Behavioral Health Technician - Emergency Department

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

Job summary

UNC Health in Raleigh, NC is seeking a Nursing Assistant I to support Zone 4, the behavioral health emergency department area of UNC Rex ED. The 7p-7a night shift is onsite with a 36-hour work week, delivering safe, therapeutic care under RN supervision.

The role involves admissions assistance, patient/family orientation, daily living activities, de-escalation, and meticulous documentation. Requirements include a high school diploma or GED, CPI within 60 days, BLS, and 1 year in behavioral

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; higher level degree may satisfy this requirement.
• CPI certification within 60 days from date of hire.
• BLS Certification required.
• Requires one year of relevant experience in a behavioral health environment.

Responsibilities

• Aids patients in reality orientation and behavior modification; provide informal support therapy and de-escalation; assist in physical management of aggressive patients.
• Interviews patients and families for routine admission data; orients patients/families to facility; contributes to therapeutic plans.
• Interacts with patients one-to-one and in groups; facilitates sessions to maximize participation.
• Observes and documents patient information; reports changes to RN or physician.
• Provides direct personal care per plan of care: bathing, hygiene, feeding, transfers; records vital signs and inputs.
• Maintains patient safety; participates in restraining combative patients as needed.
• Reinforces education and distributes materials to patients and families.

Skills

Effective communication

Empathy toward patients

Group facilitation

Calm under pressure

English fluency

Computer literacy

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Description

Hours: 7p-7a

About Zone 4, Behavioral Health Emergency Department

Zone 4 is an 8-bed non-designated holding area within the UNC REX Emergency Department, featuring private rooms dedicated to behavioral health patients. This specialized area provides focused, compassionate care to individuals experiencing behavioral health crises, while maintaining a safe and supportive environment. Nurses in Zone 4 manage a nurse-to-patient ratio of 1:5, delivering expert care in a space designed to meet the unique needs of this patient population.

Why Zone 4 at UNC REX?

Zone 4 offers a unique opportunity for nurses who are passionate about behavioral health and emergency medicine. The REX ED Leadership team fosters a culture of collaboration, support, and ongoing recognition, ensuring that every team member feels valued in this high-acuity, fast-paced environment.

Join Us

If you're a dedicated nurse seeking a meaningful role in behavioral health within an emergency care setting, Zone 4 at UNC REX is the place to grow your career. Make an impact where it matters most—when patients need you the most.

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

Other Information

Other information:

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: NCHEALTH

Entity: UNC REX Healthcare

Organization Unit: Rex ED Behavioral Health

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: Night Job

Location of Job: US:NC:Raleigh

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.