Mental Health Assistant I

Responsibilities:

• Assists patients or provides complete care including bathing, dressing, grooming, hydration and nutrition, and care of personal space and belongings.

• Performs clinical measurements including Vital Signs, Intake and Output and documents findings.

• Ensures comfort and safety in the environment for individual patients, families, self and coworkers through good body mechanics when assisting patients with mobility and transportation, proper use of equipment, following policy for restraints and seclusion, and use of monitoring techniques.

• Makes frequent rounds observing patients to anticipate possible patient needs.

• Plans, initiates, and assists patients with unstructured activities to address leisure time needs and encourages patient participation in all activities.

• Reports patient or unit problems to the appropriate RN or Mental Health Tech.

• Assists with ECT treatments according to procedure including obtaining, set up and cleaning of equipment; providing support and assistance to physicians and nurses; transporting patients; and monitoring patient oral intake post ECT recovery.

• Follows procedures in caring for the potentially violent patient and the patient in danger of hurting him/herself or others including monitoring all levels of observation, assisting with the initiation of seclusion and application of restraints, and caring for restrained and secluded patients.

• Responds to Code Blue situations in all areas of the hospital as directed utilizing all CPI principles in verbal de‐escalation, physical restraint (appropriate to age), 4 point restraint and maintaining a safe environment in all situations, under the clinical supervision of a CPI trained RN. Initiates and maintains appropriate and accurate documentation as required by UHS policy and procedure.

• Escorts patients away from the hospital campus and works closely with the interdisciplinary staff in the planning of transfers.

Education/Experience

Minimum Required:

• High School Diploma or GED

Preferred:

• College courses leading to a degree in a mental health related field or Nursing
• Previous education in a Nursing Assistant program
• Previous work experience in a health care environment

License/Certification

Preferred:

• Certified Nursing Assistant

Work Environment

• Work is performed in an office environment and patient care areas which require working in proximity to other employees and patients. Rooms are air conditioned and heated.
• Frequent walking, standing, bending and lifting.
• Exposure to equipment cleaning solutions and disinfectants.
• PPE (Eyewear, Masks, Face shields, Shoe covers, and Gloves) as required by UHS Hospitals Infection Control policies.

Age of Patients Served

• All Age Groups

HIPAA Roles‐Based Access to Patient Information

• All ‐ Access to patient information, including restricted information ‐ Level 4