PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIAN (ENTRY LEVEL & FULL PERFORMANCE)

State of Hawai'i; Hawaii; On-site; USD 49,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Hawaii, Department of Health, on OAHU, seeks a Nursing Assistant to work in the psychiatric unit of an acute care hospital providing adult and adolescent psychiatric services. You will be part of the treatment team, assisting with planning and delivering adjunctive activities, and delivering personal care under supervision.

The position may require evenings, weekends and holidays; prerequisites include one year hospital experience, ability to communicate in English, basic nursing

Qualifications

• One year of work experience in a hospital or medically oriented setting with basic nursing skills.
• Ability to read, write, speak and understand English; knowledge of patient rights and infection control.

Responsibilities

• Orient patients to the hospital setting and establish rapport with other patients.
• Take vital signs and monitor observations, report findings to the charge nurse.
• Participate in treatment planning and assist with daily therapeutic activities.
• Provide personal care and maintain a safe, therapeutic milieu.
• Assist with admissions/discharges and respond to emergencies as required.

Skills

Nursing basics

Vital signs & observation

English proficiency

Infection control

Job description

Please be advised that the hiring process for this position is part of the Department of Health’s Hiring Innovation for Rapid Employment (HIRE) Pilot Project. The Pilot Project will defer the traditional screening of applications for minimum qualifications until after a selection has been made. Therefore, the referral of an application to the hiring manager and the opportunity to interview for the position do not indicate that the applicant meets the minimum qualifications for the position, nor do they guarantee employment. If selected for the role, a comprehensive review of the application packet will occur to ensure that the minimum qualifications are met. If the selectee is deemed qualified, a conditional offer will be issued.

This posting is for the State of Hawaii, Department of Health.

The position is located on the Island of OAHU.

Salary: Entry Level $4,371 per month (HE04)

Full Performance $4,726 per month (HE06)

The State Recruiting Office will refer all inquiries regarding this civil service recruitment to the Department of Health.

This position works in the psychiatric unit of an acute care hospital which provides acute adult and adolescent psychiatric services. The position serves as part of the treatment team and is involved in planning, organizing and conducting adjunctive services (recreational and diversional activities) which involves the implementation of moderately complex therapeutic procedures and the application of various techniques in patient care services. The position also provides a variety of personal care and nursing services to patients in the unit. The position may be required to work on shifts, including evenings, and weekends and holidays.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Orientation and Companionship
   1. Orient patients to the hospital setting, rules and regulations, patient rights and treatment team system.
   2. Perform as a companion for newly admitted patients to establish rapport and facilitate a social network with other patients on the unit.
2. Assessment and Planning
   1. Take temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, height and weight. Monitor seclusion/restraint status. Record observations/findings in patient’s chart. Observe patient’s physical and psychological needs and report findings to the charge nurse.
   2. Participate as a member of the treatment team and provide input into the formulation of patients’ master treatment plans.
   3. Provide input and assist in planning therapeutic interventions in situational crises.
   4. Participate in/conduct daily community meetings with team members to set goals for the day.
3. Implementation and Evaluation
   1. Implement training for patients in developing self-help skills such as toileting, feeding, bathing, dressing, basic oral hygiene and other activities of daily living.
   2. Implement adjunctive services (recreational and diversional activities) planned and developed by the RN, Recreational Therapist and/or Occupational Therapist for the general therapeutic milieu of the unit.
   3. Maintain a safe and therapeutic milieu for patients and employees at all times. Report and initiate corrective measures of any known unsafe environmental conditions.
   4. Monitor contraband materials and enforce unit rules and regulations at all times.
   5. Evaluate, with the charge nurse and other team members, the effectiveness of approaches utilized in crisis intervention during the shift.
   6. Assist in the evaluation of patients’ conditions and progress based on their master treatment plans.

Other Duties

1. In addition to the key duties and responsibilities, this position may be assigned to: Admit, transfer and/or discharge patients; assist in emergency procedures such as fire escape and drill (e.g., Code Red, Code Yellow, etc.), seclusion and restraints, patient searches, bomb threats and disaster drills, etc.; transport/escort patients as assigned; provide physical care to patients who are physically and/or emotionally unable to take care of themselves; attend in-service and other continuing educational programs; temporarily work on another unit, as necessary; complete all mandatory training programs and maintain current certification in CPR; participate in hospital-wide quality assurance and infection control activities; participate in research surveys, etc.; and perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Abilities used in performing key duties at the Full Performance Level Demonstrated proficiency in the application of all of the knowledge and abilities, specified below for the Full Performance level, in providing the full range of services to the clientele of the work site, independently. Knowledge of the policies, procedures and work rules of the work site.

Toqualify,youmustmeetallofthefollowingrequirements.Pleasenotethatunlessspecificallyindicated,therequirededucationandexperiencemaynotbegainedconcurrently.Inaddition,qualifyingworkexperienceiscreditedbasedona40-hourworkweek.

1. Prerequisite Qualifications Required for the Entry Level Experience and Essential Knowledge and Abilities:One (1) year of work experience in a hospital or other medically oriented institution or program where the primary or basic objective was to observe and report on a variety of physical and/or mental symptoms and conditions and implement care and/or treatment procedures for a caseload of patients. Such experience must have demonstrated knowledge of basic spoken and written English; basic nursing skills (i.e., taking vital signs, measuring output, recognition of abnormal signs and symptoms, etc.); patients’ rights; infection control; body mechanics; basic medical and nursing terminology; and the ability to read, write, speak and understand English; learn and apply general behavioral and psychiatric principles; establish effective therapeutic relationships with psychiatric patients; follow directions; keep appropriate records; and analyze situations accurately and take effective action.
2. Prerequisite Qualifications Required for the Full Performance Level In addition to the qualifications required at the entry level: Experience and Essential Knowledge and Abilities: One (1) year of work experience in a mental health facility/unit which involved learning and performing selected therapeutic activities under the supervision of a qualified professional. Such experience must have demonstrated knowledge of behavioral characteristics associated with various types of mental health problems; general behavioral and psychiatric procedures; mental health principles and techniques involved in the care and treatment of individuals or groups of mentally ill patients; intervention and de-escalation techniques; common side effects of psychiatric medications; and the ability to assist and participate in the activities of the treatment team; and independently provide adjunctive services (recreational and diversional activities) to a caseload of psychiatric patients.

Who May Apply

LEGAL AUTHORIZATION TO WORK REQUIREMENT: The State of Hawaii requires that all persons seeking employment with the government of the State shall be citizens, nationals, or permanent resident aliens of the United States, or eligible under federal law for unrestricted employment in the United States.

Recruitment deadline is continuous.