Purpose:
Under the direction of the Registered Nurse, assists in the provision of patient care for emotionally disturbed, mentally challenged, and/or multiply disabled child, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients.

Responsibilities:

• Maintains competency requirements. Attends a minimum of 2 unit based or institute wide inservices yearly. Learns and utilizes up-to-date technology and practices in the delivery of patient care.
• Encourages patients to perform or assists them in the performance of activities of daily living. Maintains a safe and therapeutic environment. Assists in the implementation and maintenance of the milieu program providing a consistent and therapeutic approach to patient care. Manages crisis situations effectively using positive approaches. Assists the nurse and other direct care staff in the provision of physical care. Documents in the medical record according to established policies.
• Maintains on-going communication with the treatment team and charge nurse regarding observations of patients' medical and behavioral symptoms and the care provided. Participates in interdisciplinary activities including treatment team, staff meetings, co-worker feedback process and other unit based committees as assigned. Assists in the preparation and organization of various paperwork completed on the night shift that ensures smooth coordination of care provided throughout the day.
• Takes initiative to ensure that unit environment is maintained.

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Ability to communicate adequately in English both verbally and written.
• The incumbent must be physically capable of providing direct total physical care to unpredictable, potentially violent mentally ill patients as necessary, including lifting, supporting, running towards or away from areas where problems are occurring and pushing and pulling equipment such as wheelchairs, stretchers and beds.
• May in the course of their job duties be in rooms where medications are stored. No contact with medications is allowed. In the course of duties may be asked to distribute medications to the nurse at the bedside. Access to medications is limited to the distribution of the medication to the nurse.
  
  Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:
  CCM training is required within 60 days of hire and annually thereafterBLS required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire
  
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Comprehensive Crisis Management (CCMC)

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran