Description
The Behavioral Health Technician contributes to the achievement of quality care and optimal patient outcomes by maintaining a safe and therapeutic environment and by providing structure and emotional support to patients.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Assist the RN in maintaining a safe and therapeutic environment per NMMC policy.
- Consistently obtain shift reports and assignments from RN at the beginning of each assigned shift.
- Maintain prescribed levels of patient observation, including 15” checks, visual observation and 1:1 patient monitoring as needed.
- Conduct safety checks and secures sharps in accordance with NMMC policy.
- Conduct patient and environmental searches in accordance with NMMC policy.
- Demonstrate and apply knowledge of unit guidelines.
- Provide therapeutic supervision of patients.
- Demonstrate principle of therapeutic relationships when interacting with patients/families.
- Monitor and report mental and behavioral status changes.
- Employ techniques of behavioral management and utilize the least restrictive intervention in the patient care setting.
- Assist the RN in implementing the treatment plan to ensure optimal patient outcomes per NMMC policy.
- Consistently and accurately report patients’ status, behavior, and progress towards treatment goals.
- Consistently implement interventions identified in assigned patients’ treatment plans.
- Reinforce patient teaching as directed by the treatment team.
- Facilitate therapeutic group activities.
- Maintain hospital safety through the appropriate response to psychiatric emergencies per NMMC hospital policy.
- Consistently follow all NMMC policies and procedures regarding restraint and seclusion.
- Responsible for patient and employee safety as it applies to their work environment.
Requirements
EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE
- High school diploma is required. Though preferred, no previous training or experience is
- BLS certification within 90 days of hire.
- MOAB certification within 6 months of hire.
WORK HABITS:
- Demonstrates the ability to work independently and is accountable for own actions.
- Shows initiative and follow-through.
- Respond appropriately to workload changes during the shift.
- Display excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate with coworkers, physicians, patients and their families.
- Demonstrates productivity at work (makes good use of down time).
- Performs duties willingly and enthusiastically.
- Returns from breaks, meals, meetings and in-services in a timely manner.
- Uses appropriate and available resources, following established policies, to promote patient safety.
- Promptly reports patient safety occurrences in accordance with established hospital policies.
- Takes appropriate actions when safety issues are identified (reports hazardous situations to appropriate person, removes malfunctioning equipment, etc.).
- Demonstrates the ability to be flexible, organized, compassionate and functional under stressful situations.
- Adheres to the NMMC Code of Conduct at all times.