Psychiatric Technician

University of Utah Health•Salt Lake City, UT

About The Position

This position provides a safe, supportive, and therapeutic environment for psychiatric patients and assists with providing basic patient care. The role works as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team and contributes to patient treatment planning, education, and discharge planning. Employees must be able to meet the position’s physical requirements, with or without accommodation; the work may involve moving patients or medical equipment and exposure to infectious diseases.

Requirements

At least six months of behavioral health or direct patient care experience; qualifying experience may include work as a CNA, MA, HCA, teacher’s aide, or assistant.
Obtain a current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system within 30 days of hire.
Meet any additional license requirements determined by the hiring department.
Ability to recognize adverse medication reactions and report them promptly to the Registered Nurse.
Ability to assess potential patient risk of harm to self or others, report concerns to the Registered Nurse, and assist with restraints and seclusion.
Interpersonal skills to build patient trust and respond appropriately in crisis situations.
Ability to apply group-dynamics principles when co-leading groups to develop members’ social, behavioral, and communication skills.
Knowledge and skills to provide care appropriate to the ages of patients served on the assigned unit.
Knowledge of lifespan growth and development principles and ability to assess patient-status data and provide care according to department policies and procedures.
Demonstrated human-relations and effective communication skills.

Responsibilities

Observe and document patient behavior; help maintain a safe, hazard-free environment by reporting unsafe conditions and providing appropriate emotional and physical support.
Assist with patient admissions by gathering routine information for nursing assessment, searching patients and belongings for contraband, and documenting personal effects and other appropriate information.
Orient patients and their families to the facility, policies, and procedures.
Escort patients to off-unit appointments and activities, using therapeutic interventions to protect the safety of patients, staff, and visitors.
Encourage patient participation in recreational activities and group therapies to support a therapeutic milieu.
Lead activity and conversation groups for selected patients as part of supportive therapy.
Assist in developing patient behavioral expectations.
May precept new Psychiatric Technicians.
Assist with unit training and quality assurance programs; order, stock, and maintain clerical and patient supplies; and provide an annual educational in-service to coworkers.
Work as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and may coordinate with leadership to maintain department forms.
Assist with initiating and contributing to patient treatment planning, teaching, and discharge planning.
Participate in patient care team conferences by sharing observations about patient progress toward goals and assisting the primary Registered Nurse with developing, evaluating, and revising patient care plans.
Recognize possible adverse medication reactions and promptly report them to the Registered Nurse.
Assess and report risks that patients may harm themselves or others, and assist with restraints and seclusion.