Mental Health Associate, Emergency Screening

Overview

Job Title:

Mental Health Associate

Location:

655

E. Jersey Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07206

Facility:
Trinitas Regional Medical Center

Department:
Emergency Screening

Req #:

Status:
Hourly, Full-Time

Shift: Evening

Pay Range: $20.97 - $26.50 per hour

Pay Transparency:
The above reflects the anticipated hourly wage range for this position if hired to work in New Jersey. The compensation offered to the candidate selected for the position will depend on several factors, including the candidate's educational background, skills and professional experience.

The Mental Health Associate provides direct care to adults and children with mental or emotional conditions or disabilities under the direction of nurses and physicians in the psych emergency room. The Mental Health Associate closely monitors patients’ physical and emotional well-being and reports to medical staff.

• Monitor vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure, perform EKGs, draw labs and collect specimens from patients.
• Assist patients in daily activities such as eating, dressing, and bathing.
• Provide therapeutic groups and recreational activities to patients and assist in non-violent crisis intervention.
• Attend and participate in unit meetings by offering suggestions and comments concerning unit and team efforts.
• Maintain a clean and comfortable environment for the patient according to policy and procedure.
• Participate in room and/or body searches of patients as assigned by the professional nurse.
• Assist in maintaining unit policies and procedures, procure and maintain par levels of supplies and linens stock, and clean discharge units when housekeeping is unavailable.
• Record pertinent data and document patient information in the medical record on a daily basis and as needed.
• Immediately report patient changes in condition to the nurse in charge.
• Precept new employees and students, and orient new staff members.
• Participate in the admission/transfer process and orient patients to the Hospital and nursing unit as delineated in the unit procedure manual.
• Contribute to the formation and carrying out of treatment plans elaborated by the psychiatric team.
• Provide standard nursing care as delegated by the registered nurse, including physical care, escorting patients, maintaining therapeutic communication, and specimen collection.
• Participate in patient/staff meetings, group and community meetings as required.
• Update patient care plans and plan/participate in recreational activities for patients.
• Supervise patient interaction with family members during visitation and provide supportive intervention as required.
• Recognize abnormal vital signs data and verbally report to the RN caring for the patient.
• Perfom venipuncture and draw blood specimens, collect specimens (blood, urine, sputum, stool) and ensure accurate labeling.

Required:

• Bachelor's degree, or AIMS Mental Health Associate (MHA) certification

Preferred:

• Previous experience working with psychiatric and/or substance-abuse patients
• Previous experience in psychology or sociology

Certifications and Licenses Required:

• Basic Life Support (BLS) through the American Heart Association

Scheduling Requirements:

• Shift working, 4pm-12am
• Full-time (FT)

Essential Functions:

• Attends and participates in unit meetings by offering suggestions, ideas and comments concerning unit and team efforts.
• Maintains a clean and comfortable environment for the patient according to established policy and procedure.
• Performs room and/or body searches of patients as assigned by the professional nurse.
• Maintains unit policies and procedures, procures and maintains par levels of supplies and linens stock; assists in cleaning discharge units when housekeeping is unavailable.
• Records pertinent data according to standards and documents patient information in the medical record.
• Immediately reports patient changes in condition to the nurse in charge.
• Precepts new employees and students; assists in orienting new staff members.
• Participates in the admission/transfer process and orients patients to the Hospital and nursing unit.
• Contributes to treatment plans and carries out patient care as part of the psychiatric team.
• Provides standard nursing care as delegated by the RN and participates in patient-related activities maintaining therapeutic communication with patients, including specimen collection.
• Participates in patient/staff meetings, group and community meetings as required.
• Contributes to updates of patient care plans and plans/recreational activities for the patient.
• Supervises patient interaction with family members during visitation and provides supportive intervention as required.
• Recognizes abnormal vital signs and reports to the RN promptly.
• Performs venipuncture and collects blood specimens with proper labeling.

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Medical and Prescription Drug Insurance
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Retirement Plans
• Short & Long Term Disability
• Life & Accidental Death Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Health Care/Dependent…