Mental Health Technician - PRN

POSITION SUMMARY:
 The Mental Health Technician (MHT) role is to function as a member of the nursing staff to facilitate quality patient care. The MHT supports the licensed nursing staff to ensure the needs of the patients are met by performing routinely assigned tasks and carrying out patient care activities within the scope of the MHT’s training and experience. Provides direct patient care to assigned patients ensuring that the patients activities of daily living are met. They are primarily responsible for the day to day custodial care of the patients. The MHT assist with providing a therapeutic milieu and group assignments as directed. The MHT utilizes a basic knowledge of psychiatric nursing skills and communicate the emotional, behavior, and psychiatric manifestation of the patient’s psychiatric condition to the licensed nursing staff.  The MHT is the visible presences of the nursing staff on the unit and are readily available to the patients for the patient’s day to day needs. In addition, they ensure a safe environment through diligent observation of the physical environment as well as the patient’s status. The MHT must communicate effectively identified findings observed with the patients to the licensed nursing staff. In addition, the MHT
 assist the licensed staff with basic clerical duties when indicated. The MHT will maintain a safe and professional standard for patient care according to facility mission, policy and procedure, and in accordance with all external regulatory and credentialing bodies. As a key member of the nursing staff, the MHT is available to families for communication between the families, patients, and licensed nursing staff. The MHT assist with the nutritional needs of the patients, through working with the licensed nurses to ensure that nutritional needs are met. The MHT utilizes their knowledge of psychiatric condition and understanding of supportive care to manage the therapeutic environment. Displays an understanding of therapeutic communication and de-escalation techniques when required.

 WORKING CONDITONS:
Work environment characteristics are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally be exposed to fumes or airborne particles.  The noise level in the work environment may be moderate to high.  The work environment may include chemicals used for cleaning, and have dust, mist, and stream generated in housekeeping tasks.  This is a smoke-free workplace. Work requires spending approximately 75% or more of the time inside a building that offers protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.  
The employee must provide documentation of a tuberculosis test during new-hire orientation and annually thereafter.

 PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:   Must be able to stand on feet for moderate periods of time, standing couls be
 as high as 60-80% per working shift per day.  Must be able to sit for extended periods of time, at least 4 hours. A
 certain amount of walking and standing are often necessary to carry out job duties.  Lifting/carrying may exceed
 10 pounds. 
 Additional work environment characteristics may include: performing repetitive tasks/motion, and hearing alarms,
 telephone, and normal speaking voice.  Stress is identified as a job hazard resulting from a hectic environment
 with frequent interruptions. The environment alone presents a certain amount of risk servicing psychiatric patients
 in acute and crisis needs

The position also requires:

 Reaching: Extending the hands and arms in any direction.
 Handling: Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with the hand or hands.
 Fingering: Picking, pinching, and otherwise working with the fingers primarily.
 Feeling: Perceiving such attributes of objects and materials as size, shape, temperature or texture by
 means of receptors in the skin, particularly those of the fingertips.
 Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
 Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds by the ear.
 Seeing: Obtaining impressions through the eyes of the shape, size, distance, motion, or other
 characteristics of objects.  The major visual functions are: (a) acuity – far and near; (b) depth
 perception; (c) field of vision; (d) accommodation; (e) color vision. 

 Exposure Category:   Category II (tasks involve potential for exposure to blood, bodily fluids, or tissues.)

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND/OR EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education: 
License: 
Experience: 
High School Education required. Certification as a Nurse assistant is desired but not required 
None
 Desired previous experience working with psychiatric, geriatric or chemical dependent clients

 Additional Requirement:
  Effective verbal communication skills
  Effective organizational skills
  Effective interpersonal skills
  Analytical problem solving skills
  Ability to read and comprehend written instructions; ability to follow verbal instructions
  Proficient knowledge of PC computers
  Basic understanding of DSM V diagnostic criteria
  Basic understanding of medical and psychiatric diagnoses and conditions

 CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, AND/OR REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED:

  Photo ID
  Social Security Card/Driver’s License
  Primary Source Verification of education
  Copy of clinical license if applicable
  CPR
  Behavioral  Management Training