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Mental Health Technician Program

Mental Health Technician Certification (MHTC) Program

The Mental Health Technician certification will prepare students to perform duties of patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN). MHT/BHT will learn to provide direct patient care while effectively and therapeutically interacting with patients or clients, their families, and other members of a health care team while delivering care to those under supervision in an in-patient or community-based setting.

Students will learn how to provide clinical support services in all in-patient and community-based program settings. In addition, the MHT/BHT students will learn all required clinical skills required to work as a mental health technician in a substance abuse, mental health, and hospital setting.

What Can I Expect?

This program prepares students for a career as a mental health technician. After completion of the course, students will be awarded with a certification that will allow them to find a job in the mental health field.

MHT/BHTs must demonstrate competency through training, experience, and clinical supervision in the following performance domains:

Employment Opportunities

The Mental/Behavioral Health Technician (MHT/BHT) is a member of the multidisciplinary team, who is directly involved in providing quality care for patients. The MHT/BHT is responsible for facilitating meetings and providing structure, guidance, and support for patients during daily activities – all skills acquired through the mental health technician course.

Typical Settings

  • Acute and sub-acute care facilities: i.e. hospitals, nursing, and rehabilitation centers
  • Addiction Recovery Facilities: detox, inpatient, and outpatient services
  • Behavioral health facilities

What will I be doing as Mental Health Technician?

Job Description

  • Perform specific duties of patient care under the supervision of the RN
  • Provide direct patient care while effectively and therapeutically interacting with adult and geriatric patients, significant others, and other health care team members while delivering care to an assigned group of patients under supervision
  • Adhere to regulatory and patient care standards related to the delivery of patient care
  • Additional activities based on the need of the hospital or facility

Hospital setting:

  • Perform non-professional nursing tasks in the care and comfort of primarily adult and geriatric adult population with both acute and chronic behavior illness
  • Complete tasks as assigned by the RN
  • Perform specific treatment procedures under the direction of the RN
  • Maintain patient care areas, equipment, and supplies in a clean and orderly fashion
  • Restock inventories and supplies to keep supplies readily available
  • Transfer patients to and from procedures as directed by charge nurse
  • Conduct groups with adult and geriatric population

Responsibilities

  • Non-professional nursing tasks:
    • Check vital signs
    • Weigh patients
    • Collect routine specimens
    • Assist with personal hygiene and other daily living activities
    • Transport patient

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