Psychiatric Technicians and Aides
Additional Information
Duties
A typical psychiatric technician's responsibilities include these tasks:
- Evaluate patient behavior, listen to their concerns (and document them), and document their condition.
- Engage patients in both therapeutic and entertaining pursuits.
- Follow the advice of doctors and other medical professionals while administering drugs and other treatments to patients.
- Involvement in patient admission and discharge.
- Patients' vital indicators, such as blood pressure, should be monitored.
- Take care of a patient's basic needs, such as feeding and bathing.
- Restrain patients who may be violent.
The following tasks are frequently performed by psychiatric assistants:
- In a mental health center, keep an eye on patients' conduct and whereabouts.
- Provide personal care assistance to patients, such as bathing and getting dressed.
- Help patients eat by bringing them meals.
- Changing bed linens and cleaning bathrooms are simple ways to keep a facility clean.
- Consider joining a sports team or going on a field trip with your peers.
- Support the movement of patients inside a healthcare center or a facility for long-term care.
- Restrain patients who may be violent.
Medical technicians and assistants often work with patients who are severely impaired and require a high level of attention. Drug and alcohol abuse recovery is handled by others. Psychiatric technicians and aides have a wide range of responsibilities depending on the sort of patients they treat.
Psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychiatric nurses are some of the professionals who work with psychiatric technicians and aides. Please read the profiles on drug addiction, behavioral disorder, and mental health, rehabilitation counselors, and marital and family therapists for more information on the counselors they may work with.
Education
Most psychiatric technicians have a bachelor's or master's degree. Nursing assistants and licensed practical nurses often have postsecondary education in nursing, as well as experience in the field.
Psychiatric technicians with an associate's or certificate in mental health technology may also work in the field. Courses in biology, psychology, and counseling are all part of these programs, which are available through community colleges and technical institutions. Programs for psychiatric technicians can include supervised work experience or cooperative programs, in which students can receive academic credit for structured work experience.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for a psychiatric aid.
Training
Psychiatric technicians and aides typically undergo a brief period of on-the-job training before they are allowed to work independently.
Under the guidance of an experienced technician or aide, trainees may practice working with patients in the hospital. Aides and technicians can also take part in workshops, lectures, and other types of in-house training opportunities.
Knowledge of the Field from Prior Employment
Nurses' assistants and licensed practical nurses can help psychiatric technicians get their hands on clinical experience.
Qualities that may matter
The ability to interact with others. As a psychiatric technician or aide, you should build a relationship with your patients. Psychiatric technicians and aides are better equipped to treat and evaluate their patients when they have a good rapport with them.
The ability to pay attention. Caretakers need to be on the lookout for any behavioral changes in their patients and react appropriately. To ensure their own safety as well as the safety of their patients, medical professionals must be able to identify symptoms of patient distress.
Patience. Emotionally tough is working with the mentally ill Mental health workers are expected to maintain their composure in stressful conditions.
Stamina of the body. These medical professionals are required to lift, transfer and occasionally restrain patients. As a result, they must spend a significant amount of time on their feet.
Registration, Certification, and Licensing
Mental health technicians are not required to be licensed by most states. A driver's license is required by law in many states, and California is no exception. It's common for technicians to be licensed in jurisdictions that require them to complete a recognized school program and pass a test.
For psychiatric technicians, the American Association of Psychiatric Technicians provides four levels of certification. Certifications are a way for technicians to demonstrate their high degree of expertise.
Certifications have their own unique set of criteria.
There is no requirement that psychiatric assistants be licensed.
Pay
In May 2020, psychiatric aides earned an average annual salary of $31,570. When half of an occupation's workforce earns more than the median wage, the wage is referred to as the "median." One-tenth of the population made less than $21,840, while the other one-tenth made more than $48,880.
Job Projections
This profession is expected to grow by 11% from 2020 to 2030, which is more than the average for all occupations.
