Mental Health Associate - Inpatient Psychiatry - Morningside - Full Time/Days

Mental Health Associate is an individual who functions in both a support and collaborative role with the Registered Professional Nurse by providing direct care to individual and to groups of psychiatric patients within the Psychiatry Care Center.

1. Assists the nursing staff in performing selected nursing procedures and functional tasks to specific patients
2. Assists with the admissions, transfer and discharge of patients according to established policy and procedures.
3. Provides direct physical care, and/or one to one observation to selected patients under supervision
4. Carries out procedures as taught
5. Assists with patients’ examinations treatments and procedures
6. Assists with lifting, positioning. moving and ambulating patients using body mechanics as instructed
7. Transports patients by wheelchair, stretcher or bed
8. Assists in preventive measures and crisis interventions (i. e. suicide, aggression, elopement self- harm and sexual risks).
9. Assists in de-escalation of agitated  patients  and utilizes crisis prevention techniques as necessary for the management of potential destructive behaviors
10. Escorts ambulatory patients
11. Escorts patients outside of the hospital as necessary
12. Goes on errands as necessary
13. Aware of the need for safety devices; applies or assists with application as taught.
14. Cares for patient’s personal possessions and reports presence of valuables to the nurse or ward clerk
15. Answers call lights, attends to the patient’s needs and/or reports patient’s concerns and requests to the nurse
16. Reports pertinent information and observations regarding patients to the nurse
17. Communicates information and basic instructions to patients, families and visitors
18. Participates in exchange of patient daily report and nursing care conferences
19. Obtains and records blood pressure, temperature, pulse and respiration rate in accordance with hospital policy.
20. Attends staff and educational meetings
21. Works safely and provides for the safety of patients and others
22. Maintains neat and clean patient and service areas
23. Organize and implement group activities in conjunction with the unit program and other staff and document patient participation and report to nurse.
24. Facilitate the patient's transition toward discharge
25. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of desired effects and side effects of psychotropic medication.
26. Participate in Interdisciplinary Treatment Team meetings as assigned.
27. Perform Q20 minute environmental/patient safety rounds and implement a higher level of observation in emergencies.  Immediately reports any need for increased observation to the clinical nurse for further assessment.
28. Establish and foster collegial, therapeutic relationships with peers, support staff and other disciplines.
29. Is open and responsive to the diverse backgrounds and experience of other people and promotes an environment that is sensitive to cultural diversity.
30. Demonstrate therapeutic skills in crisis intervention.
31. Demonstrates safe use of equipment, safety precautions in all aspects of patient care activities (e.g.restraints applications, transportation).
32. Recognizes changes in a patient's mental status, sharing findings with the primary nurse.
33. Demonstrate basic knowledge of DSM-IV diagnoses.
34. Assists with emergency interventions based on clinical manifestation (i.e. choking, respiratory arrest and cardiac arrest).
35. Demonstrates awareness of the effect of the physiological changes (decrease vision, hearing and speaking) when utilizing verbal/written skills to communicate with the elderly.
36. Selects toys and play room activities consistent with the age and developmental stage of the child/adolescent patient. Maintains cleanliness of toys
37. Assists on restraining patients and providing monitoring and comfort of those patients in restraint.
38. Perform phlebotomy/fingerstick procedures, as assigned.
39. Perform EKG as assigned.
40. Perform supplemental components of the nursing admission, i.e. tour of unit, orientation, patient and belonging search, as defined by RN.
41. Participate in Clinical Specialty Performance Improvement Activities.
42. Document care administered according to policy.
43. Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care, based on physical, psychosocial, educational, safety, and related criteria, appropriate to the age of the patients served in assigned area
44. Assist in supervision of volunteers assigned to the unit

Age Specific Competencies (Neonate/Infant, Pediatric, Adolescent, Adult, Geriatric)

1. 1. Identifies physical, behavioral and emotional characteristics typical for the age group
   2. Modifies approache