Mental Health Technician - Acute Psychiatric Adult - Full Time
Company: Christus Health
Location: Lake Charles
Posted on: February 13, 2026
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Job Description:
Job Description Description Summary: Facilitates the provision
of patient care by performing specific nursing tasks in accordance
with organizational and regulatory compliance. This position
requires the full understanding and active participation in
fulfilling the Mission of CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital and
demonstrating behavior consistent with the Core Values.
Responsibilities: - Maintains continuous alertness and response to
patient safety issues and participates in maintaining a safe and
secure patient care environment - Uses patient identifiers as
defined by policy - Makes rounds to assure patient safety and
satisfaction - Answers call lights promptly - Maintains falls
precautions - Performs complete hand-off communication clearly and
effectively - Provides emergency assistance within the defined role
- Maintains a hazard-free work environment - Maintains unit
security - Participates in emergency and disaster plans - Initiates
call for emergencies and responds to staff needs - Complies with
regulatory agency guidelines/rules - Performs appropriate luggage
package checks removing and properly securing contraband. - Make
rounds on patients at least every 15 mins intervals on both day and
night - Adheres to Christus policies and procedures and the
standards of JC, OSHA, DHH, HIPAA, etc - Maintains infection
control standards by using proper isolation techniques, handwashing
and standard precautions - Provides privacy and maintenance of
confidentiality - Promotes patients right to make personal choices
to accommodate their needs and be free from abuse, mistreatment and
neglect, reporting any instances of maltreatment to appropriate
personnel - Gives assistance in resolving grievances and disputes -
Provides needed assistance in getting to and participating in
patient and family meetings and other activities - Maintains care
and security of patient’s personal possessions - Works with nursing
staff to reduce need for restraints - Screens telephone calls and
visitor requests to protect patient confidentiality - Restricts
access to patient information (e.g., charts, computers, etc.) -
Demonstrates knowledge of informed consent - Recognizes age,
diversity specific needs/issues of customers served - Communicates
with patient/family/staff members in ways that demonstrate - Spends
time with and listens to patients and families as needed. Reports
patients and family’s fears, problems and anxieties to the
professional staff. - Awareness of age-specific needs and
developmental tasks - Sensitivity and openness for allowing the
patient to make personal choices - Reinforcement of the patient
plan of care and education goals, e.g. use of incentive spirometer,
frequent ambulation, NPO status, etc. - The ability to involve the
patient/family as a source of emotional support - Has good
listening skills - Treats patients with compassion - Exhibits
motivation and interest in working with psychiatric patients -
Communicates with team members demonstrating - Prompt reporting of
changes in patient condition - Timely awareness & reporting of
clinical and equipment alarms - Appropriate access to the
chain-of-command - Collaboration with the multidisciplinary team -
Exhibits capability to handle crisis situations appropriately -
Exhibits assertiveness skills when enforcing guidelines and rules -
Exhibits independent decision-making skills, yet is able to discern
the need for professional staff input. - Performs communication
using various technology applications - Communicates with patients
and staff via intercom - Sends/receives documents via fax -
Sends/receives email and uses other programs/tools - Contacts
personnel via telecommunication systems (e.g., pagers, cell phone)
- Answers and processes calls using proper telephone etiquette -
Maintains responsibility for learning needs and remains current on
all aspects of the nursing assistant role - Attends inservices,
department, staff or other required meetings - Reviews facility
specific publications, memos, policies and other job related
publications - Yearly CPI Training - Yearly CPR - Utilize knowledge
of computer skills as changes occur - Performs basic nursing skills
competently and in accordance with Christus policies and procedures
following initial competence validation - Taking, recording and
reporting vital signs - Taking, recording and reporting other
clinical measurements such as pulse oximetry and bedside glucose -
Measuring, recording and reporting height/weight, nutritional and
fluid intake/output - Recognizing and reporting abnormal changes in
body functioning - Care of catheters, colostomies and ileostomies
within scope of practice - Specimen collection and delivery - Using
appropriate moving and lifting techniques and equipment - Caring
for the dying patient including post-mortem care - Performs patient
care skills needed to assure patient comfort and safety - Bathing,
grooming (mouth care, shaving, hair care) and dressing - Toileting,
walking and skin care - Tray distribution and assisting with eating
(proper feeding techniques and aspiration precautions) and
hydration - Transferring, positioning, turning and encouraging
range of motion - Recording patient care activities - Assisting
with transporting patients - Assisting with admission, transfer
and/or discharge processes including securing assistive devices and
personal effects - Participates in care of the patient environment
and equipment - Maintains cleanliness of room and bedside area -
Replenishes water, linen, towels, etc. - Maintains cleanliness of
bedside mechanical equipment including oxygen and suction -
Reapplication of sequential compression devices Requirements:
Education/Skills - High School Diploma required Experience - 1 year
of mental health tech experience preferred. Licenses, Registrations
or Certifications - Current certification with the American Heart
Association Basic Life Support or completion within 90 days of
employment. - Current de-escalation training or completion within
90 days of employment with annual recertification. Work Schedule:
7AM - 7PM Work Type: Full Time
Keywords: Christus Health, Alexandria , Mental Health Technician - Acute Psychiatric Adult - Full Time, Healthcare , Lake Charles, Louisiana
