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Psychiatric Aide 1 (WAE)

This Vacancy is located in the Nursing Department of Eastern Louisiana Mental Hospital System in Jackson, LA (East Feliciana Parish). ELMHS is the largest 24-hour, multi-site, state psychiatric complex, comprised of residential, outpatient and inpatient services. 

  The mission of ELMHS is to provide mental health evaluation, treatment, habilitation and consultation for adults. Programs provided include inpatient acute interventions, jail based evaluations, supervised group home and residential programs, forensic evaluation, care, custody, and aftercare; intermediate and long-term psychiatric are a coordination with the total system of care in Louisiana.

Requirements

No experience or training required.

Qualifications

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.Job Duties:

Under the direct supervision of the Charge RN on an assigned unit, the incumbent will perform delegated nursing duties on a patient-care unit with four wards and consisting of admission units, serving patient population ranging from early adult, middle adult, to late adult with a specific psychiatric diagnosis that may be accompanied by medical diagnoses, special needs, or developmental disability. Job duties performed will be completed in a training capacity with limited responsibility and increased supervision.

Duties include but are not limited to:

50% Participates in shift change report and accepts patient care assignment for assigned shift.  Accompanies patients to campus activities and/or off-grounds appointments and provides level of observation assigned to patient during escort; provides accountability of assigned patient at all times and documents patient location every 30 minutes. Cares for the personal needs of patients and assists them with activities of daily living including, but not limited to, personal hygiene/grooming, eating and household chores. Assists in management of aggressive behavior, utilizing therapeutic intervention techniques. Ensures patient safety and demonstrates ability to identify potential or real safety hazards, corresponding to individual patient stage of growth and development. Makes rounds to check patients' presence; checks for compliance with safety rules and regulations and documents appropriately. Interacts with patients as a therapeutic function; observes and reports condition of patients to appropriate professional personnel. Participates with groups in therapeutic activities such as unit meetings, work or activity therapies as required. Supervise the work of patients engaged in planned daily activities/work activities. Attends patient staffing conferences and treatment team meetings as designated. Assists licensed staff with organizing medication administration, observation of patients for compliance and notifies RN/LPN when non-compliance is suspected.

30% Assists in conducting patient groups under the direction of RN staff and documents patient participation; participates in treatment team staffing, provides nursing input and notifies appropriate personnel when patient conditions or behaviors change. Performs routine nursing duties according to level of competency and within licensure guidelines and documents findings or patient’s responses accurately and timely. Participates in restrictive management events, and demonstrates ability to utilize CPI techniques.  Provides level of care and observation according to policy and procedure. Assists with emergency situations.

15% Maintains open communication with supervisors, reports accidents, injuries according to policy and procedure and participates willingly in investigations, provides incident reports when appropriate.

5%Participate in education trainings that are mandatory for accreditation and licensure of the facility.

Perform all other duties assigned by supervisor/designee to maintain continuity and quality, accreditation and licensure requirements.  Perform all other duties assigned by supervisor, but not listed, for the smooth operation of the unit/building and/or the facility.

Maintains current and unencumbered motor vehicle license.

Adheres to all rules, regulations, policies and procedures of LDH, OBH, Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System, and Civil Service.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

  • Ability to verbally communicate with patients, peers and other professionals.

  • Ability to read, write, calculate, and communicate in writing.

  • Ability to visually assess, evaluate, implement and document patient care.  (May require extended sitting).

  • Ability to reach, bend, stretch and stoop.

  • Ability to lift 30 pounds of equipment and supplies

  • Ability to move from ward to ward quickly in emergency situations.  (May require extended running or walking).

  • Ability to access multi-story building via stairs.

  • Ability to respond to Medical Code in less than 5 minutes.   (May require extended running  or walking).

  • Ability to initiate and perform CPR

  • Ability to push medication carts to wards /units.

  • Ability to manipulate, comprehend, and interpret information provided by medical devices.

  • Ability to work under stressful conditions without losing composure.

  • Ability to work 12 hour shifts.

  • Ability to work overtime as required.

  • Ability to distinguish colors.

  • Ability to remember details.

  • Ability to sit for extended periods of time.


Position-Specific Details:
Location: Nursing Department of Eastern Louisiana Mental Hospital System in Jackson, LA (East Feliciana Parish).

Appointment Type: Classified WAE 

Compensation: $13.50

This position will be filled as an PA 1

This position will be filled as a temporary, part-time Classified WAE appointment and is not to exceed 1,100 hours in a 12-month period. 


*This posting may be used to fill vacancies in other divisions or units at Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System within 90 days of closing.
 



How To Apply:

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy. 

To apply for this vacancy, click on the “Apply” link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.


* Information to support your eligibility for the position must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).  Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.


 

Contact Information:

For further information about this vacancy, please contact:

Leigh Moore
ELMHS-HR@LA.GOV
 225-634-0680


Date Posted
07/01/2025
Job Reference
ELMHS7.1.25PA1
Organization
LDH-Office of Behavioral Health
Location
Jackson, LA 70802
Category
Mental Health/Social Services
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