Behavioral Health Technician-ED Extension Unit Pediatrics

About Duke Health

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Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke University Hospital is consistently ranked among the best in the United States. It is the largest of Duke Health’s four hospitals with 1062 patient beds, featuring comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center and an endo‑surgery center.

Perform a variety of routine activities to provide physical and psychological care to patients with psychiatric disorders.

• Observe patients and assess progress on a daily basis; report significant changes in patients’ condition and/or behavior to supervising RN.
• Interact with patients one‑to‑one, providing recreational or social activities and reinforcing patient teaching.
• Assist patients in activities of daily living, including making beds, bathing, personal hygiene, feeding, and dressing.
• Assist patients with position changes, range of motion exercises, transfers, and walking.
• Provide care and monitoring of patients in seclusion and/or restraint.
• Provide protection and control for patients as required to ensure patient safety in the facility.
• Participate in restraining combative patients as necessary.
• Ensure compliance with safety and infection control guidelines, including universal precautions for self and patients.
• Participate in staff discussions to assess, coordinate, and execute patient care.
• Maintain a clean, neat, and safe work environment; activities may include tidying rooms, cleaning equipment, changing bed linens, restocking work areas, and keeping rooms and hallways clear of debris.
• Practice proper safety techniques in accordance with hospital and departmental policies and procedures; immediately report any mechanical or electrical equipment malfunctions, unsafe conditions, or employee/patient/visitor injuries to manager.
• Participate in the review of activities and processes for the work area; assist in implementing changes to effect continual improvement in services provided; comply with regulatory and legal requirements.
• Assist in organizing and conducting recreational activities.
• Interact with patients one‑to‑one as well as in small groups; assist patients in planning how the treatment plan can be optimally utilized for their benefit.
• Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

Graduation from high school or GED.

1 year of experience working with patients with substance abuse, mental health, dementia diagnosis, intellectually or disabled preferred.

• Listing on the Nurse Aid Registry of North Carolina
• Certification as a Substance Abuse Counselor in North Carolina
• Certification as an Emergency Medical Technician in North Carolina
• Certification as a Behavioral Health Technician by The Academy of Addiction Professionals or American Medical Certification Association
• If a hire does not meet one of the four requirements, the BHT must start the process to complete one of the requirements within 1 year of employment and complete within 2 years.
• BCLS certification must be maintained/completed by the end of new hire orientation, which typically takes place during the first week of employment.
• CPI certification strongly preferred.
• Meet DUHS credential to perform analysis of blood glucose from finger sticks and report findings to nurse; complete quality control measures for this equipment; participate in specimen collection according to test requested; be responsible for patient identification, specimen labeling, and collection verification; instruct patients in collection and preservation of urine, sputum, and stool samples for analysis; obtain and record vital signs, intake and output amounts or other measures as delegated within 90 days of employment.

• Knowledge of special procedures that are…