Behavioral Health Technician PRN Nights

OCEANS HEALTHCARE; Opelousas (LA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Oceans Behavioral Hospital Opelousas seeks a dedicated Behavioral Health Technician to assist nursing staff in maintaining a therapeutic environment for adults and seniors facing anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. The role includes performing patient care activities under supervision, monitoring patient status, and ensuring adherence to safety and infection control policies.

The technician will document observations, assist with activities of daily living, meals, mobility,

Qualifications

• Experience supporting nursing staff in clinical settings.
• Ability to perform patient care tasks within scope of training.
• Familiarity with infection control policies and documentation.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and support unit rules compliance and safety.
• Perform vital signs, weight, ADL, nutrition monitoring; report to nurse.
• Document patient observations accurately and timely.
• Assist patients with meals, laundry, mobility, and daily activities.
• Communicate patient needs and care plans to nursing staff.

Skills

De-escalation

Therapeutic interventions

Documentation

Communication

Vital signs

Mobility assistance

Infection control

Patient care

Job description

At Oceans Behavioral Hospital Opelousas, 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. Continually monitors and supports compliance within unit rules.
2. 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, nutritional monitoring and communicates findings to the nurse.
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 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.
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.