The Mental Health Technician / Unit Secretary - Acute Behavioral Care Unit - Full Time Days

Our team members are the heart of what makes us better. At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning. It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community. Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.

The Mental Health Technician / Unit Secretary provides cross-functional support services as a Mental Health Technician with Unit Secretary duties. This position is crucial to continuing operations and creating a safe patient environment while supporting unit administrative duties. The Mental Health Technician / Unit Secretary reports to the unit Nurse Manager and provides continuity in workflow, execution, and unit performance.

• Welcomes patients and checks for proper identification bracelets. Participates in the orientation of patients to the unit/area and develops rapport with patients, family members, and significant others. 
• Ensures the room environment and patient is prepared for admission assessment, physical examination and procedures; specifically for behavioral health patients. 
• Participates in patient search at admission, upon return from pass, or as clinically indicated, under the direction of a Registered Nurse consistent with network policy. Inspects and handles belongings and valuables of patients to ensure that prohibited material is not brought into the hospital. Deposits valuables in safe, per hospital policy. 
• Recognizes and responds to opportunities to enhance patient satisfaction. 
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skill necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of patients on the unit. 
• Complies with patient care decisions made by the professional staff and accepts responsibility for following instructions, fulfilling assignments and learning from feedback. Observes and reports patient's conditions, behavior, reaction to treatment and complaints to the nurse, psychiatrist and/or other advanced practice professional. 
• Assists the patients with dressing/undressing as needed and placing patient belongings in the appropriate bag labeled with completed property checklist and handled consistent with hospital policy. Assists with inspection of all clothing/property brought to patients during visiting hours. Monitors the return of clothing to the family of the patient. 
• Receives visitors during visiting hours, maintains safety checks and direct observation during visiting hours. 
• Provides a safe patient environment by answering call lights promptly, communicating with the RN immediately for any change in the patient's condition.
• Identifies the needs of the patient population served and modifies and delivers care that is specific to those needs not limited to (i.e., age, culture, language, hearing and/or visually impaired, etc.). This process includes communicating with the patient, parent, and/or primary caregiver(s) at their level (developmental/age, educational, literacy, etc. 
• Assists in seclusion, restraint and monitoring of agitated patients under the direction of an RN and documents data on seclusion, restraint, precaution, and 5/15 min check sheets in line with the network restraint policy. Provides 1:1 direct observation as needed to monitor safety and provides documentation as necessary.
• Assists patients with meals or fed as needed and provides direct hygiene and comfort care to patients including bathing, toileting, oral hygiene, incontinent care and bed making. 
• Checks inventory of assigned area and restocks as directed by RN as well as coordinates the ordering and distribution of unit supplies weekly. 
• Ensures that paperwork and electronic records are completed accurately and within procedural time limits. Enters data into the computer and obtains information as needed. Assembles and maintains charts in proper order on an on-going basis. 
• Works with the treatment team to assist with outside appointments, scheduling, and transporting when necessary. Assists patients to make phone calls for discharge planning. Processes information involving patient appointment books, census board, treatment board and privileges. 
• Obtains clinical data, temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, O2, saturation and documents findings in patient record and notifies RN immediately of abnormal results. Assists in data collection. 
• Monitors the timeliness of the lab reports and consults in order to prevent the under and over utilization of all studies on an on-going basis. Prepares requisition slips for/or arranges for services provided by other hospital departments. 
• Transfers, escorts, transports, and ambulates patients within the hospital as necessary. Escorts patients to the lab when necessary. Escorts patients to court..
• Demonstrates a reliable and dependable ability to follow through with designated responsibilities in the collecting, labeling, and transporting of specimens to the proper area at the proper area at the appropriate time: always correctly labels type of specimen collected, including patients name and room number. 
• Where applicable, provides support to psychiatry consultation liaison service by organization setup of equipment and direct observation of patient and equipment during the consultation via telehealth. Assures the presence, functionality and cleanliness of all necessary equipment. 
• Functions as a role model of healthy interpersonal relationships and demonstrates appropriate behavior for both patients, family, and staff. 
• Effectively participates with the treatment team and positively supports patients' plans for continuing care. 
• Provides input to Unit Director or Nursing Supervisor regarding unit-based performance improvement measures based on concerns, high risk, high volume issues. 
• Participates in unit's performance improvement activities by collecting accurate data collection which focuses on established indicators, processes & outcomes. 
• Maintains a safe and orderly work/patient care environment. Knows where all emergency supplies and equipment are located and obtains them when necessary.
• Handles and disposes of infections and hazardous materials per policies and procedures. Immediately reports all environmental and safety hazards per policies and procedures. 
• Serves as department Timekeeper. 
• Maintains the Maintenance Log. 
• Other duties and/or projects as assigned. 
• Adheres to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• High School diploma, general equivalency diploma (GED), and/or GED equivalent programs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• Proficient computer skills that may include but are not limited to Microsoft Office and/or Google Suite platforms. 

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:

• Minimum of 1 year of experience in behavioral health care and/or administrative/clerical experience. 

Licenses and Certifications Required:

• Valid Driver's License from a USA state. 
• AHA Basic Health Care Life Support HCP Certification within 90 days of entering position.