Mental Health Technician

Job ProfileSummary​This role focuses on providing professional and nonprofessional nursing care servicesin accordance withphysician orders.In addition, this role focuses on performing the following Nursing Support duties:Providesbasic care services topatients, butdoes not have an RN or LPN license.  Positions in this nursing support work under the direction of physicians, mid-level practitioners, and may work under the direction of registered nurses depending on their unit.A clinical technologist role that has specialized knowledge or skills gained through a combination of vocational education, training, and experience.This role will be most commonly applied to patient care and/or scientific/laboratory jobs.An experienced level role requiring basic knowledge of job procedures and tools obtained through work experience and requiring vocational or technical education.Works under moderate supervision, works through problems of a routine nature, but may at times require interpretation or deviation from standard procedures and communicates information that requires some explanation or interpretation.Job OverviewThepositionaccording to the policies, procedures, philosophy, andobjectiveof the department and hospital.Works cooperatively within the department and the contracted behavioral health services with other services to create a system of quality health care.Under the direct supervision of a registered nurse, this positionprovidesphysical and emotional care to patients on an assigned unit, as a member of the patient care team.Job DescriptionMinimum Qualifications:1.High school diploma or equivalent.2.One (1) year of applicable experience in mental health services, addiction recovery.3.Current Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification.Preferred Qualifications:1.Bachelor’s degree inPsychology orBehavioralSciences2.Three (3) years of applicable experienceworking withpsychiatric patients.Duties and Responsibilities:Theduties and responsibilities listedbeloware intended to describe the general nature of workandare not intended to be an all-inclusive list.Other dutiesand responsibilitiesmay be assigned.1.Monitorsthe patient’s condition through general observations, taking vital signs neurological signs anddeterminingweights and heights. Administers physical care and personal hygiene measures to assigned patients asappropriate.2.Establishesa therapeuticand helpingrelationship with assigned patients and helps patients with daily living activities such as daily hygiene, showering and clothing.Responds promptly and appropriately to the needs and requests of patients asappropriate.3.Facilitateseffective patient reports.At the beginning of each shift, receives a report and an assignment from the nurse at the beginning of each shift.During the shift and after the shift,Communicates pertinent observations and informationregardingthe patient’s condition to the nurse4.Assists the nurse or physician duringexams andprocedures.Completes specimen collection and test measurements.Observes the patient’s condition during and after the procedure as directed and supervised by the RN.5.Assists in the pre-admission and discharge process as requested.This may includerecording vital signs,checking ID bracelets, orienting patients to the unit and escorting patients and their families to the exit.6.Assistswith administrative duties such as documenting observations andactivityofpatient. Requires keeping detailed records, reporting changes in patients' behavior to the clinical care team.7.Transports patients,equipmentand specimens todesignatedareas.8.Maintainsthe patient environment and the nursing unit in a clean,neatand safe manner.9.Assists in managingmeal times.Ensurethat patients have received the proper meal trays andobservespatients’ nutritional intake.Assistsin setting up patient’s tray and feeding patient whenappropriate.10.Provides assistanceduring Code99sby calling the page operator, obtaining equipment, transportingspecimensandobservingandassistingthe other patients on the unit.11.Assists inmonitoringthe safety of the unit.12.Participatesin the implementation of the treatment plan.13.Participatesin milieu activities and groups.Observes and reports patients’ interactions in the milieu.14.Intervenes in crisis situations in collaboration with nurses and other mental health team members tomaintainsafety of patients and staff, and to promote therapeutic outcomes.15.When assigned and following the established protocol,remainsin constant attendance with patients who are suicidal or have behavioral problems.Physical Requirements:1.Prolonged, extensive, or considerable standing/walking.2.Lifts, positions, pushes and/or transfer patients and equipmentof 5-10 lbs.3.Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching.4.Frequent exposure to hazardous chemicals, sick patients, bodily substances, noise andpossible exposureto radiation, lasers, electric shock, etc.5.Regularly exposed to the risk of blood borne diseases and other transmissible infections.6.Contact with patients underwidevariety of circumstances.7.Subject to varying and unpredictable situations.8. Manual dexterity using fine hand manipulations forassistingpatients and computer keyboard.9. Requires ability to hear instructions from clinical staff.Skills & Abilities:1. Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.2. Able to work with detailed, confidential material.3. Computer experience.4. Ability to handle stressful and demanding situations, and exceptional communication skills &requiresobserving skills.5. Ability to takevital signs, weighs patients and collects routine specimens.At Tufts Medicine, we want every individual to feel valued for the skills and experience they bring. Our compensation philosophy is designed to offer fair, competitive pay that attracts, retains, and motivates highly talented individuals, while rewarding the important work you do every day.The base pay ranges reflect the minimum qualifications for the role. Individual offers are determined using a comprehensive approach that considers relevant experience, certifications, education, skills, and internal equity to ensure compensation is fair, consistent, and aligned with our business goals.Beyond base pay, Tufts Medicine provides a comprehensive Total Rewards package that supports your health, financial security, and career growth—one of the many ways we invest in you so you can thrive both at work and outside of it.Pay Range:$20.12 - $25.15