Psychiatric Technicians
What is a Psychiatric Technician?
A Psychiatric Technician is a trained healthcare professional who works with patients suffering from mental illnesses and emotional disturbances. They play a crucial role in the mental health treatment process by providing direct care to individuals in psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment facilities, or outpatient settings. Their responsibilities include assisting patients with daily activities, monitoring their mental and emotional states, and helping to implement treatment plans designed by psychiatrists and other healthcare providers. Psychiatric Technicians often engage patients in therapeutic activities, assist with medication management, and serve as a vital source of support to both patients and their families. The position requires a deep understanding of various mental health disorders and the ability to maintain a safe and therapeutic environment. Training for this role typically includes a combination of education in mental health principles, hands-on experience, and sometimes certification or licensure, making them essential members of the mental health care team.
Tasks
- Provide nursing, psychiatric, or personal care to patients with cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities.
- Encourage patients to develop work skills and to participate in social, recreational, or other therapeutic activities that enhance interpersonal skills or develop social relationships.
- Restrain violent, potentially violent, or suicidal patients by verbal or physical means as required.
- Lead prescribed individual or group therapy sessions as part of specific therapeutic procedures.
- Monitor patients' physical and emotional well-being and report unusual behavior or physical ailments to medical staff.
Technology Skills
- Spreadsheet software
- Medical software
- Electronic mail software
- Office suite software
- Word processing software
Tools Used
- Therapeutic heating or cooling pads or compresses or packs
- Oxygen therapy delivery system products
- Blood pressure cuff kits
- Intermittent positive pressure breathing IPPB machines
- Electronic medical thermometers
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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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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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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Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Skills
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Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
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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.
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Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
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Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Abilities
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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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Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
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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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Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
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Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
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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Bachelor's degree
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High school diploma or equivalent
or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate
Work Activities
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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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Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
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Getting Information
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
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Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Detailed Work Activities
- Care for patients with mental illnesses.
- Treat patients using psychological therapies.
- Administer intravenous medications.
- Administer non-intravenous medications.
- Encourage patients or clients to develop life skills.
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.
Job Outlook
Projected salary and job growth
$31150.0 - $59990.0
This career will grow rapidly in the next few years.
Assessment
Related assessments and tests
No assessment available.