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Psychiatric Aide

All About Psychiatric Aides

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.

Psychiatric Aide Responsibilities

  • Perform nursing duties, such as administering medications, measuring vital signs, collecting specimens, or drawing blood samples.
  • Listen and provide emotional support and encouragement to psychiatric patients.
  • Provide patients with assistance in bathing, dressing, or grooming, demonstrating these skills as necessary.
  • Provide mentally impaired or emotionally disturbed patients with routine physical, emotional, psychological, or rehabilitation care under the direction of nursing or medical staff.
  • Complete administrative tasks, such as entering orders into computer, answering telephone calls, or maintaining medical or facility information.
  • Accompany patients to and from wards for medical or dental treatments, shopping trips, or religious or recreational events.

Skills Needed to be a Psychiatric Aide

Psychiatric Aides state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

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

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

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

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

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.

Other Psychiatric Aide Job Titles

  • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
  • Psychiatric Attendant
  • Developmental Diabetes Secure Care Treatment Aide (DDSCTA)
  • Mental Health Assistant
  • Psychiatric Technician Assistant

Is There Job Demand for Psychiatric Aides?

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.

Do Psychiatric Aides Make A Lot Of Money?

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.

How much do Psychiatric Aides make 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?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Psychiatric Aides:

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

Becoming a Psychiatric Aide

Education needed to be a Psychiatric Aide:

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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Similar Careers

Those interested in being a Psychiatric Aide may also be interested in:

References:

Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Katie Spencer via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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