The Psych Tech (Technician) assists in providing behavioral nursing care to patients hospitalized for psychiatric and/or substance abuse treatment. This position participates in the planning and implementation process for the multidisciplinary treatment team including physical care of patients as directed by registered nurse(s) and management of patients? behavioral expressions of substance abuse or psychopathology.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Provides patient care to adult age groups for substance abuse services.
Demonstrates the capacity to observe and assess patients for verbal and non-verbal indicators of mental status, monitor potential risk, and intervene with appropriate individual and team action.
Assists nurse with taking vital signs of patients.
Participates in infection control processes designed to reduce transmission of infection.
Demonstrates the knowledge and safe use of equipment related to assigned jobs, duties, and responsibilities.
Performs job duties in a manner that reduces risk and maintains a work environment free from hazards.
Maintains competency in CPR and CPM.
Demonstrates knowledge of essential computer skills related to the job while maintaining confidentiality, security and integrity of data.
Demonstrates mission and values with patients, families, peers, and other members of the healthcare team.
Protects patient rights to confidentiality through written, oral and electronic communication.
Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS / REQUIREMENTS:
Experience: Two (2) years' experience in a health care setting with one year in mental health preferred (college experience may be substituted).
Education: High School Diploma or GED, required.
Licenses / Certifications: BLS required.
Other: Knowledge and understanding of mental illness including treatment modalities and sub-professional nursing techniques.
WMCHealth is a 1,900-bed healthcare system headquartered in Valhalla, New York, with ten hospitals on eight campuses spanning 6,200 square miles of the Hudson Valley. WMCHealth employs more than 12,000 people and has nearly 3,000 attending physicians. From Level 1, Level 2 and Pediatric Trauma Centers, the region’s only acute care children’s hospital, an academic medical center, several community hospitals, dozens of specialized institutes and centers, a state of the art Telemedicine program, skilled nursing, assisted living facilities, homecare services and one of the largest mental health systems in New York State, today WMCHealth is the pre-eminent provider of integrated healthcare in the Hudson Valley.