Psychiatric Technician

Primary Function:

• Incumbent works under the direction and close supervision of a Psychiatric Registered Nurse or designee, performing basic nursing care duties and providing for the needs and comfort of patients in accordance with established policies and procedures of the Douglas County Community Mental Health Center (CMHC).
  
  As a Federal Contractor and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Community Mental Health Center employees are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 upon employment.

Essential Functions:

• Perform clinical activities based on an individual treatment plan for patient care.
• Establish and maintain effective working 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, and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful and quality work environment.
• Attend shift report meetings exchanging information and providing continuity of care.
• Obtain and document patient's vitals, height, weight ensuring patient data charted timely/accurately.
• Observe psychosocial interactions reporting changes/abnormal behavior to supervisor.
• Perform housekeeping activities.
• Deescalate situations with patients.
• Actively participate in activities with patients fostering an environment conducive to therapies and healing.
• Supervise patients during personal care routines providing assistance as needed and obtaining specimens for testing.
• Monitor patient nutrition recording all caloric intake and output.
• Adhere to infection control procedures (e.g. proper hand washing, isolation procedures, universal precautions, proper handling of hazardous chemicals and infectious materials).
• Participate in admission procedures (e.g. documenting and storing patient belongings, orienting patient and family to the facility).
• Monitor closed-circuit television (CCT) panel.
• Assist with transferring patients using proper body mechanics/transfer techniques.
• Report to work with regular, consistent attendance.
• Perform other duties as directed and assigned.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• One (1) year of experience working with psychiatric patients or in a group home setting
  required.*
• Completion of Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training within 6 months of hire required.
• Post-secondary education in Psychology, Sociology or human service field preferred.
• Applicants may be required to complete supplemental training/testing at the discretion of the Director of Nursing.
• Completion of a pre-employment criminal background check, and post-offer drug screen and physical assessment.
• *Equivalent post-secondary education may be substituted for experience requirements on a year-for-year basis.

Posting Dates:  Open Until Filled

          Douglas County is an EOE - Disability/Veterans