Director - Behavioral Health and, under the direction of a registered nurse or other designated authority, assists patients with activities of daily living, measures their general physical condition, and leads educational discussions. The technician observes and reports patient behavior patterns and intervenes verbally or physically as required. The role also maintains a therapeutic milieu conducive to quality patient care. The position requires travel between system facilities and off-site locations as needed. It involves communication and therapeutic engagement with patients, patient observation and documentation, assistance with personal care and clinical tasks, group facilitation, and monitoring the environment for safety. The role includes exposure to aggressive patients, blood and body fluids, and animals associated with pet therapy.

Requirements

High school diploma required.
Meet one of the listed UAP education pathways: recent UAP training, a fundamentals of nursing course, a certified nursing assistant program with CNA certification, a recent graduate of a professional or practical nursing program who did not pass the state licensure examination, or a nursing-program graduate from outside the United States awaiting licensure.
Alternatively, documented experience within the past three years as a nurse assistant, emergency medical technician, or surgical technician may meet the stated education requirement.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required within 90 days.
CPI: Nonviolent Crisis Intervention certification required within 90 days.
Any other training required by the organization must be completed within 90 days.
Must be able to travel between system facilities and off-site locations as needed.
Must communicate clearly in person and by phone, write, and use fine motor skills to assist people with disabilities.
Ability to use computers, printers, and telephone equipment.
Ability to teach, provide accurate and concise information, answer questions, maintain positive relationships with multiple customers, motivate, and persuade.
Requires communication, group-leading, mental health observation, and crisis intervention skills.
Must be able to move between patient locations to assess, evaluate, and administer care plans; occasionally turn an average-weight bedridden adult patient and ambulate patients.
Must be able to walk, move, kneel, crouch, stoop, reach, stand, push, pull, and lift, and follow good body mechanics.
Requires critical thinking, problem-solving, negotiating, patient-information interpretation, understanding of rules and procedures, clear communication to small groups, and assessment of patient abilities.
Requires functional vision, hearing acuity, and smell.

Nice To Haves

Experience as a nurse assistant in an inpatient setting.

Responsibilities

Establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with patients while preserving dignity, respecting patient values, and following ethical and organizational standards.
Conduct and accurately record patient observation rounds according to organizational standards.
Communicate patient needs and changes in condition to appropriate caregivers.
Assist patients with activities of daily living, monitor bathing, provide assistance as needed, and help with personal laundry when necessary.
Perform patient care tasks, including taking and recording vital signs, collecting specimens, monitoring and documenting food and fluid intake, and accompanying patients to medical testing as assigned.
Intervene when patients disregard, violate, or ignore unit safety rules.
Assist with placing patients in seclusion or restraints according to organizational standards.
Check and document luggage and personal belongings upon admission and maintain a property list.
Provide educational groups and Community & Goals groups as assigned.
Monitor the environment for safety, including participating in unit and room searches.
Travel between system facilities and off-site locations as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned.