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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.

What you’d do

  • 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.
  • Record and maintain patient information, such as vital signs, eating habits, behavior, progress notes, treatments, or discharge plans.
  • Maintain patients' restrictions to assigned areas.
  • Organize, supervise, or encourage patient participation in social, educational, or recreational activities.

Skills that matter

  • Service Orientation
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Speaking
  • Active Listening
  • Monitoring
  • Critical Thinking

How to get there

Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

Also called

  • Mental Health Worker (MHW)
  • Psychiatric Aide
  • Residential Care Tech (Residential Care Technician)
  • Therapeutic Program Worker (TPW)
  • Developmental Aide
  • Mental Health Aide (MHA)

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