Behavioral Health Associate

Behavioral Health Associate Full-Time Days – AdventHealth Shawnee Mission

All the benefits and perks you need for you and your family:

• Vision, Medical & Dental Benefits from Day One
• Student Loan Repayment Program
• Received Magnet® recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center in January 2019

Our promise to you:

Joining AdventHealth is about being part of something bigger. It’s about belonging to a community that believes in the wholeness of each person, and serves to uplift others in body, mind and spirit. AdventHealth is a place where you can thrive professionally, and grow spiritually, by Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ. Where you will be valued for who you are and the unique experiences you bring to our purpose-minded team. All while understanding that together we are even better.

Schedule: Full-Time Days, 36 hours/week

Shift: 3 x 12 hour shifts

• 7am-7:30pm
• Rotate every 3rd weekend

Location: AdventHealth Shawnee Mission

9100 West 74th Street, Merriam, KS 66204

• The Behavioral Health Associate is responsible for milieu management functions (i.e.: conducting psychoeducational groups, providing safely for patients or assisting with milieu activities). He/she provides direct patient care to patients assigned to him/her according to the multidisciplinary treatment plan. The Behavioral Health Associate is responsible to and collaborates with the Treatment Team to which he or she is assigned. Formal coaching sessions will be conducted by the assigned RN or the assigned Clinical Coordinator. This person works under the direct supervision of the Registered Nurse and works collaboratively throughout the shift regarding daily assignments, provision of programs, daily patient care, a unit coverage, crisis intervention, milieu management, patient admissions and community calls

The value you’ll bring to the team:

• Recognize my own and others' attitudes, values, and expectations about mental illness and addiction. Engage in reflective practice about one's own beliefs and values, including stereotypes and biases (e.g. racism, ageism, gender bias and homophobia), and the impact on the care of patients with mental illness and addiction
• Create and support a therapeutic milieu for the safe implementation of treatment
• Protect patients' rights in the delivery of behavioral health care
• Perform Observation Rounds on assigned patients in a random pattern, on a quarter-hour basis based on the precautions that have been assigned to the patient, observing patients carefully based on which precautions the patient is on. Document the rounds in real time
• May lead psycho-educational groups such as Opening Group, Wrap-Up Group and Smoking Cessation Groups utilizing principles of patient education, and management of group dynamics within the scope of practice for a Behavioral Health Associate
• Observe patients to detect behavior patterns and reports observations and concerns to the Registered Nurse
• Utilize clear and positive communication skills such as listening, interpreting, gathering and providing information, and confronting, in assessing and providing therapeutic intervention for managing patients' and families' needs and concerns
• Understand and implement patient-centered care and trauma- informed care
• Maintain professional boundaries while implementing a therapeutic associate-patient relationship
• Help patients with their personal hygiene, such as bathing, feeding, dressing, toileting, basic oral hygiene, keeping beds, clothing and living areas clean and other activities of daily living
• Take and records measures of patient's general physical condition, such as blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and respiration, oxygen saturation, percentage of meals eaten, hours of sleep, height and weight
• May perform blood glucose testing (waived test) as ordered by physician
• Orient patients and families to the unit
• Identify early signs of escalation in a patient and effectively de-escalates patients with minimum use of restraints
• In conjunction with the team, and at the direction of a physician or Registered Nurse, intervene to restrain violent or potentially violent or suicidal patients by verbal or physical means as required
• Monitor and care for patient in restraints according to policy guidelines • Assist the Registered Nurse in completing Skin Safety Checks maintaining privacy, dignity and respect
• Perform Environmental rounds per policy
• Maintain a safe and therapeutic milieu for patients and associates at all times. Report and initiate corrective measures of any known unsafe environmental conditions
• Monitor contraband materials and enforce unit rules and regulations without entering into power struggles with patients
• Participate as a member of the treatment team and provide input into the formulation of patients' treatment plans
• Document findings in the electronic medical record within the scope of practice
• May participate in committees and teams according to unit need
• Demonstrate skill in monitoring and interacting with patients on one-to-one status to optimize patient outcome and protect from harm
• Opt-In participation in Emergency Notification System as applicable to facility
• Performs other duties as assigned

• Ability to communicate appropriately professionally and effectively with patients and their family, hospital staff, nurses, physicians, and other health care professionals

• Knowledge of commonly used concepts, practices, and procedures in the health care industry

• Up-to-date knowledge of regulatory requirements and local, state, and national laws

• Proficiency in computer systems to enter and track patient records

• Basic computer skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office

• Must be able to read, write and speak conversational English

• One year of Position-Related Experience

• Basic Life Support - CPR Cert

• Formal De-escalation Training – must be obtained within 90 days of employment