Psychiatric Aides
What is a Psychiatric Aide?
Psychiatric aides are specialized healthcare professionals who work in mental health facilities, assisting patients with various mental illnesses and emotional disorders. Their primary responsibility is to support patients in their daily activities, help maintain a safe and therapeutic environment, and assist nursing and medical staff in providing care. Psychiatric aides often engage with patients on a personal level, offering companionship and monitoring their well-being. They may lead therapeutic activities, facilitate group sessions, and assist in crisis intervention under the guidance of registered nurses or psychiatrists. The role requires a deep understanding of mental health conditions, strong communication skills, and the ability to remain calm and empathetic in challenging situations. Psychiatric aides play a vital role in promoting the recovery and rehabilitation of individuals facing mental health challenges, ensuring that they receive the care and support necessary for their overall well-being.
Tasks
- Listen and provide emotional support and encouragement to psychiatric patients.
- Provide patients with cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities with routine physical, emotional, psychological, or rehabilitation care under the direction of nursing or medical staff.
- Complete physical checks and monitor patients to detect unusual or harmful behavior and report observations to professional staff.
- Restrain or aid patients as necessary to prevent injury.
- Work as part of a team that may include psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, or social workers.
Technology Skills
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Electronic mail software
- Email software
- Microsoft Outlook
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Presentation software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
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Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft Excel
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Medical software
- Patient management software
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Office suite software
- Microsoft Office software
Tools Used
- Electronic medical thermometers
- Clinical hydraulic lifts
- Electronic blood pressure units
- Medical or surgical suction or vacuum appliances
- Razors
Knowledge
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Psychology
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
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Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
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English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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Therapy and Counseling
Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
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Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Skills
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Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
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Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
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Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
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Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Abilities
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Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
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Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
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Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
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Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
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Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Education
How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation?
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Some college, no degree
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High school diploma or equivalent
or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate
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Post-secondary certificate
Awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in Personnel Services, Engineering-related Technologies, Vocational Home Economics, Construction Trades, Mechanics and Repairers, Precision Production Trades)
Work Activities
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Getting Information
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
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Assisting and Caring for Others
Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
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Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
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Documenting/Recording Information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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Training and Teaching Others
Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Detailed Work Activities
- Encourage patients during therapeutic activities.
- Care for patients with mental illnesses.
- Assess physical conditions of patients to aid in diagnosis or treatment.
- Monitor patients to detect health problems.
- Hold patients to ensure proper positioning or safety.
Work Interests
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Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
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Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.
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Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.
Job Outlook
Projected salary and job growth
$27660.0 - $55240.0
New job opportunities are less likely in the future. : Below Average
Assessment
Related assessments and tests
No assessment available.