Per Diem Psychiatric Technician

Silver Hill Hospital•New Canaan, CT

7d•Onsite

About The Position

To ensure excellence of patient care under the direct supervision of the nurse, the Psychiatric Technician compliments the nursing process by assisting in the individualized care of patients on our inpatient units. Duties/Responsibilities: Assists the nurse with the collection of assessment data. Reports ongoing observation of patient behavior to the nurse. Communicates problems identified by patient and/or family to the nurse. Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide care or interaction appropriate to the patient population served by the assigned unit and the ability to assess and interpret age appropriate data about the patient's status in order to identify age-specific needs and provide the care needed. Maintains cooperative, ongoing communication with nurse and interdisciplinary health team members. Documents observations and patient behavior, e.g. checklists and Group Notes, Nursing Flow Sheets. Assists nurse in identifying patient care goals, development/revision of care plans, and the formulation of treatment plans. Assists the nurse in the implementation and evaluation of interventions. Implements procedures according to established Standards of Practice and policy and procedure. Demonstrates thoroughness and accuracy in performing baseline vital signs, i.e., height, weight, N.P.O., CIWA/COWS and identify and report to staff nurse results out of the normal range. Collects, labels and transports specimens in a safe and accurate manner. Observes patients on special precautions (e.g., constant observation, special observation, camera observation, seclusion/restraint) according to policy and procedure. Assists in the implementation and evaluation of group programs with patients and patient's ability to perform Activities of Daily Living. Escorts patients to program, appointments, library, etc. Actively conducts several groups each day (i.e., Wrap Up Group, Goals Group, Leisure Activities Group, Movement Group) Identifies patient safety needs, ligature risks, and unsafe situations in the milieu and reports them to the nurse. Assists in orienting patients to the milieu, Patient's Bill of Rights, scheduled program and unit rules/routines. Demonstrates thoroughness and accuracy in performing patient checks and ligature checks every 15 minutes as well as room checks. Intervenes in a safe and therapeutic manner with escalating and aggressive patients. Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness in assisting team members in alerts, including CPR. Assists with evaluation of patient outcome, institutes corrective action and follow-up. Participates in staff meetings and is responsible for being aware of administrative and clinical issues. Assists in orientation with new Psychiatric Technicians and Volunteers. Performs other duties and responsibilities, as assigned.

Requirements

Must have the ability to function optimally in a stressful environment, and the ability to remain calm in emotionally charged situations.
Must be able to speak and write fluently in the English language.
High school diploma required, bachelor’s degree preferred.
CPR BLS certification and CPI, after hire and before assignment to direct patient care.
Ability to move light objects weighing less than 20 pounds for short distances.
Ability to sit at a desk and walk around for different periods of time.

Responsibilities

Assists the nurse with the collection of assessment data.
Reports ongoing observation of patient behavior to the nurse.
Communicates problems identified by patient and/or family to the nurse.
Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide care or interaction appropriate to the patient population served by the assigned unit and the ability to assess and interpret age appropriate data about the patient's status in order to identify age-specific needs and provide the care needed.
Maintains cooperative, ongoing communication with nurse and interdisciplinary health team members.
Documents observations and patient behavior, e.g. checklists and Group Notes, Nursing Flow Sheets.
Assists nurse in identifying patient care goals, development/revision of care plans, and the formulation of treatment plans.
Assists the nurse in the implementation and evaluation of interventions.
Implements procedures according to established Standards of Practice and policy and procedure.
Demonstrates thoroughness and accuracy in performing baseline vital signs, i.e., height, weight, N.P.O., CIWA/COWS and identify and report to staff nurse results out of the normal range.
Collects, labels and transports specimens in a safe and accurate manner.
Observes patients on special precautions (e.g., constant observation, special observation, camera observation, seclusion/restraint) according to policy and procedure.
Assists in the implementation and evaluation of group programs with patients and patient's ability to perform Activities of Daily Living.
Escorts patients to program, appointments, library, etc.
Actively conducts several groups each day (i.e., Wrap Up Group, Goals Group, Leisure Activities Group, Movement Group)
Identifies patient safety needs, ligature risks, and unsafe situations in the milieu and reports them to the nurse.
Assists in orienting patients to the milieu, Patient's Bill of Rights, scheduled program and unit rules/routines.
Demonstrates thoroughness and accuracy in performing patient checks and ligature checks every 15 minutes as well as room checks.
Intervenes in a safe and therapeutic manner with escalating and aggressive patients.
Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness in assisting team members in alerts, including CPR.
Assists with evaluation of patient outcome, institutes corrective action and follow-up.
Participates in staff meetings and is responsible for being aware of administrative and clinical issues.
Assists in orientation with new Psychiatric Technicians and Volunteers.
Performs other duties and responsibilities, as assigned.