Licensed Psychiatric Technician

Kaweah Health is a publicly owned, community healthcare organization that provides comprehensive health services to the greater Visalia area in central California. With more than 5,000 employees, Kaweah Health provides state-of-the-art medicine and high-quality preventive services in our acute care hospital, specialized health centers and clinics. Our eight-campus healthcare district has 613 beds and offers comprehensive health services across a broad continuum of care.   

It takes a special person to work for Kaweah Health. We serve a region where the needs are great, which makes the rewards even greater. Every day, we care for people facing unique challenges and in need of healing. Throughout it all, our focus is to make a difference, and we do — in the health of our patients, our loved ones, and our community.

Benefits Eligible

Full-Time Benefit Eligible

Work Shift

Day - 12 Hour Shift (United States of America)

Department

6341 Acute PsychPrimary responsibility for safety, comfort, and support of acute psychiatric patients. May be assigned to primary patient care role responsible for patient load. Integral part of multidisciplinary team supporting wellness and recovery of patients with psychiatric disorders and their families.

QUALIFICATIONS

License /Certification
Required:

CA Psychiatric Technician license

BLS

Kaweah Health approved crisis intervention training within 60 days of hire/transfer.


Education
Preferred: Experience with assessment of involuntary/persistently mentally ill patients.


Department Specific Requirements

For Kaweah Health Lindsay Health Clinic: bilingual in Spanish required.
For Kaweah Health Exeter Health Clinic: bilingual in Spanish preferred.

Testing
For Kaweah Health Lindsay Clinic: successful completion of the Language Resource Assistant (LRA) test at a Clinical level. LRA is a language assessment test that demonstrates written and oral interpretation/translation technique skills. Test will be administered if selected.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential

Responsible for giving quality nursing care to assigned clients.

Monitors and maintains a functional/productive therapeutic milieu.

Is aware of and responsible for the legal consequence of own nursing actions.

Provides leadership to paraprofessional staff on shift.

Administers, transcribes and records medication as ordered. Possesses knowledge of action and side effects of drugs.

Assists physicians in procedures and examinations as necessary.

Assists in the admitting, orienting, transferring, discharging of patients.

Uses and maintains equipment correctly.

Reads and complies with current hospital/nursing procedures and policies. Maintains an up-to-date knowledge of practices.

Assists in the observation and monitoring of the physical and emotional condition of the patients, making oral and written reports of change and special needs to other health care professionals. Reports unusual conditions to the Registered Nurse.

Assists the staff in planning patient care by communicating information from patient, family and other staff. Maintains open/effective communication with all members of the nursing care team.

As directed, assists in treatment procedures by changing dressings, by applying compresses, T.E.D. hose, ace wraps, etc.

Gives enemas, tube feedings, douches, inserts catheters, provides colostomy care, performs suctioning, irrigates nasogastric tubes and if certified, inserts them.

Provides for the comfort and safety of patients by assisting with personal hygiene, meals, transfers and ambulation.

Obtains, charts, and graphs vital signs. Assists the maintenance of accurate, legible, up to date nursing records and chart.

Addendum (essential for specific dept)

ACUTE PSYCH ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR:

Assists with total body cleanliness such as giving baths, helping with showers, and providing oral care. Provides for the toilet needs of patients by emptying bedpans and drainage container. Reports any variation in amount, color, consistency, and odor of output to the licensed nursing staff. Assists with emergency care by participating in crash cart checks, providing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, and responding to Code Blue. Monitors patient behavior in the milieu, setting limits when indicated, responsible for communicating observations to the team. Initiates and responds to Code Gray, participates in the holding of patients for involuntary medication administration, restraint administration, and transport of patients. Accompanies patients within KDMHH (dining room, gym, outdoors, entry, exit, etc) and to community locations for court/assessment/testing. Performs and documents Q15 checks, audio/video monitoring and 1 to 1's as assigned. Monitors patient visitors as indicated. Monitors and assures safe environment of care. Participates in admission and discharge of patients, assists patients with changing into hospital gowns, completes contraband searches, and inventories patient belongings. Records intake and output, weight and height. Collects, labels, and delivers specimens. Assists in gathering of patients for MD's, groups, meals, etc. Transports meals from dining area to unit for patients not clinically appropriate for off unit meals. Sets out nourishment for patients and cleans up after such. Answers phone, retrieves charts, completes patient paperwork and documentation as assigned.

KAWEAH HEALTH RURAL HEALTH CLINICS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR:

Verifies and signs off Medical Assistant calculation for approved medications to be administered by Medical Assistant. Responsible for refill authorization requisitions and prior authorization medication requests by submitting documentation to appropriate provider. Screens daily lab results by placing normal results in provider's box. Abnormal are given to provider with Medical Record immediately. Receives critical lab values over phone and notifies provider immediately and follows up per provider instruction. Obtains information from patient/caregiver and presents to provider for assessment. Orders medical supplies, medications, and vaccines from appropriate resources. Assists/performs in procedures under the guidelines of the LVN Board for State of California and in compliance with Kaweah Health policy. Maintain logs and generate reports as assigned (Q/A, Q/C & PI). Provides patient education. Documents on all required forms. Administers medications as directed by the physician under the guidelines of the California State Board of Nursing and in compliance with Kaweah Health Policy.

Additional

Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and services appropriate to the population served on the assigned unit or work area. Knowledgeable of growth and development for all patient/family cultural, linguistic, spiritual, gender, and age specific needs. Able to effectively communicate and care for patient and family as reflected in the Plan for Provision of Care.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Pay Range

$30.17 -$45.26

If you want to use your talents alongside people who face each day with courage and purpose, in an environment that empowers you to do your absolute best, this is where you belong.