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Psychiatric Aide

What Do Psychiatric Aide Do?

Psychiatric Aide Job Description Assist mentally impaired or emotionally disturbed patients, working under direction of nursing and medical staff. May assist with daily living activities, lead patients in educational and recreational activities, or accompany patients to and from examinations and treatments. May restrain violent patients. Includes psychiatric orderlies.

Life As a Psychiatric Aide: What Do They Do?

  • Provide patients with assistance in bathing, dressing, or grooming, demonstrating these skills as necessary.
  • Clean and disinfect rooms and furnishings to maintain a safe and orderly environment.
  • Organize, supervise, or encourage patient participation in social, educational, or recreational activities.
  • Restrain or aid patients as necessary to prevent injury.
  • Listen and provide emotional support and encouragement to psychiatric patients.
  • Record and maintain patient information, such as vital signs, eating habits, behavior, progress notes, treatments, or discharge plans.

Psychiatric Aide Required Skills

When polled, Psychiatric Aides say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Active Listening: Giving 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.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

  • Residential Counselor
  • Neuropsychiatric Aide
  • Mental Health Technician (MHT)
  • Clinical Assistant
  • Psychiatric Nursing Aide

What Kind of Psychiatric Aide Job Opportunities Are There?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 73,600 jobs in the United States for Psychiatric Aide. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 4,100 new jobs for Psychiatric Aide by 2026. There will be an estimated 8,800 positions for Psychiatric Aide per year.

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The states with the most job growth for Psychiatric Aide are Tennessee, Arkansas, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Georgia, New Jersey, or New Hampshire. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Average Psychiatric Aides Salary

The typical yearly salary for Psychiatric Aides is somewhere between $19,830 and $46,490.

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Psychiatric Aides who work in Minnesota, New York, or Hawaii, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Psychiatric Aides in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $26,680
Alaska $42,550
Arkansas $24,950
California $32,660
Colorado $33,460
Connecticut $37,040
Florida $25,890
Hawaii $41,940
Idaho $34,860
Illinois $26,480
Indiana $28,030
Iowa $36,670
Kansas $25,130
Kentucky $29,970
Louisiana $23,580
Maine $30,430
Maryland $31,270
Massachusetts $33,690
Michigan $34,090
Minnesota $44,910
Mississippi $19,970
Missouri $28,170
Montana $29,350
Nebraska $36,580
Nevada $37,920
New Hampshire $37,950
New Jersey $38,910
New Mexico $33,180
New York $43,520
North Carolina $28,730
Ohio $34,300
Oklahoma $21,520
Oregon $39,570
Pennsylvania $35,450
Rhode Island $39,260
Tennessee $23,500
Texas $27,840
Utah $29,360
Vermont $34,780
Virginia $27,480
Washington $37,640
West Virginia $22,430

What Tools do Psychiatric Aides Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Psychiatric Aides may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Data entry software
  • Email software
  • Microsoft Windows

How to Become a Psychiatric Aide

Learn what Psychiatric Aide education requirements there are.

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What work experience do I need to become a Psychiatric Aide?

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Who Employs Psychiatric Aides?

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Below are examples of industries where Psychiatric Aides work:

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Similar Careers

Those thinking about becoming a Psychiatric Aide might also be interested in the following careers:

References:

Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Katie Spencer via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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