Major Responsibilities:
- Facilitates therapeutic group activities
- Uses curative factors to develop group cohesion and working phase (installation of hope, universality, imparting information, development of socializing techniques, imitative behavior).
- Manages problem behaviors in group: anger, over & under participation, storytelling.
- Provides input into programming.
- Assists in the development and maintenance of a therapeutic milieu and provides for a safe environment for all patients.
- Manages elements of the milieu (tone, pace, and level of activity). Takes action to eliminate or resolve triggers or the ensuing response.
- Able to respond to emergencies with team and demonstrate techniques needed to manage the violent patient.
- Utilizes progressive containment skills.
- Maintains fall precautions.
- Orientates patient/families to room and unit, including physical layout of room and unit, call alarms, bed functions, TV usage and telephone.
- Responds to call alarm and communicates all patient requests to the RN in a timely manner.
- Serves as a member of the multidisciplinary treatment team by providing information regarding patient's behavior and responses to interventions.
- Functions as a member of the treatment team, communicating changes in patient’s behavior in a timely manner.
- Synthesizes assessment data collected to develop treatment plan with team.
- Assists in planning patient care and documents it in the IPOC.
- Utilizes therapeutic communication techniques during patient assessment and intervention, including admissions and discharges.
- Demonstrates adaptive communication styles based on individual patient needs. Uses confrontation & cognitive restructuring to problem-solve with pt. during working phase. Demonstrates beginning techniques in termination of therapeutic relationships under the direction of the RN.
- Performs patient education.
- Performs suicide risk assessment and intervenes to keep patient safe: problem-solving about how the patient can ask for help and stay safe. Assists in developing Suicide Safety Plan.
- Performs individual counseling to facilitate goal setting based on treatment plan. Seeks supervision for complex communication issues.
- Adheres to AIDET and utilizes interventions to meet treatment plan goal and positive patient satisfaction.
- Communicates with patients, families, and other health professionals in a positive and respectful manner.
- Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
- Actively participates in inservices and continuous education programs as required, and orients new MHC’S and PCA’S.
- Provides orientation to new mental health counselors, patient care assistants and other disciplines as needed.
- Administers or assists patients with physical care.
- Provides or supervises administration of general patient care and safety rounds.
- Conducts blood glucose monitoring.
- Monitors vital signs.
- Offers comfort services as needed such as conversation, beverages, reading materials, blankets and pillows, etc.
Education/Experience Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in psychology or related field.
- 1 year psychiatric experience; 2 years or more of additional related hospital experience.
- This position requires recognition of the needs and behaviors of a variety of age groups. The incumbent must be familiar with normal growth and development issues, normal patterns of behavior, and signs of the normal aging process for the designated patient group they are working with.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:
- Therapeutic communication skills for individuals and groups.
- Proficient use of patient care equipment and computer.
- CPR per hospital policy -- CPI within 6 months, then every two years.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
- Therapeutic communication skills, both oral and written.
- Ability to work closely and harmoniously with a number of individuals on the nursing team.
- High tolerance for emotionally or physically stressful situations.
- Ability to anticipate patient and unit needs and implement proper therapeutic measures.
- Resiliency and flexibility to deal with a changing environment.
- Demonstrated problem solving ability.
- Ability to work under stressful conditions and in difficult situations.
- Customer service focused.
- May come in contact with violent patients; therefore, knowledge of techniques to manage violent patients is essential. May be involved in restraining patients.
- Ability to handle crisis situations.
- Ability to work weekends, holidays, and different shifts to accommodate staffing.
- Ability to transport objects, patients, and equipment.
- Ability to respond quickly to patient needs and work at a fast pace.
- Work environment includes probability of exposure to adverse, hazardous, or unpleasant conditions while caring for the sick. Ability to assist in evacuation of patients in the event of a fire or other disaster. Routinely works with potentially infectious specimens and patients.
- Ability to respond to patients in a timely manner and access all areas of the unit.
- If the position has direct patient care or contact, the following lifting requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement: Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts over 35 pounds, or when the patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the incumbent. The incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.
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