The Psychiatric Technician cares for mentally impaired or emotionally disturbed individuals, following physician instructions and hospital procedures. The Psychiatric Technician monitors patients’ physical and emotional well-being and reports to medical staff. In some cases they may participate in rehabilitation and treatment programs, help with personal hygiene, and administer oral medications and hypodermic injections.

Duties:

The Psychiatric Technician monitors patients’ physical and emotional well-being and reports unusual behavior or physical ailments to medical staff. The Psychiatric Technician provides nursing, psychiatric and personal care to mentally ill, emotionally disturbed or mentally retarded patients. The Psychiatric Technician observes and influences patients’ behavior, communication and interacting with them and teaching, counseling and befriending them. The Psychiatric Technician takes and records measures of patients’ physical condition, using devices such as thermometers and blood pressure gauges. The Psychiatric Technician encourages patients to develop work skills and to participate in social, recreational, and other therapeutic activities that enhance interpersonal skills and develop social relationships. The Psychiatric Technician collaborates with or assists doctors, psychologists, or rehabilitation therapists in working with mentally ill, emotionally disturbed, or developmentally disabled patients to treat, rehabilitate, return patients’ to the community. The Psychiatric Technician develops and teaches strategies to promote client wellness and independence. The Psychiatric Technician restrains violent, potentially violent, or suicidal patients by verbal or physical means as required. The Psychiatric Technician aids patients’ in performing tasks such as bathing and keeping beds, clothing and living areas clean. The Psychiatric Technician administers oral medications and hypodermic injections, following physician’s prescriptions and hospital procedures.

Knowledge:

• The Psychiatric Technician needs knowledge of human behavior and performance, individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• The Psychiatric Technician needs knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• The Psychiatric Technician needs knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
• The Psychiatric Technician needs knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
• The Psychiatric Technician needs knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• The Psychiatric Technician needs knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• The Psychiatric Technician needs knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

Skills:

The Psychiatric Technician gives 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. The Psychiatric Technician needs to be able to understand written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. The Psychiatric Technician must be able to communicate effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. The Psychiatric Technician must be aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do. The Psychiatric Technician uses logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. The Psychiatric Technician needs the skill to teach others in his unit how to do things whether it is an employee or a patient. The Psychiatric Technician must always be looking for ways to help people. The Psychiatric Technician selects and uses training methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Abilities:

The Psychiatric Technician needs the ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. The Psychiatric Technician has the ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. The Psychiatric Technician needs the ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. The Psychiatric Technician needs the ability to speak clearly so others can understand them when they are explaining or helping someone.