What Psychiatric Technicians and Aides Do

Psychiatric technicians and aides care for people who have mental illness and developmental disabilities. The two occupations are related, but technicians typically provide therapeutic care, and aides help patients in their daily activities and ensure a safe, clean environment.

Duties

Psychiatric 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, 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:

• Monitoring patients’ behavior and location in a mental healthcare facility
• Help patients with their daily living activities, such as bathing or dressing
• Serve meals and help patients eat
• Help keep facilities clean by doing tasks such as changing bed linens
• Interact with patients, leading them in educational or therapeutic activities
• Participate in group activities, such as playing sports or 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. Their work varies depending on the types of patients they work with.

Psychiatric technicians and aides work as part of a medical team, under the direction of physicians and alongside other healthcare professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, social workers, and therapists. Because they have such close contact with patients, psychiatric technicians and aides can have a great deal of influence on patients' outlook and treatment.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition