Psychiatric Aides
Psychiatric aides assist mentally impaired or emotionally disturbed patients, working under the direction of nursing and medical staff. They assist with daily living activities, lead patients in educational and recreational activities, or accompany patients to and from examinations and treatments. Also, they restrain violent patients and include psychiatric orderlies.
The Psychiatric aide job description and responsibilities include recording and maintaining patient information, such as vital signs, eating habits, behavior, progress notes, treatments, or discharge plans, providing emotional support and encouragement to psychiatric patients and completing physical checks and monitoring patients to detect unusual or harmful behaviour and report observations to professional staff. They also restrain or aid patients as necessary to prevent injury and serve meals or feed patients needing assistance or persuasion.
To be eligible for psychiatric aides, you require knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioural and affective disorders and knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
To be a successful psychiatric aide, it is essential to complete a high-school diploma. Also, to apply for psychiatric aide jobs, some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. The psychiatric aide's salary ranges from five-six figures annually.
Qualifications
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
- B.Sc. Psychology
- M.A. Psychosocial Studies
- M.Sc. Rehabilitation Psychology
- PG Diploma Psychiatry
- Diploma Mental Health Studies
Tasks
- Provide mentally impaired or emotionally disturbed patients with routine physical, emotional, psychological, or rehabilitation care under the direction of nursing or medical staff.
- Work as part of a team that may include psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, or social workers.
- Aid patients in becoming accustomed to hospital routine.
- Organize, supervise, or encourage patient participation in social, educational, or recreational activities.
- Perform nursing duties, such as administering medications, measuring vital signs, collecting specimens, or drawing blood samples.
- Serve meals or feed patients needing assistance or persuasion.
- Restrain or aid patients as necessary to prevent injury.
- Interview patients upon admission and record information.
- Provide patients with assistance in bathing, dressing, or grooming, demonstrating these skills as necessary.
- Participate in recreational activities with patients, including card games, sports, or television viewing.
Progression Routes
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