Psychiatric technicians and aides care for people who have mental illness and developmental disabilities. Technicians typically provide therapeutic care and monitor their patients' conditions. Aides help patients in their daily activities and ensure a safe, clean environment.
Duties
Psychiatric technicians, sometimes called mental health technicians, typically do the following:
Observe patients' behavior, listen to their concerns, and record their condition
Lead patients in therapeutic and recreational activities
Give medications and other treatments to patients, following instructions from doctors and other medical professionals
Help with admitting and discharging patients
Monitor patients' vital signs, such as their blood pressure
Help patients with activities of daily living, including eating and bathing
Restrain patients who may become physically violent
Psychiatric aides typically do the following:
Monitor patients' behavior and location in a mental healthcare facility
Help patients with their daily living activities, such as bathing and dressing
Serve meals and help patients eat
Keep facilities clean by doing tasks such as changing bedlinens
Participate in group activities, such as playing sports and going on field trips
Help transport patients within a hospital or residential care facility
Restrain patients who may become physically violent
Many psychiatric technicians and aides work with patients who are severely developmentally disabled and need intensive care. Others work with patients undergoing rehabilitation for drug and alcohol addiction. The work of psychiatric technicians and aides varies with the types of patients they work with.
Because they have such close contact with patients, psychiatric technicians and aides can have a great deal of influence on patients' outlook and treatment.