Psychiatric Technician

Douglas County (NE); Nebraska; On-site; USD 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Douglas County Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) seeks a Psychiatric Nursing Aide to assist with basic nursing care and patient comfort under supervision. The role supports treatment plans, maintains professional patient interactions, and ensures safety and therapeutic engagement.

Work involves shifts with potential variable hours, ongoing documentation, and compliance with policies. The incumbent will complete CPR/CPI within six months of hire and pass standard pre-employment checks.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• CPR and Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training within 6 months of hire required.
• Pre-employment criminal record check, conditional offer drug screen and physical assessment required.

Responsibilities

• Perform clinical activities based on patient treatment plan.
• Observe psychosocial interactions and report changes to supervisor.
• Engage patients empathetically to develop therapeutic relationships and provide comfort.
• Assist with patient admissions, including paperwork and orientation.
• Monitor nutrition and vital signs; document data accurately.
• Adhere to safety procedures, including universal precautions and biohazard handling.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

CPR and CPI training within 6 months of hire

Job description

Incumbent works under the direction of a Psychiatric Registered Nurse or designee, performing basic nursing care duties and providing needs and comfort of patients in accordance with established policies and procedures of the Douglas County Community Mental Health Center (CMHC).

• 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.

• High school diploma or equivalent required.*
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training within 6 months of hire required.
• Completion of a 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.

• The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Work is performed in a secure psychiatric facility. Noise level is usually moderate and at times loud. Work hours are assigned shift hours; however, schedule may vary (e.g. days, shifts, weekends, holidays, overtime/extra hours, emergency call-in). Work involves potential exposure to biohazards, and potential risk of injury from assaultive/abusive patients. Work may be stressful when dealing with time constraints, multiple/changing priorities, irate/abusive individuals and emergency situations.
• Work requires some physical activity including extended periods of standing, walking, frequent bending, reaching, and occasional sitting, kneeling, climbing, stooping, crouching, and balancing. Work also requires the ability to frequently lift/carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds, push 35 pounds, and occasionally pull 75 pounds of load over seven (7) feet. Additionally, incumbents must have the ability to exert 65 pounds of grip strength while quickly changing position from kneeling to standing.
• Required sensory abilities include vision, hearing and touch. Visual abilities, correctable to normal ranges, include close, distance, peripheral, and color vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. Incumbent must possess the hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate computers and other equipment.