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100450
PSYCHIATRIC AIDE 2
SS404     $22,256 - $40,061
Creation Date: 06/29/1987
Change Date: 01/01/2025

FUNCTION OF WORK:
To perform responsible non-professional nursing support work which involves assisting in creating and maintaining a therapeutic environment for patients.

LEVEL OF WORK:
Experienced
SUPERVISION RECEIVED:
General from a Psychiatric Aide Supervisor or other professional medical personnel.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:
None.

LOCATION OF WORK:
State health care facilities and rehabilitation centers.

JOB DISTINCTIONS:
Differs from Psychiatric Aide 1 by the presence of journeyman level responsibilities.

Differs from Psychiatric Aide Supervisor 1 by the absence of supervisory responsibilities.

Differs from Nursing Assistants by the requirement for special psychiatric training and the responsibility for participation in psychiatric therapeutic activities.

CORE COMPETENCIES:
CORE COMPETENCIES HAVE NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED BY STATE CIVIL SERVICE FOR THIS JOB TITLE. MORE INFORMATION ON THE SCS COMPETENCY MODEL CAN BE FOUND HERE.

EXAMPLES OF WORK:
EXAMPLES BELOW ARE A BRIEF SAMPLE OF COMMON DUTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS JOB TITLE. NOT ALL POSSIBLE TASKS ARE INCLUDED.

Assists to create and maintain a therapeutic environment for mentally ill and/or substance abuse patients to include performing routine nursing duties such as taking vital signs and weighing patients.

Records behavioral observations, vital signs, symptoms, accidents, injuries, etc. on patients' charts.

Cares for the personal needs of patients and assists them in good grooming, personal hygiene, eating, and the control of money and valuables.

Accompanies patients to clinics, meals, recreational activities, field trips, etc. to insure safety and prevent developments.

Performs required duties in maintaining a safe and sanitary environment for patients by assisting in cleaning physical surroundings, furnishings, and equipment in patient care area.

Performs housekeeping duties such as changing bed linens, making beds, and assisting with washing patients' clothes.

Assists in the management of patients' behavior utilizing therapeutic intervention techniques; restrains hostile and physically violent patients when necessary.

Makes rounds to check patients' presence; checks for compliance with safety rules and regulations and documents appropriately.

Interacts with patients as a therapeutic function; observes and reports condition of patients to appropriate professional personnel.

Participates with groups in therapeutic activities such as reality orientation and remotivation.

Maintains awareness of patients' whereabouts at all times, reports appropriately, and assists in the search and return of eloped patients.

Provides constant visual and intensive care for extremely suicidal, combative, or disturbed patients to assure safety and well-being of the patients; documents appropriately.

Assists with admission, transfer, and discharge procedures.

Assists in emergency situations.

Supervises the work of patients engaged in work activities.

Recognizes and intervenes in disturbed/aggressive behavior as soon as signs of disruptive behavior are evidenced, utilizing the de-escalation process.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
One year of training or experience in providing behavioral health or developmentally disabled services, or psychiatric patient care; OR

Six semester hours of college coursework in a social sciences field, education, social work, child guidance, or nursing; OR

Six months of experience in providing behavioral health or developmentally disabled services or psychiatric patient care plus a Behavioral Health Aide Diploma from a vocational technical college with an approved curriculum from the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.