SCU MHT/CNA

Appling Healthcare•Baxley, GA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This role involves facilitating groups and activities for patients, planning and implementing specialty and health teaching groups, and documenting patient progress. The position requires maintaining appropriate therapeutic boundaries with patients and assisting other staff in understanding and upholding these boundaries. The individual will also be responsible for accurate and timely documentation in accordance with facility standards and regulatory requirements, ensuring the dignity of psychiatric patients is maintained through non-judgmental communication and unconditional positive regard. The role includes observing, recording, and reporting patient activities, especially those requiring special precautions, and implementing interventions to de-escalate situations. The MHT/CNA will assist in technical nursing care assignments, maintain a safe and clean environment, and support patient admission, transfer, and discharge procedures. Additionally, the position involves searching for contraband, facilitating family visits, attending and contributing to staff meetings, assisting with staff assignments, and acting as a preceptor for new MHTs. The role also requires performing additional job-related duties as needed and taking initiative to complete unassigned tasks.

Requirements

Current CPR Certified
Current CPI Certified (Crisis Prevention Institute)
New hires have 30 to 60 days to get certified in both CPR and CPI.
During the certification period, new hires are not assigned patients.

Responsibilities

Facilitates groups and activities, including specialty and health teaching groups.
Documents patient progress in regard to group activities, especially during un-programmed time and weekends.
Assists Activity Therapists, Social Workers, and Nurses as directed.
Maintains appropriate boundaries with patients and assists other staff in understanding and maintaining these boundaries.
Reports to supervisor if boundaries are violated by others.
Maintains documentation in accordance with departmental/facility standards and regulatory requirements.
Writes legibly, uses approved abbreviations, and ensures correct spelling in the clinical record.
Demonstrates skill in documentation and assists others in achieving the same skill level.
Understands and maintains the dignity of the psychiatric patient.
Communicates with non-judgmental statements regarding patient behavior.
Follows the philosophy of unconditional positive regard toward patients.
Under supervision, observes, records, and reports activities of patients requiring special precautions.
Completes appropriate observation logs.
Uses interventions and limits that are direct, timely, non-threatening, and effective in de-escalating patient behavior.
Is able to lead a crisis team within the milieu, giving direction to others in proper policy for resolution.
Is able to de-escalate potentially dangerous situations, including proper use of time outs, locked seclusion, or restraints.
Uses good judgment in reporting verbally and in writing all clinically pertinent observations to the charge nurse or other supervisor.
Performs technical nursing care assignments as directed by a licensed nurse, such as collecting specimens, weighing patients, and taking vital signs.
Assists in maintaining a safe and clean environment by reporting equipment issues and other problems to management.
Cleans equipment as assigned and receives linen and supply stock for the unit.
Assists with and accompanies patients in admission, transfer, and discharge procedures.
Initiates and conducts searches of patients and their belongings within policy guidelines.
Monitors for contraband on the Unit and strives to maintain a safe environment.
Facilitates patient visits with their families in an orderly and therapeutic manner.
Attends and contributes feedback in staff meetings.
May initiate and lead staff meetings when a need is recognized.
Takes personal responsibility for increasing staff morale and positive attitude on the unit.
Assists Charge Nurse when requested in assigning staff to groups and duties.
Acts as a preceptor to new MHT’s during their orientation.
Performs additional job-related duties as required and necessary within scope of job responsibilities.
Takes the initiative to complete tasks that are unassigned.