Mental Health Technician - Older Adult Unit - FT Days

Hackensack Meridian Health • Montgomery, NJ

1d • $21 • Onsite

About The Position

The Mental Health Technician serves as a caregiver for a specific patient population, providing direct and indirect care as part of an interdisciplinary team under the direction of a registered nurse. The role supports patient satisfaction, comfort, safety, and effective outcomes for complex patients, and includes patient-, unit-, and environment-related tasks. The technician may be assigned or floated during a shift to inpatient units, crisis units, or the emergency room according to patient-care needs.

Care is tailored to patients’ physical, psychosocial, educational, safety, age-related, cultural, language, and accessibility needs. The technician communicates with patients and the healthcare team about patient status and care, contributes to care planning and safe transitions from admission through discharge, participates in performance-improvement and patient-safety activities, and takes initiative to improve job performance and patient experience.

Specific duties may include welcoming and orienting patients; assisting with admission, examinations, and procedures; observing and reporting patient condition and behavior; collecting and documenting vital signs, glucose readings, weights, intake and output, and specimens; performing venipuncture and EKGs as needed; maintaining equipment and supplies; transporting patients; providing one-to-one observation and safety checks; assisting with seclusion, restraint, and monitoring of agitated patients under RN direction; supporting meals, hygiene, comfort, and group treatment activities; maintaining a safe environment and handling patient belongings according to policy; completing records accurately and on time; and providing post-mortem care as directed. Other duties and projects may be assigned. The position adheres to HMH organizational competencies and standards of behavior.

Requirements

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent GED program.
• AHA Basic Health Care certification.
• Ability to learn quickly and adapt to changing patient needs.
• Strong accountability for improving the lives of patients and caregivers.
• Exceptional focus on teamwork.
• Dedication to ongoing education.
• Ability and passion to deliver high-quality care and service with a strong patient focus.

Nice To Haves

• Experience or certification in phlebotomy and experience checking EKGs, vital signs, and blood sugar.
• At least one year of PCT, MHT, CNA, or other behavioral-health experience in a hospital setting.
• Experience with behavioral-health patients.
• CNA, CMA, MHT, or PCT credential; for PCTs, successful completion of a program including phlebotomy, EKG, and nursing-assistant coursework in both theoretical and clinical settings.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct and indirect patient care appropriate to patients’ physical, psychosocial, educational, safety, age, and other needs.
• Promote patient satisfaction, comfort, safety, and effective outcomes under the direction of the registered nurse.
• Communicate with patients, nursing colleagues, and other healthcare team members regarding patient status and care provided.
• 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 and orient patients; verify identification bracelets; and develop rapport with patients, families, and significant others.
• Prepare patients for assessment, admission, physical examinations, and procedures; participate in patient searches as directed by an RN and according to 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, including vital signs and oxygen saturation, and promptly notify the RN of abnormal findings.
• Collect, label, process, and transport blood and other specimens; perform venipuncture and glucose finger sticks as needed and directed.
• Perform EKGs as needed and directed.
• Ensure necessary equipment is present, functional, and clean; check and restock assigned-area inventory as directed.
• Apply bandages, slings, compression boots, and hypothermia blankets according to standards and as directed by the RN.
• Support psychiatry consultation-liaison services by setting up equipment and observing the patient and equipment during telehealth consultations, where applicable.
• Assist with patient transport and provide one-to-one direct observation when needed for safety.
• Assist with seclusion, restraint, and monitoring of agitated patients under RN direction; complete related documentation and conduct and document 5-, 15-, or 30-minute safety checks as assigned.
• Assist patients with meals, feeding, dressing, undressing, bathing, toileting, oral hygiene, incontinent care, and other comfort needs; make beds and provide post-mortem care as directed.
• Handle patient belongings and clothing according to hospital policy, including completing property checklists, inspecting items, preventing prohibited materials from entering, and monitoring return of clothing to family.
• Receive visitors during visiting hours and maintain safety checks and direct observation as needed.
• Facilitate group clinical treatment activities as directed; obtain and document patient weights and intake and output.
• Maintain a safe patient environment by responding promptly to call lights and immediately communicating changes in patient condition to the RN.
• Adapt care and communication to patient needs, including age, culture, language, hearing or visual impairment, developmental level, education, and literacy.
• 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.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package for full-time and part-time positions of 20 or more hours per week, including health, dental, and vision coverage, paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and retirement benefits.
• Some positions may be eligible for performance-based incentives, bonuses, commissions, or shift differentials.

What This Job Offers

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