State of Maryland

A Security Attendant Nursing II, Perkins is the full performance level of work providing care to mentally ill patients at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center, a maximum-security hospital where care is provided to mentally ill patients who have been judged not criminally responsible for committing felonies, and to those who are difficult to manage in a less secure setting and who have been deemed dangerous to themselves or others.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Registered Nurse, shift leader or other designated supervisor.  Employees are assigned to day, evening, night or rotating shifts.  Employees are subject to call-in during emergencies and staffing shortages.  Employees are required to observe infection control precautions in order to prevent contamination and spread of disease.  Employees may be required to lift patients or apply physical restraints.  The work may require long periods of standing, walking, bending and reaching.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Security Attendant Nursing II, Perkins is differentiated from Security Attendant Nursing I, Perkins in that the Security Attendant Nursing II, Perkins is assigned to the more difficult patients and performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision while the Security Attendant Nursing I, Perkins performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.

Conducts security inspections of screens, doors and windows to ensure a secure environment;

Performs health data tasks, such as temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure and weight;

Testifies in administrative hearings that determine patients’ status and movement;

Prepares requisitions for supplies and clothing;

Assists in escorting patients outside the facility;

Assists patients with prescribed therapy activities;

Sets established limits on patients’ behaviors in order to promote appropriate interactions;

Meets with assigned patients in order to assist them in accomplishing treatment goals;

Writes progress notes and reports;

Conducts routine inspections and special searches of patients;

Monitors patients for signs and symptoms of escalating emotion or behavior;

Works with other staff to calm aggressive or violent patients;

Applies mechanical restraints;

Provides appropriate care for patients who have been assigned to one-on-one care;

Attends Individual Treatment Plan meetings and Interdisciplinary team meetings in order to report observations of patients’ behavior;

Consults with medical, nursing or other health professionals;

Escorts patients within the facility;

Participates in census checks during patient movements or in emergency situations;

Secures inventories and properly stores sharp implements, keys, eating utensils and similar objects;

Observes eating habits of patients in order to ensure good nutrition and proper diets;

May assist in providing guidance and training to lower-level workers;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles of patient care;

Knowledge of the significance of characteristic patient behaviors and the relevance of changes in behavior;

Knowledge of relevant terminology, treatment planning and methods;

Knowledge of security regulations and procedures;

Skill in taking patients’ vital signs;

Ability to understand and follow instructions;

Ability to instruct patients in personal hygiene and in the care of their own and hospital property;

Ability to learn to provide guidance to lower-level aides;

Ability to prepare patient care notes and reports;

Ability to communicate effectively and maintain cooperative relationships with patients, visitors and other employees;

Ability to control individuals or groups and remain calm in stressful situations and respond in an appropriate manner according to prescribed rules and procedures;

Ability to work as a member of a team when handling a violent episode;

Ability to escort patients in a safe and secure manner to and from the hospital.

Education:    High School diploma or high school equivalency certificate acceptable to the Maryland State Board of Education as described in the Correctional Training Commission Regulation.

Experience: Two years of experience in direct patient care in a psychiatric setting, one year must have been in a secure forensic psychiatric setting.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute the possession of an Associate of  Arts degree from an accredited college or university with completion of the Mental Health Technology curriculum where the supervised practicum was in a mental health setting for the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in Correctional Officer/Specialist classifications or Internment/Resettlement Specialist and Correctional specialty codes in the security field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

1. Candidates for positions in this classification must possess a current certificate as a Nursing Assistant from the Maryland State Board of Nursing, 4201 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21215.

2. Employees in this classification will be required to successfully complete training in and maintain current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

3. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

1. Prior to permanent appointment, employees must satisfactorily complete a Maryland Department of Health approved in-service training program which includes modules in Prevention and Management of Aggressive Behavior (PMAB), Resident Rights (R.I. ethics), Clinical Competency Skills To Include Documentation and Hospital-Wide Competency Skills.

2. Employees in this classification may be required to provide the facility with a telephone number at which they can be reached.

3. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using departments or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit H- Public Safety and Security classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series. NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classifications series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification