TECH - PSYCHIATRIC (LIC)

Universal Health Services, Inc.; Madera (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Universal Health Services, Inc. seeks an LVN/LPT to join the River Vista Behavioral Health nursing team.

The role involves providing nursing care to psychiatric patients under RN supervision, with responsibilities including data collection, pain assessment, and 1:1 interactions where needed. Required are CA LVN/LPT licensure, graduation from a recognized nursing or psychiatric technician program, BLS, CPR, and CPI training (potentially at orientation).

Qualifications

• Education: Graduate from an accredited Vocational School of Nursing or Psychiatric Technician program.
• Current licensure as a Licensed Vocational Nurse or Licensed Psychiatric Technician with the CA BVNPT.
• BLS Certification.
• CPR certification and CPI training; CPI may be obtained during new hire orientation.
• Clinical experience in a psychiatric setting preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assists in delivering patient care in an acute psychiatric setting.
• Provides nursing care within scope of practice to meet patient needs.
• Assists the Charge/Staff Nurse by collecting data related to condition.
• Reports data findings to the Charge Nurse.
• Assists with pain assessment and documentation; uses pain scales.
• Organizes and delivers patient care and supervises staff.
• Documents patient activity and behavior in progress notes.
• Provides 1:1 interventions as directed and communicates significant developments.

Skills

Effective communication

Stress management

Independent judgment

Reading/writing charts

Team collaboration

Adaptability

Dosage calculation

Education

Vocational Nursing program

Psychiatric Technician program

Job description

Responsibilities

River Vista Behavioral Health sits along the bluffs overlooking the San Joaquin River, this brand new, 128-bed facility, will provide high-quality and advanced behavioral health services to residents and visitors in the Central Valley. The new hospital will employ more than 250 people, including clinicians, nurses, mental health technicians, support staff and administration.

We are currently seeking a forward thinking and compassionate LVN/LPT to be part of our Nursing Team. The LVN/LPT administers nursing care to designated patients under the direction and supervision of a Registered Nurse. Performs a variety of direct and indirect patient care duties.

JOB REQUIREMENTS: Education: Graduate from an accredited Vocational School of Nursing or Psychiatric Technician program required; Current licensure as a Licensed Vocational Nurse or Licensed Psychiatric Technician with the State of California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians.

BLS Certification

Experience: Clinical experience in a psychiatric setting preferred

Additional Requirements: CPR certification and successful completion of Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training. CPI Training may be obtained during new hire orientation.

Knowledge/Skills

• Must have ability to communicate effectively.
• Must be able to perform concentrated and/or complex mental activity with frequent involvement in complex and/or highly technical situations;
• Must be able to work successfully under highly stressful conditions;
• Must be able to make sound, independent judgments based on scientific and/or ethical principles;
• Must be able to comprehend and perform oral and written instructions and procedures;
• Must be able to collaborate with other multidisciplinary team members in an appropriate fashion;
• Must be capable of adapting to varying workloads an work assignments on a constant basis;
• Must have effective comprehensive reading skills, strong communication skills, written and verbal.
• Must have math skills to enable calculation of drug dosages and infusion rates.

GENERAL WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Working conditions for all employees are as follows, but not limited to a psychiatric hospital setting; some risk involved in the event of aggressive patient(s); work load may include day, evening, night, weekend and/or holiday shifts. The LVN/LPT is occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions, toxic or caustic chemicals, blood borne pathogens, and loud noise levels.

Mental demands described herein are representative of those which must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job, but are not limited to the ability to remain calm in a stressful environment; and the emotional stability, physical stamina and agility to handle stress and respond quickly and effectively to emergency situations.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Physical requirements include, but are not limited to the ability to communicate effectively with patients, their families, staff and others; the ability to effectively utilize communication equipment; the physical agility to manage patients (ambulatory, non-ambulatory and physically aggressive); the ability to read (i.e. patient charts, written communication, regulations, written policies and procedures, etc.); and the ability to write (i.e. manual charting, written communication, etc.).

• The ability to competently and fully perform Handle with Care techniques is an essential position function.

• Must occasionally utilize physical ability for walking, fingering or manual dexterity, lifting/exerting force up to 25 lbs, reaching or stretching, crouching or stooping, and smelling.
• Must frequently utilize physical ability for standing and see with correction for color discrimination and depth perception.
• Must regularly utilize physical ability for sitting, speaking, hearing, and seeing with correction for close, distance and peripheral vision, and focusing ability.
• Mental demands include but are not limited to emotional stability, physical stamina and agility to handle stress and respond quickly and effectively to emergency situations.

EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS USED: Telephone, computer, tape player, copier, fax machine, video player, small hand tools and writing instruments, as well as all clinical equipment, including but not limited to, syringes, blood pressure equipment, etc.

CLASSIFICATION: Non-Exempt

JOB SPECIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified, to perform the primary functions.

Qualifications

PRIMARY CRITERIA/RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Assists in the delivery of patient care in an acute psychiatric setting for patients experiencing a wide rage of psychiatric conditions.
2. Provides nursing care, within the scope of practice, to meet the unique needs of each patient.
3. Assists the Charge/Staff Nurse by collecting data related to the patient’s condition.
4. Reports data findings related patient’s condition to the Charge Nurse.
5. Assists the Registered Nurse in assessing for pain, utilizes pain scale and documents accordingly.
6. Assists the Charge/Staff Nurse to organize and deliver patient care, and to supervise staff.
7. Documents patient activity and behavior in an accurate, timely and legible manner.
8. Recognizes when patient is in need of 1:1 intervention and interacts therapeutically. Informs Charge/Staff Nurse of significant developments and documents in progress note.
9. Provide 1:1 interventions as directed. Reports significant developments to Charge/Staff Nurse.

SERVICE EXCELLENCE CRITERIA

1. Treats everyone as a guest.

• Makes a positive first impression and continues that positive impression through ongoing efforts
• Anticipates the needs and expectations of all people encountered
• Displays service recovery skills; is responsible for resolving dissatisfaction without assigning blame

1. Demonstrates professionalism and excellence in all things.

• Demonstrates professionalism in look, what to do, and what to say
• Holds self accountable - Is a positive role model
• Delivers excellence that goes beyond departmental and individual job responsibility

1. Practices teamwork

• Participates in decision-making and process improvement, regardless of level in the organization
• Communicates effectively within and beyond assigned team
• Focuses on the problem or issue, not the person

1. Behaviors: Always says "please" and "thank you". Makes a good first impression by projecting a positive attitude; greets patients, guests and staff warmly.
2. Behaviors: Always wears name badge. Demonstrates a professional image through manner of dress, respectful communication, and adherence to hospital badge policy.
3. Behaviors: Holds self accountable for getting the information needed to know to do job. Responds to client and customer questions, concerns and grievances in a timely manner, informing complainant of process and expected time of resolution. Reads all hospital related written communication, i.e. memos, flyers, posters, etc.
4. Behaviors: Uses language appropriate to the situation and to the guest. Is a team player, showing respect for peers, supervisors, patients and guests, demonstrated through verbal communications and commitment to the work group.
5. Behaviors: Greet guests with eye contact and a smile. Staff is timely when responding to patient needs and requests by making eye contact and verbal contact when patient presents self at nurse’s station or any other area where staff is located.
6. Behaviors: Always end an interaction with the guest by asking, "Is there anything else I can do for you?" Provides service to patients and families that is prompt, caring, efficient and effective.
7. Demonstrates respect for the hospital environment by keeping work areas organized and clean, and taking pride in the facility as a whole.

GENERAL CRITERIA

1. Attendance: Consistently reports to work on time and is ready to work at start of shift. Appropriately utilizes personal days/sick time. Clocks in/out per policy and procedure; begins/returns from meal periods and rest breaks within established policy time frame. Uses only approved overtime.
2. General Safety: Follows all departmental and hospital safety, security and infection control policies.
3. Self-Development: Maintains required licensure/certification for position; renews by expiration date; Maintains CPR; renews by expiration date. Maintains HANDLE WITH CARE training; renews by expiration date. Completes all required mandatory inservices/training at hire and annually and in a timely manner. Gains additional formal qualifications beyond the minimum requirements of the job; as well as additional job duties and skills. Follows up on any personal development plan. Maintains current knowledge of policies and procedures, protocols, and practices. Attends inservice programs.
4. Professional Appearance and Attitude: Complies with the Personal Appearance policy. Consistently demonstrates a self-directed, mature and disciplined approach to completing work duties. Demonstrates emotional capacity to perform within position responsibilities. Maintains and respects patient and employee confidentiality. Follows proper lines of authority and organizational structure.

The Following is the minimum knowledge, skills and behaviors necessary to provide care and service for the patient population served:

AGE GROUP ENCOUNTERED: Adolescent - (12-17 yr. old) Adult - (18 - 61 yr. old) Geriatric - (62 or above)

1. Must be able to demonstrate knowledge of patient rights, advanced directives and ethical issues for all age specific groups.
2. Must be able to demonstrate the skills and knowledge to provide appropriate interventions based on the needs of various age groups.
3. Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and ability to advocate, communicate and educate patients of all age groups served, including those with physical, emotional, social, mental, language and cognitive impairments.
4. Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and ability to collaborate with medical staff, other health professionals to achieve desired outcomes for age specific groups served.
5. Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills to interpret age related data and appropriately consulting with other team members and/or planning care based on those results.
6. Must be able to demonstrate ability to involve patients/family/guardian/care taker in decision making related to care and treatment appropriate for various ages served.
7. Must be able to demonstrate ability to provide patient/family education, explaining care, treatments, discharges instruction etc. using correct terminology and technique to address educational needs of each age group served.
8. Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and ability to assess and provide appropriate interventions in the event of abnormal family dynamics for various age groups including; child abuse, domestic violence, and elder abuse.
9. Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and ability to provide a safe environment of care and recognize safety risks/considerations of each age group served.

Additional Requirements: A strong knowledge of The Joint Commission, HCFA, OSHA regulations, and patient rights standards and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations governing mental health care facilities.

One of the nation’s largest and most respected hospital companies, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) has built an impressive record of achievement and performance. Steadily growing from a startup to an esteemed Fortune 500 corporation, UHS today has annual revenue nearing $10 billion. UHS is recognized as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies by Fortune; ranked #276 on the Fortune 500, and listed #275 in Forbes inaugural ranking of America’s Top 500 Public Companies.

EEO Statement: All UHS subsidiaries are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. UHS subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers and as such, openly support and fully commit to recruitment, selection, placement, promotion and compensation of individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

We believe that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success.