MENTAL HEALTH TECH -

UNM Hospital; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-On Bonus Available

Job summary

UNM Hospital is seeking a Mental Health Technician to provide patient care across neonatal to geriatric populations. The role supports safe, therapeutic environments in inpatient or outreach settings such as homes, schools, or community agencies.

Essential duties include direct patient care, education, charting, crisis intervention, and collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team. A high school diploma, training, and 6 months related experience are required.

Qualifications

• High School or GED required.
• Training in relevant care areas is required.
• UNMH Mental Health Tech within 6 months of hire.
• 1/2 year (6 months) directly related experience.
• Bilingual English, Spanish, Keres, Tewa, Tiwa, Towa, Zuni, or Navajo.

Responsibilities

• Provide care to patient in a manner that promotes safety, comfort, and a therapeutic environment.
• Assist in education and training tailored to patient needs and learning preferences.
• Chart observations and documentation in the EMR per treatment plan.
• Assist with physical needs and activities of daily living; coordinate crisis interventions as needed.
• Participate in development and coordination of patient treatment programs.

Skills

PATIENT CARE

EDUCATION

CHARTING

CRISIS INTERVENTION

Education

High School or GED

Training

Job description

Education:
Essential:

Receive 17% Weekday Nights, 26% Weekend Nights and 15% Weekend Day shift differentials
Compensation Disclaimer
Compensation for this role is based on a number of factors, including but not limited to experience, education, and other business and organizational considerations.
Department: UPC Inpatient Adult Services
FTE: 0.90
Full Time
Shift: Nights
Position Summary:
Provide child, adolescent, or adult patient care in a treatment or educational milieu; assist in the maintenance of a safe, secure environment that enhances treatment and/or educational effectiveness. May operate in an in-patient/residential environment, or in outreach environment, such as in homes, schools, and/or community agencies. Ensure adherence to Hospitals and departmental policies and procedures. Patient care assignment may include neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric age groups.

Detailed Responsibilities:

• PATIENT CARE - Provide care to patient in a manner that considers and promotes safety, comfort, and the therapeutic environment
• EDUCATION - Provide education and training specific to individual patient needs, abilities, learning preferences and readiness; provide educational resources to patients and/or family members in coordination with treatment team
• CHARTING - Chart observations and other required documentation on assigned patients, behaviors, following prescribed procedures and standards; chart according to treatment plan; use electronic medical record when required
• PHYSICAL NEEDS - Assist with the physical needs of patients; may include taking manual vital signs, weights, and urine, stool, and sputum specimens as designated
• PATIENT CARE - Assist patients with activities of daily living; attend to patient behavioral problems and provide assistance and coordination in crisis intervention as needed
• PATIENT TREATMENT - Participate in the development, coordination and implementation of patient treatment programs
• CONFIDENTIALITY - Maintain confidentiality of patient records, adhering to HIPAA guidelines
• LIAISON - In collaboration with treatment team, may act as liaison with other departments, staff and patients
• TRANSPORT - Transport patients to and from appointments, clinics, laboratories, and/or treatments
• ACTIVITIES - Work with other multi-disciplinary team members to lead milieu activities such as activities of daily living, current events, goals and fitness groups; community meetings, school and/or recreational activities as appropriate
• MEETINGS - Attend and participate in group sessions, in-service education, and staff meetings
• REGISTRATION - Process patient admission and registration as appropriate
• COMPUTER - Demonstrate proficiency in utilizing and accessing appropriate computer and information system
• PHLEBOTOMY - May perform phlebotomy duties as assigned
• CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM - Participate as a member of the Crisis Response Team responding to calls related to psychiatric services or assessed as a psychiatric crisis; assist staff with patients in crisis; assist with transports of psychiatric patients
• SAFETY - Assist patients to regain behavior control; escort patients to safe area using least restrictive means possible; apply restraints as needed; assist with administration of emergency medications and daily living activities
• OTHER DUTIES - Perform other duties as assigned or requested
• POLICIES - Follow and maintain established departmental policies and procedures, objectives, and quality assurance program, safety, environmental and infection control standards
• DEVELOPMENT - Enhance professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, reading current literature, attending in-services, meetings and workshops
• PATIENT SAFETY 1 - Follow patient safety-related policies, procedures and protocols
• PATIENT SAFETY 2 - Demonstrate proactive approach to patient safety by seeking opportunities to improve patient safety through questioning of current policies and processes
• PATIENT SAFETY 3 - Identify and report/correct environmental conditions and/or situations that may put a patient at undue risk
• PATIENT SAFETY 4 - Report potential or actual patient safety concerns, medical errors and/or near misses in a timely manner
• PATIENT SAFETY 5 - Encourage patients to actively participate in their own care by asking questions and reporting treatment or situations that they don't understand or may "not seem right"
  

Qualifications
Related Education and Experience may be substituted for one another on a year for year basis.
Education:
Essential:

• High School or GED Equivalent
• Training
  

Essential:
Education specialization:

• UNMH Mental Health Tech w/in 6 Months
  

Experience:
Essential:
1/2 year (6 months) directly related experience
Nonessential:
Bilingual English, Spanish, Keres, Tewa, Tiwa, Towa, Zuni, or Navajo
Credentials:
Essential:

• CPR for Healthcare/BLS Prov or Prof Rescuers w/in 30 days
• Obtain and maintain Agressive Behav Cer w/in 30 days of hire
  

Physical Conditions:
Heavy Work: Exerting 50 to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 25 to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or 10 to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects or people. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Medium Work.
Essential:
Working conditions:

• Sig Haz: Physical risk/injuries due to combative patients
• Sig Hazard: Chemicals, Bio Hazardous Materials req PPE
• Limited access to med room. Med Admin Policy, Att A
• Tuberculosis testing is completed upon hire and additionally as required
  

Sign-On Bonus Available