| Job
Code: |
3124 |
| Job
Title: |
Mental
Health Associate |
| Creation
Date: |
09/30/00 |
|
| Revision
Date: |
12/31/02 |
| FLSA
Status: |
Non-Exempt |
Job Summary:
Functions as an integral
member of an interdisciplinary team to provide technical and supportive care to
patients with mental illness and developmental disabilities in a behavioral
medicine setting.
Major Duties / Critical Tasks:
- Functions as an
interdependent and supportive team member in a behavioral medicine setting
in providing care to patients with mental and developmental disabilities.
- Monitors all aspects of
the patient's daily life and their effect on physical, mental and emotional
well-being, recognizing priorities, treatment plan, objectives, and
potential crisis.
- Communicates relevant
information including patient needs/emergencies and unusual patient/family
behavior to the appropriate health care provider.
- Systematically and
continuously collects data about the health and functional status of
patients and accurately documents and communicates interventions and
measurements.
- Assists in developing a
plan with goals and interventions unique to the needs of each client/patient
utilizing age-specific considerations.
- Participates in the
evaluation of client/patient responses to nursing actions in order to assess
progress towards meeting the patient's healthcare objectives.
- Assists patient with
admission, transfer, discharge and activities of daily living and provides
support/comfort measures incorporating the plan of care.
- Assists in the
maintenance of equipment, supplies, and the environment.
- Respects and supports
patient/family rights.
- Practices positive
guest and peer relations.
- Participates in and
support quality improvement activities.
- Demonstrates acceptable
levels of productivity and practices cost containment.
- Assumes responsibility
for own continuing education and professional growth and development.
- Adheres to internal
controls established for department.
- Performs related duties
as required.
Required Education / Experience:
High school graduation or
equivalent and experience and/or completion of one of the following approved
technical programs:
- 1 year of psychiatry
related experience in a behavioral medical setting dealing with mental
disorders an developmental disabilities, or
- Nurse Assistant program
plus 1 year of clinical experience in behavioral medicine, or
- Medical Corpsman plus
one year of clinical experience, or
- EMT program plus one
year of clinical experience, or
- 1st year of clinicals
in the nursing program.
Equipment:
Standard patient care equipment.
Working Environment:
- Work environment is located in a comfortable indoor area.
- Conditions such as noise, odors, cramped work space and/or fumes could
sometimes cause discomfort.
- Moderate to extreme physical effort may be required such as walking,
standing and lifting materials, equipment, objects, and/or patients.
- Occasional lifting may be heavy and awkward, over 50 lbs.
- Vision, hearing, talking, and sense of touch abilities must be adequate
enough to enable one to quickly and accurately perform tasks such as:
reading small print, reading from monitoring equipment, defining details,
sending and receiving clear and accurate verbal communication.
- Frequent periods of concentrated or focused attention will be needed to
interpret visual, auditory, and sensory inputs.
- Shift work may be required.
- Alertness and careful attention to detail will be required to avoid
injury.
- May be exposed to such occupational hazards as communicable diseases,
radiation, chemotherapeutic agents, and disoriented or combative patients.
- May be required to be on standby and work extended shifts in situations
deemed necessary by a designated Executive Director and/or Nursing Director.
Other:
Specific job requirements or physical location of some positions allocated to
this classification, may render this position security sensitive, and thereby
subject to the provisions of Section 51.215, Texas Education Code.
Any
qualifications to be considered as equivalents in lieu of stated minimums
require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.
|
