The Behavioral Health Technician, in collaboration with behavioral health nurses and other clinicians, works closely with individuals suffering from but not limited to developmental disorders, psychiatric disorders, mental illness and/or substance abuse issues. The Behavioral Health Technician will assist with daily patient care tasks, organizing activities, and monitoring of patients in an acute behavioral health crisis. The Behavioral Health Technician must have effective communication, compassion, attention to detail, de-escalation techniques and good time management. Activities are based on the organizational or unit needs and are performed within the scope of education, training, and experience. Essential Duties and Responsibilities These duties and responsibilities described below represent the general tasks performed on a daily basis; other tasks may be assigned.
Care of the Behavioral Health Patient
Develop a therapeutic relationship with behavioral health patients. Assist in participating, observing, monitoring, reporting, and recording patient interactions in the milieu or during activities or group sessions.
Demonstrate a sound understanding and assist in the management of a therapeutic milieu; providing structure, social support, patient-education, safety and social skills training.
Act as physical patient sitter or camera/audio viewer for both safety and suicide precautions. Complete required observations, interventions, and documentation timely and accurately.
Utilize sound judgment and crisis intervention skills, including verbal de-escalation, to prevent or reverse situations which may be potentially harmful.
Support patient safety, in accordance with scope of role and hospital policy and training, with seclusion/restraint, elopement and management of the assaultive patient.
Demonstrate a basic understanding of psychotropic medications, in accordance with scope, including actions and side effects.
Assist with patient education as appropriate for scope.
Assist with training programs for clinical staff related to care of the behavioral health patient population.
General Patient Care/Procedures
Assist patient with activities of daily living (ADL’s) including but not limited to meals/feeding, bathing, oral care, range of motion and/or ambulation.
Respond to patient or visitor call lights promptly.
Perform blood glucose monitoring.
Collect specimens according to policy and transport to lab as needed.
Escort patient during testing or transfer.
Obtain blood products from Blood Bank per policy.
Perform EKG.
Monitor and record patient vital signs and intake/output.
Accurately notify nurse of pertinent changes in patient's condition.
Maintain/stock adequate supplies and equipment.
Follow established routines and utilize supplies and equipment in a cost effective manner.
Initiate emergency measures as appropriate according to scope (i.e. Code Red, Patient Elopement, Code Green, etc.).
Perform functions within the electronic medical record in accordance with scope; utilize downtime procedures as necessary.
Relay urgent orders immediately to the appropriate staff.
Coordinate scheduling of diagnostic, therapeutic, and/or discharge services for patients.
Answer unit phone and communicate effectively.
Attend required unit-level and hospital-wide orientations, meetings, and in-services.
Demonstrate a flexibility with work scheduling as necessary to ensure patient care.
Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Education and Experience Minimum Required Education: High school diploma or equivalent Minimum Required Experience: 1 year previous experience as a care partner, Certified Nursing Assistant, or similar job role. Preferred Experience: Prior experience with behavioral health patient population Certificates, Licenses, Registrations BLS certification required. If not current upon hire, must complete BLS certification within 90 days of hire.
