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Psychiatric Technician Duties and Responsibilities

In order to accomplish their goal of helping clients live better lives, psychiatric technicians perform a myriad of tasks. Our perusal of job postings revealed the following to be among the most common and critical:

Routine Care Psychiatric technicians, especially ones new to the field, assist patients with basic life activities such as grooming, eating, and cleaning one's room. They also may provide services such as helping children with homework or arranging transportation for clients to attend a community-based program.

Bonding Since psychiatric technicians spend a great deal of time interacting with patients, they often form trusting relationships. These bonds can be significant in the treatment process. For instance, a client may listen to a psychiatric technician who explains the importance of good nutrition or why medicine needs to be taken every day. Or perhaps someone experiencing social anxiety can be persuaded to attend movie night accompanied by the psychiatric technician.

Monitoring As patients go about their daily activities, psychiatric technicians may observe behavioral changes. Reporting what they see can significantly influence care decisions. For instance, a patient that experiences a mood swing at a certain time each day may need a booster dose of medication.

Documenting A written record provides a look at progress and a solid point of reference for further decisions. Psychiatric technicians write down information (or enter it into a computer) so that everyone involved in care can have access. In an eating disorders unit, for instance, they may weigh patients daily and record what food they ate at each meal. Obtaining and charting vital signs, such as blood pressure and temperature is another standard task.

Assisting in Treatment Experienced psychiatric technicians may perform tasks such as filling out paperwork to admit new patients, conducting one-to-one interviews with clients, taking on leadership roles in therapy sessions, administering medications, and contacting relatives for updates and family conferences.

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Psychiatric Technician Skills

At the heart of being a psychiatric technician is a concern for people. However, the job can be challenging and emotionally draining. Patience and empathy are great qualities for a psychiatric technician to possess. Other "soft skills" that serve candidates well include:
  • Working well in teams since many people are involved in patient care
  • Attending to detail so that behavioral changes are noted
  • Listening actively to patients to better understand what they are experiencing and to build stronger bonds
  • Remaining composed in unforeseen or emergency situations
  • Respecting patient confidentiality
  • Following directions exactly as given
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Psychiatric Technician Education and Training

Many vocational institutions offer two-year programs that certify graduates as psychiatric technicians. Programs involve both classroom learning and supervised hands-on clinical experience. Some candidates come to the position with associate or bachelor's degrees in fields such as psychology, biology, nursing, or family services. Licensing requirements vary by state. Every candidate should become CPR certified before hitting the job market.
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Psychiatric Technician Salary

The median annual salary for psychiatric technicians is $30,970. Psychiatric technicians in the 10th percentile earn about $21,300 a year, and the highest paid make in excess of $59,900 a year. Psychiatric technicians in California, Connecticut, and New Jersey make the highest median salaries in the U.S. - $59,490, $55,090, and $45,090, respectively.
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Psychiatric Technician Resources

Becoming a psychiatric technician can be a rewarding career for someone who likes to help people. We've compiled a list of additional sources that can help you decide if such a job is right for you:

American Association of Psychiatric Technicians - This respected organization is the go-to place for all things associated with becoming a

psychiatric technician. Viewers of its site are bound to come away with a better understanding of educational requirements, licensing and certification procedures, and daily activities.

Careers in Mental Health: Opportunities in Psychology, Counseling and Social Work - Besides information on a variety of careers, this book covers such topics as characteristics for success, ethical issues, the importance of critical thinking, and hot topics in the field of mental health.

1000+ Practice Questions with Rationales for Psychiatric Technician Licensure Examination - While obviously helpful to students ready to take the exam, this book also gives aspiring psychiatric technicians a glimpse into situations and activities they are likely to encounter if they pursue this career.

The Psychology Network - Still have questions? Chances are someone among the 234,000+ members of this LinkedIn Group has answers!

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