Behavioral Health Specialist

Primary City/State:

Tucson, Arizona

Department Name:

BHS East DeEx-Hosp

Work Shift:

Varied

Job Category:

Clinical Care

Those who have joined the Banner mission come from all walks of life, united by the common goal: Make health care easier, so life can be better. If changing health care for the better sounds like something you want to be part of, we want to hear from you.

Banner University Medical Center - (Tucson) South Campus, houses the only Level 1 Academic Medical Center in Tucson meeting the needs of the SMI population. The Behavioral Health Pavilion is also the largest inpatient psychiatric service in Southern Arizona. Our team provides patients a safe, supportive environment that fosters healing and facilitates a return to the highest possible level of independence. Other services include; crisis stabilization, psychiatric assessments, 24-hours psychiatric & nursing care, expressive arts therapy, group therapy, family support therapy, medication management, and a separate behavioral health unit within the Emergency Department. You can become an integral member of our patient's team, along with psychiatric doctors, NPs, pharmacists, Registered Nurses and security officers.

As a Behavioral Health Specialist on the East DeEx unit, you will assist with our highest acuity level of involuntary behavioral health patients. On this team, you will spend your days assisting with making BHS assignments for the floor and DPO's, supporting your fellow BHSs and RNs on the unit, communicating with Charge RN, hand hygiene audits, delegate patient admission and/or ensure discharge process is completed (belongings, admissions folder, etc), and that Direct Observer/Q15 documents are completed throughout each shift. Candidates with strong prior behavioral health experience and/or prior de-escalation experience will be preferred on this unit.

Floating to the other 2 Behavioral Health units on this campus may be required : West and 5NE (determined daily by census numbers).

These are Full Time Day Shift & FT Time Night Shift positions (3 12 hour shifts per week). 

The hours will be from Days 7am -7:30pm & Nights 7pm-07:30am which will include a set rotation for weekends and holidays. You will have the opportunity to utilize our self-scheduling tool as well as enjoy an additional $1/hour Weekend Shift differential, when applicable.

Your pay and benefits (Total Rewards) are important components of your Journey at Banner Health. Banner Health offers a variety of benefit plans to help you and your family. We provide health and financial security options so you can focus on being the best at what you do and enjoying your life.

Banner - University Medical Center South is a comprehensive academic medical center that includes an Emergency department, a state-designated trauma center and a Behavioral Health Pavilion. We are an Arizona Department of Health Services-accredited Cardiac Receiving Center and a Nurses Improving Care for Health system Elders-designated senior-friendly hospital. The hospital is staffed by physicians who are full-time faculty of the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson and is managed by Banner Health under an operating agreement with Pima County. Our specialty services include inpatient and outpatient behavioral health, treatment and education for diabetes, innovative geriatrics care and comprehensive orthopedics.

POSITION SUMMARY
This position provides direct care to psychiatric patients working under the direction of a registered nurse.

CORE FUNCTIONS
1. Provides basic nursing care to patients including technical monitoring, taking vital signs and physical care. Orients patients to treatment setting and assists with activities of daily living as needed. Reviews and participates in implementation of the patient treatment plan. Makes rounds and monitors patients activities, physical and mental status and reports to nursing staff. Checks patient belongings for contraband. Conducts a variety of patient safety monitoring activities such as observational checks. Documents observations, interventions, and group activities in the patient medical record while maintaining confidentiality of all health information.

2. Assists in maintaining a safe, orderly & therapeutic environment. Maintains patient safety and protects patient rights through observation and reporting patient behaviors, communications, interactions and physical status. Recognizes patients who are behaving aggressively, acting as a danger to themselves or others, or are in a crisis or medical emergency situation. Provides intervention including, but not limited to, redirecting of patient and/or participating in restraint or seclusion as needed.

3. Assesses and interacts therapeutically with patients and families. Provides treatment that promotes patient dignity, independence, individuality, strengths, privacy, and choice. Demonstrates respect for cultural diversity and patient boundaries. Plans and facilitates social and didactic group activities. May participate in other rehabilitation and treatment programs.

4. Provides quality patient care by maintaining knowledge and skill level related to the symptoms and treatment of behavioral disorders relevant to position responsibilities and in accordance with state agency regulations. Maintains knowledge to identify types of medications commonly prescribed for patient group and the common side effects and adverse reactions of the medications.

5. Assists in the admission, discharge and transfer process of patients and completes required documentation in the patient medical record.

6. Position completes work under moderate supervision. Position interacts with all levels of clinical staff on assigned unit/program and members of the multidisciplinary teams, as well as patients, families, and medical and psychiatric physicians.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in a behavioral health related field OR High School diploma or equivalent with 1 year of direct patient care in an inpatient behavioral health setting.

This should include but is not limited to experience in an inpatient psychiatric facility; assisting with personal grooming and other activities of daily living; conducting educational, recreational and skills groups appropriate to current patient population; creating, maintaining, and encouraging an inpatient therapeutic milieu; maintaining observation precautions and applying non-violent de-escalation interventions in crisis situations; recognizing the common symptoms of mental illness such as depression, psychosis, mood dysregulation, substance abuse, maladaptive behavior, and anxiety; understanding how symptoms are related the patient’s mental illness diagnosis and providing ordered treatment interventions appropriate to the diagnosis. Such experience is commonly achieved in care of patients in psychiatric acute care hospitals, inpatient psychiatric facilities and State hospital programs. Some outpatient programs, therapeutic group home and residential programs may meet the experience criteria. Concentration on skills and experiences demonstrating competence in building therapeutic rapport, developing collaborative relationships with the multidisciplinary team, de-escalation techniques and limit setting.

Employees working at Banner Behavioral Health Hospital, BTMC Behavioral, and BUMG, BUMCT, or BUMCS in a Behavioral Health clinical setting that serves children must possess an Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card at the time of hire and maintain the card for the duration of their employment. An Arizona Criminal History Affidavit must be signed upon hire. Employees working in the Banner McKee Senior Behavioral Health Inpatient Unit must possess an Colorado Fingerprint Clearance Card at the time of hire and maintain the card for the duration of their employment. Employees working in any Banner Staffing (BSS) Behavioral Health role in Arizona must possess a State of Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card at the time of hire and maintain the card for the duration of their employment.

Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is also required.

Meets age requirement as specified by state agency.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Additional related education and/or experience preferred.

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