What are the responsibilities and job description for the Behavioral Health Technician BHT -DUHS Float Pool position at Duke?
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About Duke University Hospital
Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States. The largest of the four Duke Healthhospitals with 1062 patient beds, it features comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.
Behavioral Health Technician-Duke University Health System Float Pool
The Behavioral Health Technician performs a variety of routine activities to provide both physical and psychological care to patients with psychiatric disorders, supporting a safe and therapeutic environment.
Night Shift: 7:00pm-7:00am
3-12 hour shifts per week
Must float between Duke University Hospital and Duke Regional Hospital, May add Duke Raleigh at a later date
Duties and Responsibilities of this Level
- Observe patients and assess their progress on a daily basis; report any significant changes in condition or behavior to the supervising RN.
- Provide one-on-one patient interaction, including recreational and social activities, and reinforce patient education.
- Assist patients with activities of daily living (ADLs), including bathing, personal hygiene, feeding, dressing, and bed-making.
- Support patient mobility, including repositioning, range-of-motion exercises, transfers, and ambulation.
- Monitor and provide care for patients in seclusion and/or restraint.
- Ensure patient safety by providing appropriate supervision, protection, and control as needed.
- Participate in the safe restraint of combative patients when necessary.
- Follow all safety and infection control protocols, including universal precautions.
- Participate in interdisciplinary team discussions to support coordination and delivery of patient care.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment, including duties such as cleaning equipment, changing linens, restocking supplies, and keeping patient areas free of hazards.
- Follow hospital and departmental safety procedures; promptly report unsafe conditions, equipment malfunctions, or injuries involving patients, visitors, or staff.
- Participate in quality improvement efforts by reviewing processes and assisting with implementation of improvements to enhance patient care.
- Plan and assist with recreational and therapeutic group activities.
- Engage patients individually and in small groups to support understanding and engagement with their treatment plans.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications at this Level
Education
- High school diploma or GED required.
Experience
- One year of experience working with patients in areas such as substance abuse, mental health, dementia, or intellectual/developmental disabilities preferred.
Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification
One of the following is required:
- Listing on the North Carolina Nurse Aide Registry (
- Certification as a Substance Abuse Counselor in North Carolina
- Certification as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in North Carolina
- Certification as a Behavioral Health Technician through the Academy of Addiction Professionals or the American Medical Certification Association
If a candidate does not meet one of the above requirements at hire, they must begin the certification process within one year of employment and complete it within two years.
Additional requirements:
- Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification must be obtained and maintained by the end of new hire orientation (typically within the first week of employment).
- CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute) certification is strongly preferred.
Clinical Skills and Competencies
- Meet DUHS credentialing requirements to perform blood glucose monitoring via finger sticks and report results to nursing staff.
- Perform and document vital signs, intake and output, and other delegated patient care measures within 90 days of employment.
- Follow proper procedures for specimen collection, including patient identification, labeling, and verification.
- Instruct patients on the collection and preservation of urine, sputum, and stool samples.
- Complete required quality control measures for point-of-care testing equipment.
Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.
Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.
Essential Physical Job Functions:
Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.