Mental Health Therapy Aide (MHTA) at KingsBoro Psychiatric Center / OMH (2020-01 – Present)
- Utilize crisis and/or de-escalation intervention practices, when necessary and appropriate, with patients whose behavior cannot be otherwise supported without such interventions.
- Assist in the application and removal of restraints and the implementation of seclusion, when deemed necessary by appropriate personnel; ensures the physical and emotional health and safety of the patient when using such methods.
- Identify patient characteristics and environmental variables that may trigger agitated behavior(s) and communicates such information to the treatment team.
- Escort patient to required location(s), within and outside of the health care setting.
- Monitor and controls patient, family, visitors and staff traffic flow through behavioral health services.
- Ensure the safety of patients and staff through electronic scanning and safety checks prior to entry to clinical areas.
- Responds appropriately to patient emergencies, including those requiring the Behavioral Response Team, answering code red, code blue and other emergencies, as necessary.
- Inspect and categorizes patients' belongings at time of admission and ensures that property is safely maintained and returned at the time of transfer or discharge; notifies appropriate personnel of illegal items for proper handling.
- May lead or co-lead discussion groups in areas such as anger management techniques and practices; appropriately documents group activity.
- Assist in the facilitation of therapeutic groups and related activities.
- Assist with patient grooming needs, including shaving when deemed appropriate by clinical staff and the patient is not able to shave themselves.
- Take patient vital signs when directed to do so by clinical staff and enters patient vital sign data into the electronic medical record (EMR).
- Perform observation and monitoring of assigned patients on a one-to-one basis.
- Perform patient checks/rounds and video surveillance, as required, and reports observations, interactions and patient activity to assigned nursing staff.
- Communicate clinical matters to assigned RN or other professional staff as required.
- Participates in staff, departmental and team/committee meetings.
- Participate in departmental and/or health care setting-wide training, as required.
- Provide psychological assessment therapy services to patients, administer treatment plans, and evaluate treatment outcomes.
- Administer medications to patients following a physician's orders and ensuring medication is taken according to dosage.
- Assist patients in developing daily living abilities.
- Assess environment for ligature risks to ensure safety.
Behavioral Health Associate (BHA) at Metropolitan Hospital (2022-10 – 2024-03)
Under the direction of a Registered Nurse (RN) and/or physician, and in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, performs crisis and/or de-escalation interventions, therapeutic observations, engagements, client supervision and other behavioral health related duties, including assisting in the implementation of seclusion for clients presented to behavioral health services for psychological assessment and treatment. Acts in compliance with corporate, hospital and all relevant regulatory policies.
- Utilizes crisis and/or de-escalation intervention practices, when necessary and appropriate, with clients whose behavior cannot be otherwise supported without such interventions.
- Assists in the application and removal of restraints and the implementation of seclusion, when deemed necessary by appropriate personnel; ensures the physical and emotional health and safety of the client when using such methods.
- Identifies client characteristics and environmental variables that may trigger agitated behavior(s) and communicates such information to the treatment team.
- Performs observation and monitoring of assigned clients on a one-to-one basis.
- Performs client checks/rounds and video surveillance, as required, and reports observations, interactions, and client activity to assigned nursing staff.
- Communicates clinical matters to assigned RN or other professional staff as required.
- Escorts client to required location(s), on and off facility premises.
- Monitors and controls client, family, visitors, and staff traffic flow through behavioral health services.
- Take vital signs - record in the patient's medical record.
- Assist in patient admission process by recording/reporting observed behavior, verbal responses and any interventions initiated such as, conversation, and fluids to the RN.
- Adhere to appropriate infection control procedures particularly hand washing.
Front Desk Receptionist at Kings Adult Care Center (2022-01 – 2022-04)
- Greeted clients, scheduled appointments, arranged courier service, successfully handled a multi-line telephone, sorted, and distributed mail, prepared the Census.
Coordinator of Environmental Services Department at Kings Adult Care Center (2021-02 – 2022-01)
- Supervised environmental services, dispatched, and assigned Environmental Aides to their assigned areas.
Activities Therapist at Private Duty (2014-07 – 2021-02)
Provided in-home compassionate care and support to a father with physical disabilities and traumatic brain injury and his adolescent son's schizophrenia and obesity.
- Assisted patients with daily living activities and monitored vital signs, resulting in improved well-being.
- Escorted both to their doctor's appointments.
- Administered medications and documented progress ensuring accurate and up-to-date information for treatment.
