Emergency Psychiatric Tech

Primary Location:

UofL Hospital - UMC

Address:

530 South Jackson Street
Louisville, KY 40202


Shift:

Job Description Summary:

UofL Health is a fully integrated regional academic health system with five hospitals, four medical centers, nearly 200 physician practice locations, more than 700 providers, the Frazier Rehab Institute and Brown Cancer Center.
With more than 12,000 team members—physicians, surgeons, nurses, pharmacists and other highly skilled health care professionals—UofL Health is focused on one mission: delivering patient-centered care to each and every patient each and every day.

Job Description:

The Emergency Psychiatric Technician (EPT) participates in the delivery of patient care to the psychiatric patient in crisis, under the supervision of an RN. The EPT will assist in providing, monitoring, and maintaining a safe, therapeutic environment. Other responsibilities include specimen collection, activities of daily living, behavioral management, crisis intervention, and implementation of patient treatment in accordance with physician orders, RN directives, hospital and unit specific policies and procedures, and defined standards of patient care and clinical practice. The EPT provides clinical patient care support in a caring, safe, and efficient manner, under the direction of an RN. 

Essential Functions:

• Responds appropriately in lifesaving situations.
• Monitor and maintain the therapeutic environment.
• Performs unit patient safety rounds every 15 minutes and documents.
• Participates in identification, management, and stabilization of crisis situations which may include deescalating combative patients.
• Assist in the implementation and documentation of seclusion and restraint episodes.
• Uses techniques taught in Non-Violent Crisis Intervention and Team Control when indicated in crisis situations.
• Performs venipuncture for specimen collection under the direction of an RN. Appropriately labels and ensures delivery to the clinical laboratory.  
• Collect urine specimens on all patients and transports specimen to labs.
• Performs routine 12-lead electrocardiography testing under the direction of the RN.
• Assist the RN or RT with the placement of nasal cannulas.  
• Performs vital signs and oxygen saturation monitoring as indicated per unit policy or as directed by the RN.
• Completes glucose monitoring as indicated and documents.
• Completes contraband searches in the absence of security personnel on the unit and document. May be required to leave EPS and enter search room to complete contraband search.
• Take all necessary steps to ensure safeguarding of patients clothing and valuables.
• Assist with physical examinations, admission, transfers, and discharges of patients.
• Transports patients by wheelchair with security personnel to 3N.
• Assist patients with mobility, and exercise, comfort, rest, sleep, and care needs, patient hygiene, grooming, dressing, skincare, dietary, toileting and elimination needs.
• Develops a therapeutic rapport with patients and their family.
• Uses A.I.D.E.T. when communicating with patients, families, visitors, co-workers, and customers.
• Utilizes therapeutic communication techniques to perform necessary interventions and document.
• Perform clerical duties such as use of fax machine/copier/printers/ answer phone/ computer as required.
• Print patient labels and armbands when indicated.
• Accompany patients at discharge to their appropriate mode of transportation.
• Participates in oncoming and off going shift report.
• Safely and correctly operates equipment (i.e. beds, wheelchairs, restraint bed)
• Organizes equipment and supplies. Assembles equipment cleans and disinfects equipment. Maintains disinfectant solutions per infection control policies. Communicates with bio medical engineering for equipment malfunctions.
• Performs safety checks on equipment and performs QA/QC on point of care testing machines.
• Adheres to Universal precaution, infection control, OSHA, and other regulatory policies and procedures. Maintains safe work practices and follows facility safety procedures.
• Cross-Trains and provides staffing support to alternate ULH psychiatric unit as needed.
• Provides sitter support staffing to other nursing medical/surgical units when appropriate.
• Complies with all hospital and departmental policies, mandatory training, and competencies. Assist in orientation of new employees as necessary.

Other Functions:

• Performs clerical duties
• Demonstrates appropriate emergency and patient safety procedures, including management of safety devices and equipment to maintain a safe, comfortable and therapeutic environment for patients/families in accordance with hospital standards
• Participates in department-based activities and initiatives to improve and ensure a safe environment
• Participates in training, development and continuing education activities to improve role functioning
• Participates in performance improvement activities; quality improvement and patient safety activities; assists in maintaining compliance with Joint Commission accreditation and other internal and external regulatory standards including the code of conduct
• Maintains compliance with all company policies, procedures and standards of conduct
• Complies with HIPAA privacy and security requirements to maintain confidentiality at all times
• Performs other duties as assigned

Additional Job Description:

Education:

• High School Graduate or equivalent.
• Preferred: Completion of a recognized Clinical Assistant, Medical Assistant or EMT Training Program, or Nursing students who have completed Fundamentals of Nursing Course from an accredited School of Nursing. College course work in social and health sciences preferred.

Experience:

• Internal/External candidates:
• Preferred: Current Certification as a Nursing Assistant (CNA), Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), or be enrolled in an accredited School of Nursing with completion of Fundamentals of Nursing course. Medical terminology and computer skills preferred. LPNs may apply.
• Ability to read, interpret, and follow detailed verbal, written and illustrated instructions; ability to write simple sentences, to complete forms, chart patient data, and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, caregivers, other employees, and the general public.
• One year of experience in inpatient or emergency psychiatry or related area preferred.

Certification:

• American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR required.
• NVCI certification required, including team control and transport, upon hire and annually while an employee of psychiatric services.