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Job Description: Psychiatric aides help care for patients who are mentally ill, infirm, emotionally disturbed, or developmentally delayed. Under the direct supervision and guidance of doctors and professional nurses, aides perform general practical nursing as well as psychiatric nursing activities. They give care and companionship to patients in hospital wards. They are also known as psychiatric nursing assistants or mental health assistants. See related career information for general practice nursing aides in this field.

Duties: Psychiatric aides may perform some or all of the following duties:

• Assisting in personal nursing care of mentally ill
• Shaving, feeding, bathing, and dressing patients
• Keeping patients, their clothing, beds and living areas clean
• Helping to develop and supervise recreational and occupational rehabilitation programs
• Working to interest patients in hobbies and fun activities
• Helping patients to and from hospital grounds

For additional information on tasks, knowledge, skills, abilities, work activities, work contexts, job zones, interests, work styles, work values, and related occupations, visit the O*Net Online, a division of the National Center for Occupational Information.

Working Conditions: Most full-time psychiatric aides work a standard 40-hour week; however, because patients require care 24 hours a day, some shift work may be necessary. They may work evenings, weekends, nights or holidays. Many work part-time. Aides spend many hours standing and walking. They often have to move patients in and out of beds and wheelchairs so they must take precautions to avoid back injuries. They may face hazards from infections and diseases so they must follow strict safety guidelines. Often their duties are unpleasant such as changing soiled bed linens or emptying bed pans. Patients may be disoriented, irritable, and uncooperative. They must be prepared to care for patients who sometimes exhibit violent behavior. While the work may be emotionally and physically demanding, many aides gain much satisfaction from helping those in need.

Educational Requirements: In many cases, neither a high school diploma nor previous work experience is required for this job. A few employers insist on some training or experience. This occupation may offer some individuals an entrance into the world of work. The flexibility of evening and weekend hours may provide students a chance to work during the school year.

Formal programs offer classroom training and supervised clinical experience leading to licensure as a certified nursing aide or CNA. In Tennessee, the Nurse Aide Training (NAT) Test is part of the certification requirement to become a CNA. Federal regulations require that a student complete a state-certified training program or test challenge and pass the NAT Test to work as a CNA. For educational guidelines and a list of all State of Tennessee approved training programs visit the Tennessee Department of Health online. For related information and recommended courses to prepare for this occupation, Tennessee high school students may visit the Health Science Education Curriculum Standards online. Courses cover body mechanics, nutrition, anatomy, infection control, and care skills. This experience will help individuals decide whether to pursue a career in the health care field.

Outlook: The estimated number of psychiatric aides in Tennessee is 1,340. It is projected there will be an increase of 12 percent in this occupation through the year 2012 with 35 job openings annually. For additional information on this occupation, visit the nationally recognized Occupational Outlook Handbook online.

Salary

• Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tennessee Department of Labor website
• TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development website
• Bureau of Economic Analysis website

For an explanation of salary data please visit acinet.org

Last updated on: January 24, 2008