Behavioral Health Specialist BHT Geriatric

Banner Health Corporate; South Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekend shift differential

Self-scheduling tool

Total Rewards benefits

Job summary

Banner Health is hiring on the Geriatric Psych Unit in Tucson for a Behavioral Health Specialist. The role provides direct care to psychiatric patients under the supervision of a registered nurse, assisting with daily living activities and clinical rounds.

The position requires a Bachelor’s in a behavioral health field or a HS diploma with 1 year of inpatient behavioral health care, plus BLS certification and clearance cards. Weekend rotation and self-scheduling support the schedule.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in behavioral health or HS diploma with 1 year direct patient care in inpatient behavioral health.
• Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card(s) required at the time of hire and maintained during employment.
• State of Arizona DPS Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card for Banner Staffing roles in behavioral health.
• BLS certification required; able to work in a high acuity geriatric psychiatric setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct care to psychiatric patients under RN direction.
• Assist with activities of daily living and basic nursing tasks.
• Support safety, documentation and rounds; monitor patient status and behavior.
• Assist with admissions, discharges and transfers; maintain patient records.
• Protect patient rights and respond to crisis or escalation situations as needed.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary team to maintain therapeutic milieu.

Skills

BLS certification

De-escalation techniques

Observation and documentation

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in a behavioral health field

High School diploma or equivalent with 1 year direct patient care in inpatient behavioral health

Job description

Primary City/State: Tucson, Arizona Department Name: BHS Geriatric-Hosp Work Shift: Day Job Category: Clinical Care

Those who have joined the Banner mission come from all walks of life, united by the common goal: Make health care easier, so life can be better. If changing health care for the better sounds like something you want to be part of, we want to hear from you. Banner University Medical Center - South Campus (Tucson), houses the only Level 1 Academic Medical Center in Tucson meeting the needs of the SMI population. The Behavioral Health Pavilion is also the largest inpatient psychiatric service in Southern Arizona. Our team provides patients a safe, supportive environment that fosters healing and facilitates a return to the highest possible level of independence. Other services include; crisis stabilization, psychiatric assessments, 24-hours psychiatric & nursing care, expressive arts therapy, group therapy, family support therapy, medication management, and a separate behavioral health unit within the Emergency Department.

You can become an integral member of our patient's team, along with psychiatric doctors, NPs, pharmacists, Registered Nurses and security officers. As a Behavioral Health Specialist on the Geriatric Psych Unit, you will assist with our geriatric patient population who often have high acuity medical needs on top of their behavioral health needs. Many of these patients require total hands on patient care and are often unable to communicate their needs on their own. On this team, you will spend your days assisting with basic daily living activities, making BHS assignments for the floor and DPO's, supporting your fellow BHSs and RNs on the unit, communicating with Charge RN, hand hygiene audits, delegate patient admission and/or ensure discharge process is completed (belongings, admissions folder, etc), and that Direct Observer/Q15 documents are completed throughout each shift. Candidates with a total patient care experience along with a passion for the elderly population will be preferred on this unit. Floating to the other 2 Behavioral Health units on this campus may be required (determined daily by census numbers). These are Full Time Day Shift positions (3 12 hour shifts per week). The hours will be from 7AM-7:30PM which will include a set rotation for weekends and holidays. You will have the opportunity to utilize our self-scheduling tool as well as enjoy an additional $1/hour Weekend Shift differential, when applicable. Your pay and benefits (Total Rewards) are important components of your Journey at Banner Health.

POSITION SUMMARY

This position provides direct care to psychiatric patients working under the direction of a registered nurse.

CORE FUNCTIONS

1. Provides basic nursing care to patients including technical monitoring, taking vital signs and physical care.
   Orients patients to treatment setting and assists with activities of daily living as needed.
   Reviews and participates in implementation of the patient treatment plan.
   Makes rounds and monitors patients activities, physical and mental status and reports to nursing staff.
   Checks patient belongings for contraband.
   Conducts a variety of patient safety monitoring activities such as observational checks.
   Documents observations, interventions, and group activities in the patient medical record while maintaining confidentiality of all health information.
2. Assists in maintaining a safe, orderly & therapeutic environment.
   Maintains patient safety and protects patient rights through observation and reporting patient behaviors, communications, interactions and physical status.
   Recognizes patients who are behaving aggressively, acting as a danger to themselves or others, or are in a crisis or medical emergency situation.
   Provides intervention including, but not limited to, redirecting of patient and/or participating in restraint or seclusion as needed.
3. Assesses and interacts therapeutically with patients and families.
   Provides treatment that promotes patient dignity, independence, individuality, strengths, privacy, and choice.
   Demonstrates respect for cultural diversity and patient boundaries.
   Plans and facilitates social and didactic group activities.
   May participate in other rehabilitation and treatment programs.
4. Provides quality patient care by maintaining knowledge and skill level related to the symptoms and treatment of behavioral disorders relevant to position responsibilities and in accordance with state agency regulations.
   Maintains knowledge to identify types of medications commonly prescribed for patient group and the common side effects and adverse reactions of the medications.
5. Assists in the admission, discharge and transfer process of patients and completes required documentation in the patient medical record.
6. Position completes work under moderate supervision.
   Position interacts with all levels of clinical staff on assigned unit/program and members of the multidisciplinary teams, as well as patients, families, and medical and psychiatric physicians.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in a behavioral health related field OR High School diploma or equivalent with 1 year of direct patient care in an inpatient behavioral health setting. This should include but is not limited to experience in an inpatient psychiatric facility; assisting with personal grooming and other activities of daily living; conducting educational, recreational and skills groups appropriate to current patient population; creating, maintaining, and encouraging an inpatient therapeutic milieu; maintaining observation precautions and applying non-violent de-escalation interventions in crisis situations; recognizing the common symptoms of mental illness such as depression, psychosis, mood dysregulation, substance abuse, maladaptive behavior, and anxiety; understanding how symptoms are related the patient’s mental illness diagnosis and providing ordered treatment interventions appropriate to the diagnosis.
• Employees working at Banner Behavioral Health Hospital, BTMC Behavioral or BUMG, BUMCT in a Behavioral Health clinical setting that serves children must possess an Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card at the time of hire and maintain the card for the duration of their employment.
• An Arizona Criminal History Affidavit must be signed upon hire.
• Employees working in any Banner Staffing (BSS) Behavioral Health role in Arizona must possess a State of Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card at the time of hire and maintain the card for the duration of their employment.
• Employees working at BUMCS in a Behavioral Health clinical setting must possess an Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card at the time of hire and maintain the card for the duration of their employment.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is also required.
• Meets age requirement as specified by state agency.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Additional related education and/or experience preferred.
• cation and/or experience preferred.

EEO/Disabled/Veterans

Our organization supports a drug-free work environment. Privacy Policy: Privacy Policy Banner Health is one of the largest, nonprofit health care systems in the country and the leading nonprofit provider of hospital services in all the communities we serve. Throughout our network of hospitals, primary care health centers, research centers, labs, physician practices and more, our skilled and compassionate professionals use the latest technology to make health care easier, so life can be better. The many locations, career opportunities, and benefits offered at Banner Health help to make the Banner Journey unique and fulfilling for every employee. We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefit package for all benefit-eligible positions. Please visit our Benefits Guide for more information.