Psychiatric Technician

Brown Medicine•Newport, RI

3d•$18 - $27•Onsite

About The Position

The Psychiatric Technician works under the direction of the Registered Professional Nurse and is responsible to the Behavioral Health Manager. The role provides direct care to adult patients on the Behavioral Health Unit and helps maintain a safe, therapeutic milieu. The technician is expected to model Brown University Health’s values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence, as well as demonstrate its core Success Factors: Instill Trust and Value Differences, Patient and Community Focus, and Collaborate. The position responds to individual patient-care situations using knowledge and skills gained through education, certification, and work experience. Abnormal situations are referred to the direct supervisor. The work takes place in a general hospital environment, with occasional stressful conditions associated with patient care. The employee must be able to walk and remain on their feet for at least four hours to conduct continuous patient rounds and unit safety checks.

Requirements

Baccalaureate degree in Psychology or a related field, or a CNA license with experience working with the behavioral health population.
Current CPR certification.
Current Brown University Health Crisis Management certification or current enrollment in the certification.
Knowledge and skills necessary to provide care across the life span, taking into consideration aging processes, human development stages, and cultural patterns.
Ability to walk and remain on feet for a minimum of four hours to perform continuous patient rounds and unit safety checks.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the healthcare field is preferred.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the Professional Nurse in developing the initial problem list and treatment plan, and participate in treatment planning.
Communicate individual treatment plans to members of the multidisciplinary team.
Implement treatment plans in accordance with unit policies and procedures, including setting consistent and supportive therapeutic limits.
Provide input at team meetings to assist with evaluating care.
Document significant patient and family interactions on the flowsheet in a timely manner.
Observe patients during activities of daily living, including personal hygiene, ambulation, and shaving, in accordance with treatment plans.
Establish therapeutic relationships with patients and encourage participation in recreational activities, therapeutic activities, and treatment groups.
Model appropriate therapeutic interactions with patients and families.
Conduct patient rounds, observe and record patient behavior, and report unusual behavior to nursing staff.
Initiate formal and informal supervision and use feedback to improve job performance.
Organize and participate in recreational activities and some groups, using an understanding of psychiatric illnesses and patients’ psychosocial and intellectual needs.
Maintain the cleanliness of the group room and report safety hazards to the Charge Nurse.
Interact effectively with patients, families, and healthcare team members using interpersonal and communication skills.
Manage aggressive or destructive behavior through timely therapeutic interventions.
Assist with placing patients in seclusion or restraints according to policies and procedures.
Assist with patient and room searches.
Maintain patient confidentiality and respect patients’ right to privacy.