Psychiatric Tech

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.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: BHT (Behavioral Health Technician); Health Care Technician (Health Care Tech); LPT (Licensed Psychiatric Technician); Mental Health Associate; Mental Health Specialist; Mental Health Technician (MHT); MHA (Mental Health Assistant); MHW (Mental Health Worker); Psychiatric Technician (PT); Residential Aide (RA)

Tasks

• Provide nursing, psychiatric, or personal care to patients with cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities.
• Encourage patients to develop work skills and to participate in social, recreational, or other therapeutic activities that enhance interpersonal skills or develop social relationships.
• Restrain violent, potentially violent, or suicidal patients by verbal or physical means as required.
• Lead prescribed individual or group therapy sessions as part of specific therapeutic procedures.
• Monitor patients' physical and emotional well-being and report unusual behavior or physical ailments to medical staff.
• Take and record measures of patients' physical condition, using devices such as thermometers or blood pressure gauges.
• Observe and influence patients' behavior, communicating and interacting with them and teaching, counseling, or befriending them.
• Aid patients in performing tasks, such as bathing or keeping beds, clothing, or living areas clean.
• Collaborate with or assist doctors, psychologists, or rehabilitation therapists in working with patients with cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities to treat, rehabilitate, and return patients to the community.
• Develop or teach strategies to promote client wellness and independence.
• Train or instruct new employees on procedures to follow with psychiatric patients.
• Escort patients to medical appointments.

Knowledge

• Psychology
• Therapy and Counseling
• English Language
• Customer and Personal Service
• Medicine and Dentistry
• Education and Training
• Public Safety and Security
• Computers and Electronics
• Law and Government
• Sociology and Anthropology

Skills

• Active Listening
• Monitoring
• Speaking
• Reading Comprehension
• Critical Thinking
• Writing
• Active Learning
• Learning Strategies

Abilities

• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Problem Sensitivity
• Deductive Reasoning
• Written Comprehension
• Inductive Reasoning
• Written Expression
• Speech Recognition
• Speech Clarity
• Near Vision
• Information Ordering
• Selective Attention
• Category Flexibility
• Far Vision