Psychiatric Technician, Advanced

University of Utah Health•South Salt Lake, UT

About The Position

University of Utah Health is hiring a Psychiatric Technician to provide a safe, supportive, and therapeutic environment for psychiatric patients and assist with basic patient care. The role supports the organization’s mission of improving health and well-being through patient care, research, and education, within a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, respect, compassion, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality, and trust. The technician works as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team, observing and documenting patient behavior, helping patients and families become familiar with the facility, supporting therapeutic activities and groups, and contributing to treatment planning and discharge planning. The position may also involve precepting new Psychiatric Technicians and assisting with unit training, quality assurance, supplies, and department forms. This position requires intensive work in a psychiatric setting and may involve moving patients or medical equipment. Employees may be exposed to infectious diseases. The employee must be able to meet the stated physical demands with or without accommodation.

Requirements

An associate degree, or two years of behavioral health or direct patient care experience. Experience may include work as a CNA, MA, HCA, teacher’s aide, or assistant.
Current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system; the eCredential must be obtained within 30 days of hire.
Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.
Ability to recognize possible adverse medication reactions and report them promptly to a Registered Nurse.
Ability to assess potential risk of harm to a patient or others, report concerns to a 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 social, behavioral, and communication skills.
Knowledge and skills to provide care appropriate to the ages of patients served on the assigned unit.
Knowledge of life-span 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.
Ability to perform intensive work that may exert up to 50 pounds and may consistently require lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or otherwise moving objects such as medical equipment or patients.
Ability to meet the position’s physical requirements with or without accommodation.

Responsibilities

Help maintain a safe, hazard-free environment by observing and documenting patient behavior, conducting room searches, reporting unsafe conditions, and providing appropriate emotional and physical support.
Assist with patient admissions by gathering routine information for nursing assessment, searching patients and personal effects for contraband, and documenting personal effects and other relevant 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 help 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, and order, stock, and maintain clerical and patient supplies.
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.
Assist the primary Registered Nurse with developing, evaluating, and revising patient care plans.
Recognize and promptly report possible adverse medication reactions to the Registered Nurse.
Assess whether a patient may harm themselves or others, report concerns to the Registered Nurse, and assist with restraints and seclusion.