Behavioral Health Technician - Behavioral Health Emergency Department

UNC Health; North Carolina; On-site; USD 26,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

UNC Health’s Behavioral Health Emergency Department is seeking a Certified Nursing Assistant with at least 1 year of behavioral health experience to join the team at UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill, NC. The role includes direct patient care, supervision under an RN, and involvement in admission processes.

Shifts are variable with three 12-hour periods weekly, offering full-time opportunities and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Certified Nursing Assistant with 1 year experience in behavioral health/neurosciences.
• CPI certification required within 60 days from date of hire.
• BLS Certification required.
• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities.

Responsibilities

• Aid patients in reality orientation and behavior modification plans.
• Assist in admission data collection and orient patients/families to unit.
• Lead or assist in small group activities and therapeutic sessions.
• Monitor patient condition and report changes to RN/physician.
• Provide direct personal care (bathing, hygiene, feeding, mobility) as per plan.
• Assist with safety and de-escalation; manage restraints as needed.

Skills

Empathy

Patient care

Teamwork

English fluency

Communication

Education

Nursing Assistant I (NC DHHS)

CPI certification

BLS Certification

Job description

Description

The UNC Hospitals Behavioral Health Emergency Department (BHED) is looking for Behavioral Health Technicians to join their team.

The UNC Hospitals Behavioral Health Emergency Department (BHED) is looking for Behavioral Health Technicians to join their team.

Must be a Certified Nursing Assistant and must have 1 year working in a behavioral health/neurosciences unit.

Position Offering

• Shift: Variable shifts, including rotating weekends
• Hours: Full Time; 36 hours a week; three 12 hour shifts
• Entity: UNC Medical Center
• Location: Chapel Hill, NC

The UNC Hospitals Behavioral Health Emergency Department (BHED)provides care to approximately 5,000 patients annually. The department operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With the new state of the art Emergency Department Transitional Unit, the BHED can accommodate up to 42 beds for patients seeking mental health care in a patient centered environment. BHED staff partner and work closely with Emergency Medicine to provide compassionate, quality mental health care, focusing on the unique needs of patients and families which may include those struggling with mental illness and/or substance use disorders.

This position qualifies for an extensive benefit package including PTO hours, which are accrued based on the number of worked hours.

Summary

Under close supervision, responsible for providing a safe, supportive and therapeutic environment for psychiatric patients. Provides direct patient care and may conduct therapeutic group sessions under the direction and supervision of the RN. Provides input to the RN to help develop the plan of care and assists in carrying out the plan of care for assigned patients. Assists with the admission of new patients and orients new patients and families to the unit.

Responsibilities

• Aids patients in reality orientation, participates in behavior modification plans/therapy, provides informal support therapy to patients/families, provides verbal de-escalation of potentially aggressive patients, aids in the physical management of aggressive/out-of-control patients, facilitates age appropriate play for children, and monitors the therapeutic milieu activities on assigned unit to ensure that emotional and safety needs of patients are met.
• Assists in interviewing patients and their families for routine admission data. Orients patients and families to the facility. Provides data input during team discussions and meetings to assist in developing therapeutic plans and objectives.
• Interacts with patients on a one to one as well as small group basis. Facilitates assigned groups in ways which encourage and require maximum patient participation and interaction, appropriate to functional level of group members.
• Observes, collects, and documents patient information obtained while providing care and promptly report significant changes in the patient's condition to a registered nurse or physician.
• Provides direct personal care to patients as outlined in plan of care for routine activities of daily living including bathing, personal hygiene, feeding and dressing. Assists patients with position changes, range of motion exercises, transfers and walking. Obtains and records vital signs, intake and output amounts or other measures as delegated. Observes patients and assesses progress on daily basis and reports significant changes in patients' condition and/or behavior to supervising RN.
• Provides protection and control for patients as required to ensure patient safety in the facility. Participates in restraining combative patients as necessary. Provides care and monitoring of patients in seclusion and/or restraint.
• Reinforce routine teaching given to patients by the registered nurse or physician and document patient understanding of instructions. Distributes patient education materials at the request of patients and/or health care providers

Education Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required; higher-level degree may satisfy this requirement.

Licensure/Certification Requirements

• Listed as a Nursing Assistant I by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
• Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) certification within 60 days from date of hire
• Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification

Professional Experience Requirements

• Requires one (1) year of relavent experience in a behavioral health environment.

Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities Requirements

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients and hospital staff. Ability to work with, express sensitivity and understanding, and secure the cooperation of patients, including maintaining empathetic attitude towards patients. Ability to work with groups of patients or individuals in didactic or recreational groups. Ability to keep calm in stressful situations. Must be fluent in verbal and written English language. Capability to develop computer skills if not competent.

Job Details

Legal Employer: STATE

Entity: UNC Medical Center

Organization Unit: Emergent Department Psychiatric Area

Work Type: Full Time

Standard Hours Per Week: 36.00

Salary Range: $19.12 - $27.17 per hour (Hiring Range)

Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity

Work Assignment Type: Onsite

Work Schedule: Variable

Location of Job: US:NC:Chapel Hill

Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: No

This is a State position employed by UNC Health Care System with UNC Health benefits. If, however, you are presently an employee of another North Carolina agency and currently participate in TSERS or the ORP, you will be eligible to continue participating in those plans at UNC Health.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran or political affiliation.

UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities. All interested applicants are invited to apply for career opportunities. Please email [e-mail] if you need a reasonable accommodation to search and/or to apply for a career opportunity.