Mental Health Associate

What You Will Do

The Mental Health Associate is a nursing caregiver who works under the direct supervision of the Registered Nurse to provide patient care in accordance with each patient's IPOC (interdisciplinary plan of care), hospital policies and procedures, and unit/program guidelines.

Required Qualifications

• H.S. Diploma or Equivalent
• AHA Basic Life Support for Healthcare Professional (AHA BLS Healthcare) - American Heart Association -REQUIRED

Preferred Qualifications

• Some college course work in Psychology, Sociology, Communication, Nursing, or other healthcare related fields
• 1 Year experience working in a treatment setting with patients that have acute or chronic psychiatric and/or substance abuse disorders.

Essential Functions

• Basic nursing and mental health
  Demonstrates knowledge and awareness of the signs and symptoms of psychiatric disorders. Assists R.N. with patient admissions, transfers, and discharges. Considers the age, cultural, psychosocial, and physical needs of patients when providing care. Assists patients with activities of daily living as necessary (bathing, feeding, laundry). Performs other patient care related nursing tasks as assigned (i.e., collection of urine specimens and completing EKGs). Observes and reports significant changes in patients' behavior, mental status, and physical condition to the R.N.
• Communication and documentation of care
  Communication and documentation of care reflects understanding of data collection and documentation requirements. Maintains ongoing communication regarding assigned patients with the responsible R.N. throughout the shift. Gives a complete report on assigned patients to the responsible R.N. prior to end of each shift. Documents observed patient behaviors and other collected data (i.e., vital signs, height, weight, intake, output, sleep pattern) in accordance with the approved guidelines for documentation.
• Customer service
  Provides patient-centered care that demonstrates an understanding of and commitment to the principles of the Recovery Model. Responds to patient, family, and visitor requests and concerns appropriately and promptly. Maintains appropriate boundaries with patients and visitors. Demonstrates the knowledge and skill for conducting psycho-educational groups, activity groups, and community meetings. Assists in greeting, assisting, and monitoring visitors.
• General support
  Answers the unit telephones, answering questions, taking messages and referring calls, and maintaining the bed board as appropriate. Inventories, orders, and stocks unit supplies. Coordinates the maintenance of computers and other equipment. Communicates and coordinates unit service needs internally with Environmental Services, Plant Operations and externally with services such as translation and transportation. Maintains an adequate supply of forms and program materials. Assists the nurses in contacting physicians when needed. Assists in keeping the nursing station and unit environment neat, clean, and well organized. Provides other support as assigned including mail distribution, generating reports. Orients and mentors new hire and floated staff members to the unit and program. Serves on unit and hospital committees and workgroups as assigned.
• Safety
  Observes and promptly reports any potentially unsafe patient behaviors in accordance with approved observation protocols. Uses approved de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to intervene and effectively manage patients exhibiting agitated, aggressive, or self-harming behaviors. Monitors the unit environment and immediately alerts the RN of any identified safety hazards. Understands and uses safe body mechanics.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to speak, write, and comprehend medical terminology in English.
• Excellent verbal communication skills required.
• Knowledge of the bio-psycho-social needs of psychiatric patients.
• Knowledge and skills necessary to provide basic nursing care and mental health care to acute psychiatric patients.

Sharp HealthCare is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with a disability or any other protected class.