What Does it Take to Be a 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.
What do Psychiatric Aides do On a Daily Basis?
- Listen and provide emotional support and encouragement to psychiatric patients.
- Complete physical checks and monitor patients to detect unusual or harmful behavior and report observations to professional staff.
- Work as part of a team that may include psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, or social workers.
- Clean and disinfect rooms and furnishings to maintain a safe and orderly environment.
- Aid patients in becoming accustomed to hospital routine.
- Accompany patients to and from wards for medical or dental treatments, shopping trips, or religious or recreational events.
Psychiatric Aide Needed Skills
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.
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.
Related Job Titles
- Residential Counselor
- Mental Health Assistant
- Psychiatric Technician Assistant
- Mental Health Technician (MHT)
- Nursing Assistant
Job Demand for Psychiatric Aides
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 73,600 jobs in the United States for Psychiatric Aides.
New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.5% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 4,100 new jobs for Psychiatric Aides by 2026. The BLS estimates 8,800 yearly job openings in this field per year.
The states with the most job growth for Psychiatric Aides are Texas, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
Watch out if you plan on working in New Jersey, Georgia, or Pennsylvania. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Psychiatric Aide Average Salary
The average yearly salary of a Psychiatric Aide ranges between $19,830 and $46,490. A Psychiatric Aide median salary is $29,180.
How much do Psychiatric Aides make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
|
Minnesota |
$44,910 |
|
New York |
$43,520 |
|
Alaska |
$42,550 |
|
Hawaii |
$41,940 |
|
Oregon |
$39,570 |
|
Rhode Island |
$39,260 |
|
New Jersey |
$38,910 |
|
New Hampshire |
$37,950 |
|
Nevada |
$37,920 |
|
Washington |
$37,640 |
|
Connecticut |
$37,040 |
|
Iowa |
$36,670 |
|
Nebraska |
$36,580 |
|
Pennsylvania |
$35,450 |
|
Idaho |
$34,860 |
|
Vermont |
$34,780 |
|
Ohio |
$34,300 |
|
Michigan |
$34,090 |
|
Massachusetts |
$33,690 |
|
Colorado |
$33,460 |
|
New Mexico |
$33,180 |
|
California |
$32,660 |
|
Maryland |
$31,270 |
|
Maine |
$30,430 |
|
Kentucky |
$29,970 |
|
Utah |
$29,360 |
|
Montana |
$29,350 |
|
North Carolina |
$28,730 |
|
Missouri |
$28,170 |
|
Indiana |
$28,030 |
|
Texas |
$27,840 |
|
Virginia |
$27,480 |
|
Alabama |
$26,680 |
|
Illinois |
$26,480 |
|
Florida |
$25,890 |
|
Kansas |
$25,130 |
|
Arkansas |
$24,950 |
|
Louisiana |
$23,580 |
|
Tennessee |
$23,500 |
|
West Virginia |
$22,430 |
|
Oklahoma |
$21,520 |
|
Mississippi |
$19,970 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Psychiatric Aides
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Psychiatric Aides may use on a daily basis:
- Data entry software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
Becoming a Psychiatric Aide
What education or degrees do I need to become a Psychiatric Aide?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where do Psychiatric Aides Work?
Related Careers
Those interested in being a Psychiatric Aide may also be interested in:
- Physical Therapist Assistants
- Radiation Therapists
- Medical Assistants
References
Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons
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