Mental Health Associate-BU -Psych G-PATH - Sharp Grossmont Hospital - Per Diem - Day Shift

300 Sharp HealthCare; La Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 58,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Sharp HealthCare's Mental Health Associate role supports the RN in delivering patient care within IPOC plans, adhering to hospital policies and program guidelines in a psychiatric setting in California. The position requires a high school diploma, at least one year of psychiatric or substance abuse experience, and AHA BLS certification.

It emphasizes patient-centered recovery, safety, and teamwork with unit staff.

Qualifications

• H.S. Diploma or equivalent required.
• 1 year of experience in an acute or chronic psychiatric and/or substance abuse setting.
• AHA BLS Healthcare Professional certification required.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates knowledge of the signs and symptoms of psychiatric disorders and assists the RN with admissions, transfers and discharges.
• Assists patients with activities of daily living as necessary and supports routine care tasks.
• Documents vital signs, intake/output and other data in accordance with guidelines.
• Maintains communication with the RN and provides complete shift reports.
• Supports patient-centered care and safety within the unit.

Skills

Verbal communication

Medical terminology

English proficiency

Education

H.S. Diploma or Equivalent

AHA Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification

Job description

Hours: Shift Start Time: 7 AM Shift End Time: 7:30 PM AWS Hours Requirement: 12/36 - 12 Hour Shift Additional Shift Information: Weekend Requirements: Every Other On-Call Required: No Hourly Pay Range (Minimum - Midpoint - Maximum): $27.830 - $33.390 - $37.400 This position is covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with SEIU-UHW. As part of the terms of employment, employees in this role are required to join the union within 31 days of hire and remain a member (e.g. dues paying, fee paying, religious exception contributor) for the duration of the collective bargaining agreement. In alignment with the SEIU CBA, this position will be posted for 7 days internally from 9/17/26 to 9/24/26 and available only to existing members of the ratified SEIU Bargaining Unit with a contract expiration date of 9/30/2027.

What You Will Do

The Mental Health Associate is a nursing caregiver who works under the direct supervision of the Registered Nurse to provide patient care in accordance with each patient's IPOC (interdisciplinary plan of care), hospital policies and procedures and unit/program guidelines.

Required Qualifications

• H.S. Diploma or Equivalent
• 1 Year experience in an acute or chronic psychiatric and/or substance abuse disorder treatment setting.
• AHA Basic Life Support for Healthcare Professional (AHA BLS Healthcare) - American Heart Association -REQUIRED

Preferred Qualifications

• Other : Some college course work in Psychology, Sociology, Communication, Nursing, or other health care related fields.

Essential Functions

Basic Nursing and Mental Health Demonstrates knowledge and awareness of the signs and symptoms of psychiatric disorders. Assists R.N. with patient admissions, transfers and discharges. Considers the age, cultural, psychosocial and physical needs of patients when providing care. Assists patients with activities of daily living as necessary (bathing, feeding, laundry). Performs other patient care related nursing tasks as assigned. (i.e. collection of urine specimens and completing EKGs). Observes and reports significant changes in patients' behavior, mental status and physical condition to the R.N.

Communication and Documentation of Care Communication and documentation of care reflects understanding of data collection and documentation requirements. Maintains ongoing communication regarding assigned patients with the responsible R.N. throughout the shift. Gives a complete report on assigned patients to the responsible R.N. prior to end of each shift. Documents observed patient behaviors and other collected data (i.e. vital signs, height, weight, intake, output, sleep pattern) in accordance with the approved guidelines for documentation.

Customer Service Provides patient centered care that demonstrates an understanding of and commitment to the principles of the Recovery Model. Responds to patient, family and visitor requests and concerns appropriately and promptly. Maintains appropriate boundaries with patients and visitors. Demonstrates the knowledge and skill for conducting psycho educational groups, activity groups and community meetings. Assists in greeting, assisting and monitoring visitors.

General Support Answers the unit telephones, answering questions, taking messages and referring calls and maintaining the bed board as appropriate. Inventories, orders and stocks unit supplies. Coordinates the maintenance of computers and other equipment. Communicates and coordinate unit service needs internally with Environmental Services, Plant Operations and externally with services such as translation and transportation. Maintain an adequate supply of forms and program materials. Assist the nurses in contacting physicians when needed. Assist in keep the nursing station and unit environment neat, clean and well organized. Provide other support as assigned including mail distribution, generating reports. Orients and mentors new hire and floated staff members to the unit and program. Serves on unit and hospital committees and workgroups as assigned.

Safety Observes and promptly reports any potentially unsafe patient behaviors in accordance with approved observation protocols. Uses approved de‑escalation and crisis intervention techniques to intervene and effectively manage patients exhibiting agitated, aggressive or self harming behaviors. Monitors the unit environment and immediately alerts the RN of any identified safety hazards. Understands and uses safe body mechanics.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Ability to speak, write and comprehend medical terminology in English. Excellent verbal communication skills required. Knowledge of the bio‑psycho‑social needs of psychiatric patients. Knowledge and skills necessary to provide basic nursing care and mental health care to acute psychiatric patients.

Sharp HealthCare is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability or any other protected class.

Sharp HealthCare is a not‑for‑profit health care system based in San Diego, California, with four acute care hospitals, three specialty hospitals, three medical groups and a health plan. We provide medical services in virtually all fields of medicine, including primary care, heart care, cancer, orthopedics, women’s health, rehabilitation, robotic surgery and bariatric surgery.

Sharp sets the community standard for exceptional care. Sharp Grossmont Hospital and Sharp Memorial Hospital have received prestigious Magnet recognition by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for excellence in nursing practices and quality patient care.

At the heart of our organization are more than 18,000 affiliated physicians, nurses, staff and volunteers who are on a journey to make health care better for our patients and their families.

It’s what we call The Sharp Experience – treating each person with dignity, compassion and respect, and using our clinical excellence and advanced technology to deliver the highest‑quality patient care.

We are dedicated to transforming the health care experience by making Sharp the best place to work, the best place to practice medicine and the best place to receive care in San Diego.