Psychiatric Aides
Assist mentally impaired or emotionally disturbed patients, working under direction of nursing and medical staff. May assist with daily living activities, lead patients in educational and recreational activities, or accompany patients to and from examinations and treatments. May restrain violent patients. Includes psychiatric orderlies.
31 alternate job titles:
Salary Information
Psychiatric Aides: $41,590 (median) per year.
Starting salary (10th percentile).
Required expreience: Varies by Company
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Daily Tasks & Responsibilities
| Task Description | Category |
|---|---|
| Care for patients with mental illnesses. | General |
| Confer with other professionals to plan patient care. | General |
| Assist patients with hygiene or daily living activities. | General |
| Assist clients in handling details of daily life. | General |
| Encourage patients during therapeutic activities. | General |
| Collect biological specimens from patients. | General |
| Give medications or immunizations. | General |
| Feed patients. | General |
| Hold patients to ensure proper positioning or safety. | General |
| Interview patients to gather medical information. | General |
| Record vital statistics or other health information. | General |
| Assist patients with daily activities. | General |
| Engage patients in exercises or activities. | General |
| Follow protocols or regulations for healthcare activities. | General |
| Advise patients on healthcare system processes. | General |
| Accompany patients or clients on outings to provide assistance. | General |
| Clean patient rooms or patient treatment rooms. | General |
| Perform clerical work in medical settings. | General |
| Assess physical conditions of patients to aid in diagnosis or treatment. | Analysis |
| Monitor patients to detect health problems. | Maintenance |
| Maintain medical records. | Maintenance |
Technology Requirements
| Technology | Description |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software |
| Microsoft Windows | Operating system software |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software |
| Email software | Electronic mail software |
| Patient management software | Medical software |
Relevant Certifications
Industry certifications that may be valuable for this career role:
| Certification | Issuing Organization | Practice Test |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Alzheimer Educator | National Certification Board for Alzheimer Care | Not Available |
| Certified Employment Support Specialist | National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals | Not Available |
| Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner | Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association | Not Available |
| Mental Health Technician Certification | American Medical Certification Association | Not Available |
| Nationally Certified Patient Care Technician | National Center for Competency Testing | Not Available |
| Nationally Certified Psychiatric Technician 1 | American Association of Psychiatric Technicians, Inc. | Not Available |
| Nationally Certified Psychiatric Technician 2 | American Association of Psychiatric Technicians, Inc. | Not Available |
| Nationally Certified Psychiatric Technician 3 | American Association of Psychiatric Technicians, Inc. | Not Available |
| Nationally Certified Psychiatric Technician 4 | American Association of Psychiatric Technicians, Inc. | Not Available |