What Psychiatric Technicians and Aides Do
Psychiatric technicians and aides care for people who have mental illness and developmental disabilities.
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 and 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 bed linens
- 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.
Work Environment
Psychiatric
technicians and aides work in psychiatric hospitals, residential mental
health facilities, and related healthcare settings. They may spend much
of their shift on their feet.
Psychiatric aides held about 61,600 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of psychiatric aides were as follows:
| Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals; state, local, and private | 42% |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 20 |
| Residential mental health and substance abuse facilities | 7 |
| Residential intellectual and developmental disability facilities | 7 |
Psychiatric technicians held about 76,600 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of psychiatric technicians were as follows:
| Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals; state, local, and private | 43% |
| General medical and surgical hospitals; private | 13 |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 8 |
| Residential mental health and substance abuse facilities | 7 |
| Outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers | 5 |
Psychiatric
technicians and aides may spend much of their shift on their feet. Some
of the work that psychiatric aides do may be unpleasant. They may care
for patients whose illnesses make them disoriented, uncooperative, or
violent.
How to Become a Psychiatric Technician or Aide
Psychiatric
technicians typically need a postsecondary certificate, and aides need
at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Both technicians and aides
get on-the-job training.
Education
Psychiatric technicians typically have a postsecondary certificate. Often, they have experience as anursing assistant or a licensed practical nurse and have completed postsecondary education in nursing.
Other
psychiatric technicians may have a postsecondary certificate or
associate’s degree in psychiatric or mental health technology. These
programs are offered by community colleges and technical schools and
include courses in biology, psychology, and counseling. Psychiatric
technician programs may include supervised work experience or
cooperative programs, in which students gain academic credit for
structured work experience.
Psychiatric aides typically need a high school diploma or equivalent.
Training
Psychiatric
technicians and aides usually have a short period of on-the-job
training before they can work without direct supervision.
Training
may include working with patients while under the close supervision of
an experienced technician or aide. Technicians and aides may also attend
workshops, lectures, or in-service training.
Work Experience in a Related Occupation
Psychiatric technicians typically need clinical experience, which can be gained by working in occupations such as nursing assistant or licensed practical nurse.
Important Qualities
Compassion. Because
psychiatric technicians and aides spend much of their time interacting
with patients, they should be caring and want to help people.
Interpersonal skills. Psychiatric
technicians and aides often provide ongoing care for patients, so they
should develop a rapport with them. Gaining such rapport makes
psychiatric technicians and aides better able to treat their patients
and evaluate their condition.
Observational skills. Technicians
must watch patients closely and be sensitive to any changes in
behavior. For their safety and that of their patients, they must
recognize signs of discomfort or trouble among patients.
Patience. Working
with the mentally ill can be emotionally challenging. Psychiatric
technicians and aides must stay calm in stressful situations.
Physical stamina. Psychiatric
technicians and aides must lift, move, and sometimes restrain patients.
They must also spend much of their time on their feet.
Pay
The median annual wage for psychiatric aides was $29,180 in May 2019.
The median annual wage for psychiatric technicians was $32,870 in May 2019.
In May 2019, the median annual wages for psychiatric aides in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals; state, local, and private | $32,090 |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 28,610 |
| Residential mental health and substance abuse facilities | 26,740 |
| Residential intellectual and developmental disability facilities | 24,290 |
In May 2019, the median annual wages for psychiatric technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | $45,170 |
| Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals; state, local, and private | 34,040 |
| General medical and surgical hospitals; private | 33,150 |
| Residential mental health and substance abuse facilities | 29,120 |
| Outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers | 28,190 |
Psychiatric technicians and aides may work full time or part time. Because hospitals and residential facilities operate 24 hours a day, many psychiatric technicians and aides work nights, weekends, and holidays.
Job Outlook
Overall
employment of psychiatric technicians and aides is projected to grow 12
percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all
occupations. Demand for this occupation will be affected by the growth
of the older population. Older people typically experience higher rates
of cognitive illnesses than younger people do.
Cognitive
mental disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, are more
likely to occur among older persons. As the nation’s population ages and
people live longer, demand for psychiatric technicians and aides is
expected to increase because these workers will be needed to care for
patients affected by such disorders.
Psychiatric
technicians and aides also will be needed in correctional facilities,
to care for the aging prisoner population and for those with mental
health issues.
