Psychiatric Technician, Advanced

University of Utah Health•South Salt Lake, UT

About The Position

The Psychiatric Technician provides a safe, supportive, and therapeutic environment for psychiatric patients and assists with basic patient care. The role includes observing and documenting patient behavior, supporting admissions and patient orientation, accompanying patients to appointments and activities, and encouraging participation in recreational activities and group therapy. The technician contributes to patient treatment planning, education, and discharge planning, and shares observations with the care team to support the development and evaluation of patient care plans. The position also supports unit operations through training and quality assurance activities, maintaining and ordering supplies, and providing an annual educational in-service to coworkers. The employee may serve as a preceptor to new Psychiatric Technicians and coordinate with leadership on department forms. Work involves intensive physical activity, may require moving patients or equipment weighing up to 50 pounds, and may involve exposure to infectious diseases.

Requirements

An associate degree or two years of behavioral health or direct patient care experience; qualifying experience may include CNA, MA, HCA, teacher’s aide, or assistant experience.
Current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system; must be obtained within 30 days of hire.
Ability to recognize possible adverse medication reactions and report them promptly to the Registered Nurse.
Ability to assess whether a patient may harm themselves 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 and provide care in accordance with department policies and procedures.
Demonstrated human relations and effective communication skills.
Ability to meet the position’s physical requirements with or without accommodation, including intensive work that may exert up to 50 pounds and consistently involve lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or otherwise moving objects such as medical equipment or patients.

Responsibilities

Maintain a safe, hazard-free environment by observing and documenting patient behavior, conducting patient room searches, reporting unsafe conditions, and providing appropriate emotional and physical support.
Assist with patient admissions by gathering routine information for nursing assessments, searching patients and personal effects for contraband, and documenting personal effects and other appropriate information.
Orient patients and their families to the facility, its policies, and its procedures.
Escort patients to off-unit appointments and activities, using therapeutic interventions to ensure the safety of patients, staff, and visitors.
Encourage patients to participate in recreational activities and group therapies to support a therapeutic milieu.
Lead activity and conversation groups to provide supportive therapy for select patients.
Assist in developing patient behavioral expectations.
May serve as a preceptor to 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.
Participate 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 identified goals and assisting the primary Registered Nurse with developing, evaluating, and revising patient care plans.