Behavioral Health Technician PRN Nights

Oceans Healthcare; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 19,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Oceans Behavioral Hospital Baton Rouge is seeking a Certified Nursing Assistant to support adults and seniors in a psychiatric setting. You will perform patient care activities, monitor conditions, and assist with daily living tasks under supervision, ensuring compassionate, patient-centered care.

This role emphasizes de-escalation techniques, accurate documentation, and collaboration with licensed staff to promote safety and well-being in a high-paced behavioral health unit.

Qualifications

• Must read, write and follow verbal and written instruction.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Must work well with diverse populations.
• Must utilize Age, Disability and Cultural Specific knowledge in communicating with clients.
• Must be in good physical and mental health with empathy and integrity.
• Must work under close supervision.
• Must complete Basic Life Support (BLS) and Oceans-approved de-escalation program.

Responsibilities

• Continually monitors and supports compliance within unit rules.
• Employs de-escalation and therapeutic interventions as needed.
• Inventories patient belongings accurately and secures contraband; completes unit safety checks.
• Complies with infection control policies and attends required in-services.
• Implements patient care activities under supervision; performs vital signs, ADL, nutritional monitoring and reports findings to the nurse.
• Assists patients with laundry, meals, bathroom functions and mobility needs.
• Individualizes care to age, disability and cultural needs of the patient.
• Documents and communicates patient observations related to behavior, location and intake.
• Communicates task outcomes and follow-ups to nursing staff for continuity of care.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Reading & writing

Verbal communication

Interpersonal skills

Cultural sensitivity

Basic Life Support (BLS)

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

CNA certification

Job description

At Oceans Behavioral Hospital Baton Rouge, 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.

Essential Functions:

• Continually monitors and supports compliance within unit rules.
• Demonstrates the ability to employ de-escalation and therapeutic interventions as needed.
• Inventories patient belongings accurately and secures contraband as needed; completes unit safety checks.
• Complies with standard/universal precautions and infection control policies and attends required in-services to keep self-informed.
• Implements patient care activities under the direction and supervision of licensed nursing personnel; performs vital signs, weights, ADL, nutritional monitoring and communicates findings to the nurse.
• Assists patients with laundry, meals, bathroom functions and maintaining of belongings; assists at -risk and/or physically challenged patients with mobility needs as needed.
• Individualizes all patient care activities to the age specific, disability, cultural sensitivity needs of the patient.
• Communicates and documents patient observation related to behavior and location and date effectively. Includes accurate documentation of nutritional intake, weights, liquid intake, vital signs, and output appropriately on the observation form.
• 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.
• Performs other duties and projects as assigned.

Requirements

Education / Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent (e.g., GED) preferred, but not required, unless hired in the following states after January 1, 2026: Arizona, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania or as required by the state regulations.
• Current CNA certification or at least 6 months of prior bedside, direct patient care experience in a healthcare setting preferred.

Skills / Qualifications:

• Must be able to read, write and follow verbal and written instruction.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Must work well with diverse populations.
• Must be able to utilize Age, Disability and Cultural Specific knowledge in working with specialized populations to best communicate with those clients.
• Must be in good physical and mental health as evidenced by a warm empathetic attitude, respect for dignity, worth and potentiality of clients and hold a high sense of personal integrity.
• Must be able to work under close supervision.
• Must successfully complete Basic Life Savings (BLS) course and an Oceans approved behavioral de-escalation program

Work Environment:

Subject to many interruptions. Occasional pressure due to multiple calls and inquiries. This position can be high paced and stressful; must be able to cope mentally and physically to atmosphere. This person might sometimes experience disagreeable odors, sights and/or unpredictable patient behavior. Work requires spending approximately 90% or more of the time inside a building that offers protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.