Behavioral Health Tech

It's more than a career, it's a calling.

MO-SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital

Worker Type:

Regular

Job Summary:

The Psychiatric Technician I establishes a therapeutic relationship with assigned patients and facilitates the maintenance of the therapeutic environment in the psychiatric unit. Under the direction and supervision of the professional nurse, he/she gives bedside nursing care to all types of patients according to standards of nursing care and assists in maintaining order and cleanliness within the unit.

Job Responsibilities and Requirements:

POSITION ACCOUNTABILITIES AND PERFORMANCE

Essential Functions: The following are essential job accountabilities and performance criteria:

Position Accountabilities

1) Performs general patient care as it relates to the patient's physical needs under the direction of the RN. (1, 3, 5, 6, 8) 40%

Criteria

A) Follows established policies and procedures in providing direct patient care.

1. Takes patient's vital signs, temperature, and weight.

2. Performs procedures as directed, including blood draws.

3. Assists patients with activities of daily living.

B) Initiates and plans for provision of patient comfort and hygiene measures.

C) Makes frequent rounds on all patients noting condition, requests, and environment.

1. Rounds are to be made at least every 30 minutes on all patients. Patients with special precautions ordered (suicide, elopement and close observation) rounds are every 15 minutes.

D) Assists with admission, discharge, and transfer of patients.

E) Performs pre- and post-ECT care as directed.

2) Communicates effectively on behalf of patients and/or unit concerns. (1, 3, 5, 6) 25%

Criteria

A) Obtains report from professional nurse and informs nurse of changes in patient's condition.

B) Documents all patient observations concisely and legibly on chart forms according to chart form guidelines.

1. Include general mood, affect, level of orientation, appetite, sleep, behavior, physical problems, communications of consequence to the patient's progress, etc. and nursing care interventions.

C) Leads or co-leads psycho-educational or skills oriented groups as directed by the Nurse Manager.

D) Answers the telephone by identifying the unit and self in a courteous manner.

E) Reviews patient treatment plan each shift.

F) Makes recommendations for changes to RN or treatment coordinator as needed.

G) Is aware of each assigned patient's treatment goals and performs interventions as directed on treatment plan.

H) Assists in the development of assigned patient's treatment plan in collaboration with RN.

I) Attends multidisciplinary treatment planning rounds at the direction of Nurse Manager or charge nurse.

3) Safety/Infection Control: Performs job in accordance with safety and infection control policies. (5, 8) 5%

Criteria

A) Practices standard precautions and disposes of hazardous wastes per established guidelines.

B) Maintains a safe, clean, comfortable, and therapeutic environment for patients/families/employees in accordance to hospital standards.

1. Maintains clutter free environment.

2. Keeps personal conversations/background noise to a minimum.

3. Adheres to dress code.

C) Reports risk management concerns.

D) Assumes responsibility for completing all annual mandatory requirements:

1. Maintains current license and certifications (i.e. CPR, ACLS, etc.)

2. Yearly TB Screening

3. Annual Ethics Training (Initial Ethics, if new employee)

4. Annual Safety Training

5. Required Information Security course

6. Required Abuse & Neglect course

7. Annual Blood Borne Pathogens training (if required)

8. Coursework as assigned for .edu

9. Annual competency

10. Age/Population specific competency (if applicable)

11. Orientation competency (if new hire)

12. Unit Specific

4) Service: Provides service excellence to the customers of Saint Louis University Hospital by delivering timely, high quality care in a courteous, and respectful manner.

(1, 2, 3, 4, 5) 10%

Criteria

A) Demonstrates care and courtesy.

1. Provides prompt, respectful, courteous service.

2. Meets physical, spiritual, psychological and emotional needs of patients and families.

3. Responds to call lights promptly.

4. Apologizes for mix-up and delay.

B) Communicates effectively and maintains confidentiality.

1. Listens to staff/patient / family concerns and addresses needs.

2. Explains procedures and all education in a manner that staff/patient/family understands.

3. Allows time for questions.

C) Demonstrates competence and collaboration.

1. Provides accurate change of shift report.

2. Provides quality care in accordance to standards.

3. Shares knowledge with other departments to facilitate work flow and continuity.

D) Provides cost effect services.

1. Uses resources wisely.

2. Recommends changes in practice that increases efficiency and minimizes waste.

5) Personal Accountability: Demonstrates accountability for own job performance. (6) 5%

Criteria

A) Acknowledges authority, responding appropriately to supervisors directions.

B) Adheres to all customer service standards in patient care and work practices.

C) Participates in additional learning experiences to increase competence including:

1. Staff meetings.

2. Mandatory in services and other educational programs.

3. Evaluation of self-performance by identifying strengths and areas for improvement.

D) Assists in developing and implementing nursing unit goals.

E) Is at work as scheduled and begins duties promptly at start of scheduled shift.

F) Functions as a resource person to co-workers, patients/families, medical staff, and ancillary personnel.

G) Identifies problems, gathers pertinent data, suggests solutions, communicates using appropriate lines of authority, and works toward problem resolution.

H) Spends free time with patients rather than with other personnel.

I) Asks for assistance when necessary and offers to assist co-workers willingly.

J) Demonstrates pride in the physical appearance of the hospital keeping all areas neat and clean.

6) Performance Improvement (PI): Incorporates Performance Improvement into one's job performance. (6) 5%

Criteria

A) Participates in discussion of PI outcomes.

B) Collects PI data as assigned.

C) Participates in research activities on the nursing unit.

7) Age Appropriate Care: Provides age-appropriate care to:

____Infant ___Child ____Adolescent _____Adult _____Geriatric

Criteria

A) Demonstrates knowledge and skills of normal growth and development necessary to provide services to the age of the patient served by the department.

B) Demonstrates ability to assess and interpret age specific data to identify patient needs.

C) Utilizes communication skills necessary to interpret age specific responses to service and interaction.

D) Involves family or significant other in decision making related to services provided.

E) Demonstrates ability to provide service needed for the age groups routinely served by the department assigned.

F) Position specific: Need to enter those responsibilities specific for position

8) Specialized Care: Provides specialized care to patients at high risk for injury.

(1, 2, 4, 5, 8) <1%

Criteria

A) Restraint /Seclusion Care

1. Initiates/evaluates alternatives to restraint prior to application.

2. Applies restraints/seclusion consistent with the approved procedure.

3. Monitors and assesses patient’s response throughout the restraint/seclusion period at the appropriate intervals.

4. Provides specified patient care (toileting, skin care, hydration, feeding, etc.) on a timely basis.

5. Provides for trail release and removal of restraint/seclusion as soon as possible.

B) Pain Management

1. Follows pain management plan of care, e.g.: repositioning, message, immobilization, music therapy etc.

2. Reports patient complaints of pain to the nursing staff and/or physician.

C) Abuse Assessment

1. Is aware of abuse recognition criteria and incorporates it into assessments.

2. Reports signs of possible abuse/neglect to the physician & Risk Management, and recommends appropriate consultations (psychiatric, Social Work) for evaluation.

DISCLAIMER: Performs other related duties as assigned or requested.

Rationale for Essential Functions:

1) The performance of this function is the reason the job exists.

2) There are limited employees among whom the performance of this function can be distributed.

3) This function occupies a great deal of the employee’s time.

4) This function is highly specialized. Employees are hired for the skill/ability to perform this function.

5) Failure to perform this function may have serious consequences.

6) The function was performed by past employees, and is performed by current employees.

7) Exposure to blood borne pathogens that require the use of protective equipment

8) Exposure to tuberculosis that requires the use of protective equipment

"Work requiring the knowledge and skills necessary to provide direct patient care appropriate to patient population of specialty":

Job Specifications

MINIMUM EDUCATION: High school graduate and 60 hours of psycho-social college credits Bachelor Degree preferred.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE: One year health care experience in acute psychiatric setting.

REQUIRED LICENSE/CERTIFICATION: Knowledge of therapeutic milieu and basic psychological theories.

WORKING CONDITIONS: Exposed to the risk of bloodborne diseases. Contact with patients under wide variety of circumstances. Exposed to unpleasant element (accidents, injuries, illness). Subject to varying and unpredictable situations. May perform emergency care. Subject to irregular hours. Pressure due to multiple competing demands.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Occasional prolonged, extensive, or considerable standing/walking. Lifts, positions, pushes, and/or transfers patients. Lifts/carries supplies and equipment. Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching, lifting, pushing, pulling 100 pounds.

Employee___________________________________________Date____________

Supervisor__________________________________________Date_____________

Department Director __________________________________Date_____________

Administration________________________________________Date_____________

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not to be construed, as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required of personnel so classified. An individual working in their job classification must also perform specific tasks upon request by supervisor personnel. Furthermore, the duties and responsibilities for this job classification are subject to change at the discretion of the medical center.

Work Shift:

Day Shift (United States of America)

Employee

Department:

1200010037 BHS - 2W

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

36

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