Psychiatric Technician
Care for individuals with mental or emotional conditions or disabilities, following the instructions of physicians or other health practitioners. Monitor patients’ physical and emotional well‑being and report to medical staff. May participate in rehabilitation and treatment programs, help with personal hygiene, and administer oral or injectable medications.
Responsibilities
- Provide nursing, psychiatric, or personal care to mentally ill, emotionally disturbed, or mentally retarded patients.
- Train or instruct new employees on procedures to follow with psychiatric patients.
- Observe and influence patients’ behavior, communicating and interacting with them and teaching, counseling, or befriending them.
- Escort patients to medical appointments.
- Administer oral medications or hypodermic injections, following physician’s prescriptions and hospital procedures.
- Issue medications from dispensary and maintain records in accordance with specified procedures.
Key Skills
- Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- 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.
- Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Related Job Titles
- Direct Care Worker (DCW)
- Milieu Therapist
- Behavioral Health Technician
- Support Team Member (STM)
- Mental Health Worker