National
| Median wages (2008) |
$14.06 hourly, $29,250 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
62,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Decline slowly or moderately (-3% to -9%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
19,000 additional employees |
29-2053.00 - Psychiatric Technicians
Care for mentally impaired or emotionally disturbed individuals, following physician instructions and hospital procedures. 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 medications and hypodermic injections.
Sample of reported job titles:
Psychiatric Technician, Mental Health Assistant (MHA), Mental Health Technician (MHT), Health Care Technician, Mental Health Worker
Tasks
- Monitor patients' physical and emotional well-being and report unusual behavior or physical ailments to medical staff.
- Provide nursing, psychiatric and personal care to mentally ill, emotionally disturbed or mentally retarded patients.
- Observe and influence patients' behavior, communicating and interacting with them and teaching, counseling and befriending them.
- Take and record measures of patients' physical condition, using devices such as thermometers and blood pressure gauges.
- Encourage patients to develop work skills and to participate in social, recreational, and other therapeutic activities that enhance interpersonal skills and develop social relationships.
- Collaborate with or assist doctors, psychologists, or rehabilitation therapists in working with mentally ill, emotionally disturbed, or developmentally disabled patients to treat, rehabilitate, and return patients to the community.
- Develop and teach strategies to promote client wellness and independence.
- Restrain violent, potentially violent, or suicidal patients by verbal or physical means as required.
- Aid patients in performing tasks such as bathing and keeping beds, clothing and living areas clean.
- Administer oral medications and hypodermic injections, following physician's prescriptions and hospital procedures.
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Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Glucose monitors or meters — Glucometers |
| Lancets |
| Medical staff isolation or surgical masks — Surgical masks |
| Medical suction or vacuum appliances — Suction machines |
| Oxygen therapy delivery system products accessories or its supplies — Oxygen administration equipment; Oxygen carts |
| Therapeutic heating or cooling pads or compresses or packs — Cold therapy equipment; Heat therapy equipment |
| Vacuum blood collection tubes or containers — Evacuated blood collection tubes |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Inventory management software — InfoLogix HealthTrax Engine |
| Medical software — Eclipsys Sunrise Clinical Manager; Epic Systems EpicCare Inpatient; GE Healthcare Centricity EMR; Netsmart Technologies Avatar CWS |
| Office suite software — Microsoft Office software |
