Job Description

Job Type Full-time Description The Mental Health Technician is an entry level position applying principles and techniques of evaluation, therapeutic intervention, and treatment of patients. The technician manages a safe and therapeutic environment for mental health patients. Essential Duties: Able to perform mental status evaluations in ER setting to report to appropriate Dr. to determine appropriate disposition. Able to effectively follow through with recommended dispositions. Assists to maintain MHU standards of safety and cleanliness within the therapeutic milieu. Demonstrates an understanding of the action and side effects of psychotropic medications. Documents observations, interventions, and progress towards planned outcomes according to charting standards. Ensures that group and milieu programming occurs as scheduled. Implements planned treatment interventions and documents patients' response. Monitors assigned patients and assists with their personal care needs. Observes patient's mental status and documents per MHU charting guidelines. Possesses the knowledge and skill required to evaluate patients' mental status to determine treatment needs/interventions. Reports patient observations (assigned, group, milieu) to RN every shift. Utilizes approved behavioral management techniques when appropriate. Requirements Preferred Experience Experience in a medical or psychiatric setting preferred Required Licensure/Education High school diploma or equivalent required. Basic Life Support (BLS) required Preferred Education College level courses in Psychology or related field preferred or Bachelors Degree preferred. Employee Health Requirements Exposure: Chemicals: Refer to MSDS sheets Video Display Terminals: Average Blood and Body Fluids: Diagnostic composite of patients, frequent contact with intravenous devices, and high potential for contact with contaminated body fluids (blood, stool, vomitus) and administration of blood does create a high risk. use of needleless IV system, universal precautions and protective equipment minimize risk. TB or Airborne Pathogens: Patient diagnostic presentations do pose high risk; however, usage of protective wear, appropriate size TB mask from fit test and universal precautions reduces risk. Sensory requirements (speech, vision, smell, hearing, touch): Speech: Required to communicate with patient/families/staff/doctors, coworkers, ancillary personnel and other department heads. Ability to ask for help. Vision: Required to observe patients and their physical assessment, ability to read reports, ability to read machines. Smell: Helpful to note presence of incontinence, vomitus, blood; electrical/fire safety. Hearing: Necessary to hear alarms, calls for help and to hear patient verbalizations; ability to listen for lung, bowel, heart sounds. Touch: Necessary to assess patients, need to distinguish between hot and cold. Activity/Lifting Requirements: Percentage of time during the normal workday the employee is required to: Sit: 10% Twist: 4% Stand: 40% Crawl: 0% Walk: 25% Kneel: 1% Lift: 10% Drive: 0% Squat: 1% Climb: 1% Bend: 30% Reach above shoulders: 3% The weight required to be lifted each normal workday according to the continuum described below: Up to 10 lbs: Frequently Up to 20 lbs: Frequently Up to 35 lbs: Frequently Up to 60 lbs: Occasionally Up to 75 lbs: Not Required Up to 100 lbs: Not Required Over 100lbs: Not Required Describe and explain the lifting and carrying requirements: Lifting of patients off their beds that are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment. Horizontal movement of patients to and from carts/beds who are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment. Lifting equipment - carry 25'- 150' waist high (IV bags, patient trays). Carry charts 25'- 150' waist high. Filled laundry bags are filled half full so as not to weigh over 35 lbs. Carry fire extinguishers up or down 3-4 flights of stairs and several yards in an emergency. Maximum consecutive time (minutes) during the normal workday for each activity: Sit: 30 Twist: 15 Stand: 60 Crawl: 0 Walk: 10 Kneel: 0 Lift: 5 Drive: 0 Squat: 2 Climb: 1 Bend: 15 Reach above shoulders: 2 Repetitive use of hands (Frequency indicated): Simple grasp 10 lbs. Normal weight Pushing & pulling - 50-200 lbs: Occasionally Fine Manipulation: Typing in computer, medical/supply dispensing cabinet, using pens to chart, drawing up meds in syringe and administration, starting IV's. Leg Strength: Up to 50 lbs: Occasionally- (repetitive use of foot or feet in operating machine control: utilized in positioning beds during transport; x-ray, surgery or in an emergency situation from floor to floor, locking beds or cardiac chairs.) Environmental Factors and Special Hazards: Environmental Factors (Time Spent): Inside hours: 6-40 Outside hours: 0 Temperature: Normal Range Lighting: Average Noise levels: Average Humidity: Normal Range Atmosphere: Odors Special Hazards: Chemical -drugs/work with patients receiving chemotherapy-Explosive-oxygen; Radiation-cesium implants and radioactive iodine therapy direct radiation for radiology equipment; mechanical- use of Hoover lift bed scales, motorized wheelchairs, bathtub lift chair. Protective Clothing Required: As required for chemotherapy or in cases of isolation, i.e. gloves, gowns, masks, goggles. Salary Description $18.46-$22.12/hr Riverside Healthcare

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