Psychiatric Technician

Carilion Clinic•Roanoke, VA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Psychiatric Technician helps ensure the safety of adults and children with mental illness on an acute psychiatric hospital unit. The role provides patient care, assists with activities of daily living, offers secretarial support, leads daily goals and wrap-up groups, and directs or leads code-secure activities. The technician participates in unit activities, shares relevant observations and information with the team, and helps maintain a safe therapeutic milieu. The technician observes patients and reports unusual circumstances to licensed nurses; organizes and provides care according to unit standards; and completes admission and discharge processes and documentation in the chart or EMR. New admissions are welcomed, made comfortable, and oriented to unit routines and safety precautions within 15 minutes of arrival. The technician responds promptly to call lights and telephones, conducts safety rounds every 15 minutes or according to policy, supports patients’ daily living and nutritional needs, and performs delegated treatments such as EKGs, blood glucose testing, intake and output, and enemas. The role advocates for patients, protects their rights, and provides psychological, social, and cultural support while treating patients with respect and dignity. The technician provides timely information and care to patients and families, reports concerns raised in groups to a licensed nurse, and uses available resources to address cultural and disability needs. The technician must recognize when direction or assistance is needed, work effectively with patients who may become aggressive or combative, assist nursing staff during escalations, and help lead code-secure activities with staff and security. Additional duties include participating in quality management and performance improvement activities, supporting unit-level cost containment, appropriately charging for supplies, maintaining and returning equipment, identifying and reporting safety hazards, and performing clerical duties under the supervision of licensed nursing staff. The position works three 12-hour night shifts. A $5,000 sign-on bonus may be available to eligible external hires under applicable guidelines.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Successfully complete de-escalation training within four months of hire and maintain it thereafter.
Must be able to obtain AHA BLS-HCP certification.
A valid Virginia state driver’s license is required in the NRV to transport patients.
Experience with, or ability to manage, patients with explosive potential and escalating situations.
Ability to function with minimal supervision and recognize when direction or assistance is needed for situations beyond the role’s capabilities.
Ability to learn and participate as a team member.
Clinical skills to work with child, adolescent, and adult populations, with an understanding of their growth and development.

Responsibilities

Observe patients and report unusual circumstances, concerns, or other relevant information to licensed nursing staff.
Organize, prioritize, and provide nursing care in accordance with unit standards.
Complete admission and discharge processes and documentation in the chart or EMR.
Greet new admissions, make them comfortable, and orient them to unit routines and safety precautions within 15 minutes of arrival.
Respond promptly to call lights and telephones and meet basic patient needs.
Conduct patient safety rounds every 15 minutes or according to unit policy.
Assist patients with activities of daily living and nutritional needs.
Perform delegated patient treatments, including EKGs, blood glucose testing, intake and output, and enemas.
Advocate for patients, protect their rights, and provide psychological, social, and cultural support while treating patients with respect and dignity.
Provide patients and families with appropriate information and care in a timely manner, using resources to address cultural and disability needs.
Organize and lead daily goals and wrap-up groups, and report patient issues or concerns raised during groups to a licensed nurse.
Recognize when direction or assistance is needed and work within the scope of the role.
Assist nursing staff with escalating patients and help manage situations involving potential aggressive or combative behavior.
Lead and direct code-secure activities with staff and security and support safety during crisis situations.
Participate in quality management and performance improvement activities and identify opportunities for improvement.
Support unit-level cost containment, charge for supplies at the time of use, and use equipment and supplies appropriately and cost-effectively.
Remove discontinued equipment from patient rooms, clean it, and return it to the proper storage area.
Maintain a safe, orderly, and professional environment; identify and correct safety hazards or report them to the appropriate resource.
Select appropriate equipment, verify that it is operating properly, and use it according to policy, procedure, or manufacturer recommendations.
Perform clerical duties under the supervision of licensed nursing staff.