E.D Psychiatric Tech, Fulltime Days

Stamford Health•Stamford, CT

About The Position

The Psychiatric Technician provides a safe, supportive, and therapeutic environment for psychiatric patients and assists with their basic care needs. In cooperation with other health team members, the technician helps implement care plans designed to meet patients’ therapeutic goals. The role includes physical assistance with bathing and other activities of daily living, stocking supplies, handling patient belongings, and assisting during acute situations such as physical holds or restraints. The technician monitors and documents patient behavior, supports therapeutic groups and the unit milieu, and works with nursing staff to meet patients’ care needs and facilitate safe admissions and discharges. The role also requires monitoring acute patients and performing assigned tasks such as one-to-one observation, constant observation, restraint monitoring, phlebotomy, EKGs, point-of-care testing, and vital signs. The technician maintains therapeutic boundaries, uses therapeutic communication, follows policies and safe practices, and participates in staff meetings, training, and practice-development initiatives. The position involves prolonged standing; transporting, lifting, moving, or carrying heavy items over 30 pounds intermittently; and exposure to dirt, odors, noise, human waste, body fluids, potentially aggressive patients, cuts, needle punctures, burns, toxic chemicals, falls, and possible back injuries. Work may take place on uneven, slippery, or unstable surfaces.

Requirements

An associate’s degree in a related field or at least one year of work experience in a related job.
Ability to extract and interpret information and/or perform arithmetic functions.
BLS certification.
De-escalation training certification (MOAB or CPI) obtained within six months of hire.
Ability to perform electronic documentation.
Basic medical terminology.
Manual dexterity and motor coordination for tasks such as typing and machine operation.
Ability to perform duties involving prolonged standing and intermittent lifting, moving, or carrying items over 30 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
At least one year of experience in healthcare and psychiatry or behavioral health.

Responsibilities

Help maintain a safe, hazard-free environment and report unsafe conditions or concerns to nursing personnel.
Respond promptly, efficiently, and calmly to crises and emergencies, taking appropriate action.
Maintain therapeutic boundaries and build supportive rapport with patients and their families or loved ones.
Perform patient and environmental rounds and promptly report clinical or customer-service concerns to supervising staff.
Observe and document patient behaviors.
Collaborate with nursing staff and assist peers in meeting patients’ basic care needs and activities of daily living.
Assist nursing staff with patient admissions and safe transitions.
Assist nursing staff with safe patient discharges.
Help formulate behavioral care plans and ensure they are followed.
Provide psychoeducational group support, contribute to the therapeutic milieu, and support patient safety and well-being.
Monitor acute patients, including one-to-one and constant observation and restraints, and perform phlebotomy, EKGs, point-of-care testing, and vital-sign checks as assigned.
Redirect patients and use therapeutic communication while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
Follow policies and model safe practices for peers.
Participate in monthly technician councils, staff meetings, and practice-development initiatives.
Promote and facilitate unit-based strategic action plans and goals.
Check work email during shifts, attend staff meetings, safety huddles, and interdisciplinary team meetings, and seek clarification when needed.
Perform other related duties as assigned or requested to maintain a high level of service.
Complete required ongoing training and education, including department-specific requirements.
Follow professional behavior standards, organizational policies and procedures, and external agency requirements.