PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIAN - 10292026-82357

State of Tennessee; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 26,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Tennessee is seeking a Psychiatric Technician at the Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute in Nashville. The role requires high school graduation or equivalent, with on-site duties including direct patient care, daily living support, and group activities under supervision.

Position involves potential evening/nights/weekends; a valid license may be required and background checks are mandatory. Salary ranges monthly from $2,372 to $3,554, with opportunities for clerical tasks and HIPAA

Qualifications

• Education equivalent to graduation from a standard high school.
• A valid motor vehicle operator license may be required; some positions may require a valid motor vehicle operator's license with a FOR HIRE (F) endorsement.

Responsibilities

• Provides basic and/or emergency/psychiatric medical assistance under direct supervision of a licensed health care provider.
• Rescues injured patients and/or escorts patients to appropriate areas during the event of an emergency.
• Teaches patients to function at the highest daily living level possible through demonstration, one-on-one instruction, videos, or booklets.
• Promotes social interaction by encouraging patient participation in group activities and/or discussions.
• Identifies patients at risk based on current assessment by medical professionals and follows established protocols for specific risks to ensure safety of patients and staff.
• Monitors patients during administration of medications and meals to assist in compliance with prescribed regiment and monitors office and medical supplies to ensure adequate quantities are on hand.
• Identifies problematic situations between staff and patients and takes appropriate corrective action.
• Restrains patients to prevent injuries to themselves and others.
• Reports to immediate supervisor observed progression or regression in patients that may indicate training/treatment need changes.
• Meets with other staff to discuss and document patient behavior or any other hospital situations that have occurred.
• Cleans the work area, supplies, and equipment to ensure a sanitary living environment.
• Inspects patients' belongings, rooms, and other patient areas to check for contraband, safety and health issues, equipment functioning, or other problems or issues.
• Perform clerical or administrative tasks such as completing forms, entering data, maintaining records, processing admissions, answering phones, explaining HIPAA laws, patients' rights, and other information to patients, families, and/or conservators or assisting with unit documentation.
• Maintains current information and adheres to the Health Information Portability and Privacy Act (HIPAA) and other regularity standards relevant to job duties.
• Attends annual and periodic in-service training to keep up-to-date on the latest methods and technologies relevant to job duties.

Skills

Time Management

Learning Strategies

Instructing

Critical Thinking

Reading Comprehension

Multilimb Coordination

Multilimb Strength

Limb and/or Full Body Coordination

Speech Clarity

Written Comprehension

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Computer

Electronic Devices

General Office Equipment

Medical Equipment and Devices

Job description

State of Tennessee Job Information

Opening Date/Time 10/29/2026 12:00AM Central Time

Job Information

Opening Date/Time 10/29/2026 12:00AM Central Time

Closing Date/Time 11/04/2026 11:59PM Central Time

Salary (Monthly) $2,372.00 - $3,554.00

Salary (Annually) $28,464.00 - $42,648.00

Job Type Full-Time

City, State Location Nashville, TN

Department Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

LOCATION OF (4) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH & SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, DAVIDSON COUNTY

This position is located at Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute

This classification of Psychiatric Technician at MTMHI currently has an approved hiring rate of $3,250 monthly/$39,000 yearly.

This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.

This is an on-site position.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Education equivalent to graduation from a standard high school.

Necessary Special Qualifications: A valid motor vehicle operator license may be required; some positions may require a valid motor vehicle operator's license with a FOR HIRE (F) endorsement.

Overview

Under general supervision, is responsible for psychiatric technical work of average difficulty; and performs related work as required. This is the working level class in the Psychiatric Technician sub-series. Employees in this class provide direct care on patient units in a psychiatric hospital with responsibilities including providing daily living care, individualized teaching, group teaching, and supervised medical assistance. Some positions may also perform clerical or administrative duties related to patient admissions, documentation, scheduling, or unit operations, depending on facility needs. An employee in this class may be assigned to work days, evenings, nights, weekends, and/or holidays. This class differs from Lead Psychiatric Technician in that an incumbent of the latter trains and orients new Psychiatric Technicians and may supervise Psychiatric Technicians on an assigned shift in a unit.

NOTE: Applicant must successfully complete an approved Psychiatric Technician training course with the State of Tennessee or pass an equivalent examination. Failure to do so may result in termination.

Responsibilities

• Provides basic and/or emergency/psychiatric medical assistance under direct supervision of a licensed health care provider. Rescues injured patients and/or escorts patients to appropriate areas during the event of an emergency.
• Teaches patients to function at the highest daily living level possible through demonstration, one-on-one instruction, videos, or booklets. Promotes social interaction by encouraging patient participation in group activities and/or discussions.
• Identifies patients at risk based on current assessment by medical professionals and follows established protocols for specific risks to ensure safety of patients and staff. Monitors patients during administration of medications and meals to assist in compliance with prescribed regiment and monitors office and medical supplies to ensure adequate quantities are on hand.
• Identifies problematic situations between staff and patients and takes appropriate corrective action (e.g., intervenes when a staff member is having difficulties interacting with a patient.). Restrains patients to prevent injuries to themselves and others.
• Reports to immediate supervisor observed progression or regression in patients that may indicate training/treatment need changes. Meets with other staff to discuss and document patient behavior or any other hospital situations that have occurred.
• Cleans the work area, supplies, and equipment to ensure a sanitary living environment. Inspects patients' belongings, rooms, and other patient areas to check for contraband, safety and health issues, equipment functioning, or other problems or issues.
• Perform clerical or administrative tasks such as completing forms, entering data, maintaining records, processing admissions, answering phones, explaining HIPAA laws, patients' rights, and other information to patients, families, and/or conservators or assisting with unit documentation.
• Maintains current information and adheres to the Health Information Portability and Privacy Act (HIPAA) and other regularity standards relevant to job duties. Attends annual and periodic in-service training to keep up-to-date on the latest methods and technologies relevant to job duties.

Competencies (KSA's)

Competencies

• Instills Trust
• Interpersonal Savvy
• Manages Conflict
• Customer Focus
• Action Oriented

Knowledge

• Customer and Personal Service
• Clerical

Skills

• Time Management
• Learning Strategies
• Instructing
• Critical Thinking
• Reading Comprehension

Abilities

• Multilimb Coordination
• Multilimb Strength
• Limb and/or Full Body Coordination
• Speech Clarity
• Written Comprehension

Tools & Equipment

• Computer
• Electronic Devices
• General Office Equipment
• Various Medical Equipment and Devices

TN Driver Standards

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

• A valid driver's license
• For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.

Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.

• Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.