JOB SUMMARY
Works under supervision to provide mental health care to patients.

Job Duties

• Collects data to include: intake and output, weight, temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure. Performs skin assessments. Recognizes and immediately reports values outside normal parameters to the nurse. Demonstrates awareness of age-specific considerations in gathering these assessments (children, adolescents, adults, older adults). Performs sterile procedures in accordance with the Department of Nursing and Infection Control Policies and Procedures to include sterile gloves, dressing changes and in/out catheterization. Assists in facilitating treatment milieu. Participates in codes to protect the patient from harming self or others.
• Reports any changes in a patient’s condition or behavior immediately to the nurse. Seeks assistance and guidance as needed to ensure that patient care is delivered in a safe, high quality and effective manner at all times. Monitors patient sharps and valuables and labels-handles appropriately. Conducts walking/exercise and community groups.
• Responds to patient requests for assistance in a respectful, positive, and timely manner. Asks the patient and/or patient’s family, “Can I do anything else for you?” before leaving room.
• Performs basic hygiene care in accordance with the Department of Nursing Policies and Procedures. Checks skin carefully during the bath, reports anything other than normal immediately to the nurse. Checks skin carefully during the bath, reports anything other than normal immediately to the nurse.
• Makes frequent and ongoing patient rounds to comfort, position, and to provide toileting and hygiene care. Informs the patient when you will return. Patient rarely finds it necessary to use the call light.
• Documents patient information accurately and in appropriate place in a timely manner.
• Transfers, and transports patients safely and in accordance with the Department of Nursing Policies and Procedures, with concern for age-specific considerations. Ensures that patient is covered with robe and/or blankets and that slippers are on feet (even if Transporter is taking patient).
• Welcomes new patient/patient’s family. Knocks before entering room. Smiles and introduces self. Wears name tag. Immediately alerts nurse if patient/patient’s family seems or is unhappy and you have not resolved the issue.
• Provide patient care under the direction of nursing staff being certain to only perform tasks in which training and/or competency has been validated.
• Perform patient rounding being sure to report any changes in a patient’s condition or behavior immediately to the nurse. Seeks assistance and guidance as needed to ensure that patient care is delivered in a safe, high quality and effective manner at all times.
• Assess, identify, and monitor environmental, patient, and the patient’s family needs in a respectful, positive, and timely manner to achieve satisfaction.
• Resolve patient concerns by initiating service recovery and immediately escalating patient, family, visitors and staff concerns through the chain of command.
• Prepare, update, and disseminate reports at the change of shift and when changes are noted in the patient’s condition.
• Orients new staff and students to work areas. Collaborates with other nursing staff and hospital employees to create an environment that is conducive to the retention of qualified personnel.
• Support the administrative and clinical operations of assigned practice environment.
• Build meaning and sustainable relationships of trust through open and interactive communication with members of the healthcare team.
• Maintain current compliance with ongoing annual education requirements (modules, classes and competencies).
• Utilize downtime to assist others and/or to provide additional supportive measures to patients and/or patients’ families within the respective patient care environment.
• Assumes accountabilities for all actions in the workplace. Reports errors promptly.
• Performs in the role of sitter as needed, documents as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

 

QUALIFICATIONS
 

Education and Experience
 

• Education
  High School diploma or equivalent
   

• Experience
  Must achieve validation of required core competencies and training through the Mental Health Technician Residency Program
   

• Licenses and Certifications
  Must obtain and maintain BLS certification within 14 days of hire as a condition of continued employment. Certification must be through the American Heath Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC) and
  (CPI) CRISIS PREVENTION INSTITUT CER Completion of an approved organizational de-escalation program within 180 Days
   

• P-Problem Solving: To achieve excellence in patient care and service, all employees are expected to take ownership in solving problems effectively, efficiently and to the satisfaction of the patient.
• A-Ability, Attitude and Appearance: In keeping with a professional healthcare environment, all employees are expected to have the ability to perform their jobs and to appear and conduct themselves in a professional and positive manner.
• C-Communications and Compassion: It is our goal that all our communications are clear, courteous, timely, and delivered with compassion, respect and appropriate confidentiality.
• T-Teamwork: In our medical environment, our patients regard every employee they encounter as a member of the Southwestern Medical Center team. Our goal is to individually work hard to contribute to our team, support our co-workers, and to achieve not only excellent patient care and service, but also a satisfying, caring environment for each other.

 

This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.

 

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.