Behavioral Health Technician (BHT) PRN Days

Oceans Healthcare, L.L.C.; Alexandria (LA); On-site; USD 19,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Oceans Behavioral Hospital Alexandria is seeking a dedicated Behavioral Health Technician to support nursing staff in delivering compassionate patient care. The role emphasizes de-escalation, accurate vital signs, and meticulous documentation to ensure safety and therapeutic milieu.

The BHT will assist with ADLs, mobility, nutritional monitoring, and adherence to Joint Commission and state guidelines, contributing to high-quality inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care.

Qualifications

• Experience in patient-focused care settings.
• Ability to assist with calming and therapeutic interventions.
• Competence in monitoring vital signs and basic nursing tasks.

Responsibilities

• Adhere to policies, procedures, and regulatory standards.
• Apply supportive behavior to manage patient behavior and use de-escalation techniques.
• Inventory patient belongings and secure contraband, perform unit safety checks.
• Follow infection control policies and attend required trainings.
• Carry out patient care activities under licensed staff supervision: vitals, ADL, intake/output, nutrition checks.
• Assist patients with daily activities and mobility needs as required.
• Tailor care to age, disability, and cultural needs of patients.
• Document observations accurately in patient records and communicate with the nurse.
• Communicate task outcomes to nursing staff and ensure continuity of care.
• Perform other duties and projects as assigned.

Skills

Patient care

De-escalation

Vital signs

Infection control

Documentation

Mobility assistance

Job description

At Oceans Behavioral Hospital Alexandria, healing is our focus. We are passionate about helping adults and seniors manage the challenges associated with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. Utilizing proven, innovative and progressive therapies, our qualified professionals strive to promote long-term wellness through a range of inpatient and outpatient psychiatric counseling and treatment options.

The Behavioral Health Technician (BHT) supports the nursing staff in maintaining a therapeutic milieu by performing routinely assigned tasks and carrying out patient care activities within the scope of the BHT's training and experience. The BHT will maintain a safe and professional standard for patient care in accordance with Joint Commission, Federal and State regulations, Oceans' Mission, policies and procedures and performance improvement standards.

Essential Functions:

1. Adhere to professional standards, follow policies and procedures and abide by federal, state and local requirements, as well as Joint Commission standards.
2. Effectively applies supportive behavior when assisting in the control of patients who exhibit unacceptable behavior. Demonstrates the ability to employ de-escalation and therapeutic interventions as needed.
3. Inventories patient belongings accurately and secures contraband as needed; completes unit safety checks.
4. Complies with standard/universal precautions and infection control policies and attends required in-services to keep self-informed.
5. Implements patient care activities under the direction and supervision of licensed nursing personnel; performs vital signs, weights, ADL, intake and output documentation, nutritional monitoring and communicates findings to the nurse. Ensuring patients or residents receive appropriate diet by reviewing their dietary restrictions, food allergies, and preferences.
6. Assists patients with laundry, meals, bathroom functions and maintaining of belongings; assists at risk and/or physically challenged patients with mobility needs as needed.
7. Individualizes all patient care activities to the age specific, disability, cultural sensitivity needs of the patient.
8. Communicates and documents patient observation and date effectively in the patient record.; documents patient’s departure from unit (i.e. for passes, transport to doctor’s appointment, community meetings) with 100% accuracy and within defined time lines; documents significant occurrences, observed behavior, vital signs, nutrition intake, and patient observation findings on assigned patients as requested by the registered nurse, with 100% accuracy and within defined time lines.
9. Communicates outcome of assigned tasks to nursing staff in a timely manner; Communicates follow-up on patient care responsibilities; incomplete assignments, ongoing activities and current patient needs to relevant staff to assure continuality of care.
10. Performs other duties and projects as assigned.