Nursing and psychiatric aides help care for physically or mentally ill, injured, disabled, or infirm individuals in hospitals, nursing care facilities, and mental health settings. Nursing aides and home health aides are among the occupations commonly referred to as direct care workers, due to their role in working with patients who need long-term care. The specific care they give depends on their specialty.
Related job titles are: Clinical Nurse Specialist, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, Home Health Aide (HHA), Certified Nurses Aide (CNA), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Certified Medical Aide (CMA), or Habilitation Training Specialist
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Important Psychiatric Nursing Degree Information -Top of Page-
- Most jobs are in nursing and residential care facilities and in hospitals.
- A high school diploma is required for many jobs; specific qualifications vary by occupation, State laws, and work setting.
- This occupation is characterized by modest entry requirements, low pay, high physical and emotional demands, and limited advancement opportunities.
How much does a Psychiatric Nurse make in Salary? || Psychiatric Nurse Pay -Top of Page-
Median hourly wages of nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants were $11.46 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned a salary of between $9.71 and $13.76 an hour. The lowest 10 percent earned a salary of less than $8.34, and the highest 10 percent earned a salary of more than $15.97 an hour.
Median hourly wages of psychiatric aides were $12.77 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned a salary of between $10.00 and $15.63 an hour. The lowest 10 percent earned a salary of less than $8.35, and the highest 10 percent earned a salary of more than $18.77 an hour.
What is a Psychiatric Nurse? || What does a Psychiatric Nurse do? || Job Descriptions -Top of Page-
Nursing aides, also known as nurse aides, nursing assistants, certified nursing assistants, geriatric aides, unlicensed assistive personnel, orderlies, or hospital attendants, provide hands-on care and perform routine tasks under the supervision of nursing and medical staff. Specific tasks vary, with aides handling many aspects of a patient's care.
Nursing aides employed in nursing care facilities often are the principal caregivers and have more contact with residents than do other members of the staff. Because some residents may stay in a nursing care facility for months or even years, aides develop positive, caring relationships with their patients. Psychiatric aides, also known as mental health assistants or psychiatric nursing assistants, care for mentally impaired or emotionally disturbed individuals. They work under a team that may include psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, social workers, and therapists. They observe patients and report any physical or behavioral signs that might be important for the professional staff to know. They accompany patients to and from therapy and treatment. Because they have such close contact with patients, psychiatric aides can have a great deal of influence on their outlook and treatment.
Working Conditions for Psychiatric Nurses -Top of Page-
Work as an aide can be physically demanding. Aides spend many hours standing and walking, and they often face heavy workloads. Aides must guard against back injury, because they may have to move patients into and out of bed or help them stand or walk. It is important for aides to be trained in and to follow the proper procedures for lifting and moving patients.
Most full-time aides work about 40 hours per week, but because patients need care 24 hours a day, some aides work evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. In 2008 about 24 percent of nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants and psychiatric aides worked part-time.
How to Become a Psychiatric Nurse || Psychiatric Nursing Classes and Degree Programs -Top of Page-
Nursing and psychiatric aide training is offered in high schools, vocational-technical centers, some nursing care facilities, and some community colleges. Classes cover body mechanics, nutrition, anatomy and physiology, infection control, communication skills, and resident rights.
Hospitals may require previous experience as a nursing aide or home health aide. Some States also require psychiatric aides to complete a formal training program.
Some employers provide classroom instruction for newly hired aides, while others rely exclusively on informal on-the-job instruction by a licensed nurse or an experienced aide. Such training may last from several days to a few months. Aides also may attend lectures, workshops, and in-service training.
Where are the Psychiatric Nursing Jobs? -Top of Page-
Nursing and psychiatric aides held about 1.5 million jobs in 2008. Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants held the most jobs—approximately 1.5 million, and psychiatric aides held about 62,500 jobs. About 41 percent of nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants worked in nursing care facilities and another 29 percent worked in hospitals. About 50 percent of all psychiatric aides worked in hospitals. Others were employed in residential care facilities, government agencies, outpatient care centers, and individual and family services.
Psychiatric Nursing Job Opportunities and Outlook -Top of Page-
Overall employment of nursing and psychiatric aides is projected to grow 18 percent between 2008 and 2018, faster than the average for all occupations. However, growth will vary for individual occupations.