Occupation: Psychiatric Aides

Psychiatric Aides

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.

31-1133.00 | 17 tasks | 10 job titles
Reported Job Titles (10)
  • Developmental Aide
  • Mental Health Aide (MHA)
  • Mental Health Worker (MHW)
  • Psychiatric Aide
  • Psychiatric Assistant
  • Psychiatric Nursing Aide
  • Qualified Medication Aide (QMA)
  • Resident Care Technician (Resident Care Tech)
  • Residential Care Tech (Residential Care Technician)
  • Therapeutic Program Worker (TPW)
Core Tasks (15)
  • Listen and provide emotional support and encouragement to psychiatric patients.
  • Provide patients with cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities with routine physical, emotional, psychological, or rehabilitation care under the direction of nursing or medical staff.
  • Complete physical checks and monitor patients to detect unusual or harmful behavior and report observations to professional staff.
  • Restrain or aid patients as necessary to prevent injury.
  • Work as part of a team that may include psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, or social workers.
  • Record and maintain patient information, such as vital signs, eating habits, behavior, progress notes, treatments, or discharge plans.
  • Maintain patients' restrictions to assigned areas.
  • Organize, supervise, or encourage patient participation in social, educational, or recreational activities.
  • Provide patients with assistance in bathing, dressing, or grooming, demonstrating these skills as necessary.
  • Aid patients in becoming accustomed to hospital routines.
  • Serve meals or feed patients needing assistance or persuasion.
  • Clean and disinfect rooms and furnishings to maintain a safe and orderly environment.
  • 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.
  • Participate in recreational activities with patients, including card games, sports, or television viewing.
Supplemental Tasks (2)
  • Perform nursing duties, such as administering medications, measuring vital signs, collecting specimens, or drawing blood samples.
  • Interview patients upon admission and record information.