Inpatient Psychiatric Care Technician - Empathy & Therapy

Douglas County, Nebraska; Omaha (NE); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Douglas County Community Mental Health Center in Omaha seeks a Psychiatric Technician to provide basic nursing care and support patient comfort under RN direction, in a secure inpatient setting.

Key duties include following treatment plans, monitoring vital signs, engaging patients in activities, deescalating situations, and participating in admissions and shift handoffs; CPR and CPI training required within 6 months.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• CPR and CPI training within 6 months of hire.
• Pre-employment criminal record check, conditional offer drug screen and physical assessment required.
• Equivalent combination of education and work experience may be substituted for requirements on a year-for-year basis.

Responsibilities

• Perform clinical activities based on patient treatment plan.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, and the public.
• Comply with Civil Service policies and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, department policies and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful and quality work environment.
• Attend shift report meetings exchanging information and providing continuity of care.
• Obtain, document, and chart patients’ vital signs and other data (e.g. height, weight, BMI).
• Observe psychosocial interactions, reporting changes/abnormal behavior to Supervisor.
• Perform housekeeping activities.
• Engage individuals in an empathetic/accepting manner to develop therapeutic relationships.
• Deescalate situations with patients.
• Actively participate in patient activities, fostering conducive therapies and healing (e.g. goal setting, goal review, 1 to 1, groups, therapeutic, recreational activities).
• Supervise patients’ personal care routines, providing assistance and obtaining specimens.
• Monitor patient nutrition, recording all caloric intake and output.
• Adhere to department procedures, protocols, and methods (e.g. hand washing, isolation procedures, universal precautions, handling chemicals and biohazards).
• Participate in patient admissions (e.g. completing paperwork, obtaining photo, documenting/storing patient belongings, orienting patient and family).
• Monitor closed-circuit television (CCT) panel.
• Assist with transferring patients using proper body mechanics/transfer techniques.
• Develop therapeutic relationships with patients, maintaining a professional attitude toward clients and treating them with empathy and respect.
• Safely operate a motor vehicle when required to travel on County business.
• Report to work with regular, consistent attendance.
• Perform other duties as directed and assigned."],
• CoT_job_summary_short

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Douglas County Community Mental Health Center in Omaha seeks a Psychiatric Technician to provide basic nursing care and support patient comfort under RN direction, in a secure inpatient setting.

Key duties include following treatment plans, monitoring vital signs, engaging patients in activities, deescalating situations, and participating in admissions and shift handoffs; CPR and CPI training required within 6 months.