Psychiatric Technician I​/II

Psychiatric Technician I/II Job Highlights

• Administer medication
• Assist in maintaining a therapeutic environment
• Provide patient education

The position is located at 720 Wood Street in Eureka, CA.

A typical schedule for this position is 12-hour shifts,  and  with one 4-hour shift.

This is a continuous recruitment and Human Resources reserves the right to close this recruitment at any time.

Under general supervision, provides technical nursing and psychiatric care for in-patient and day treatment, mentally ill and emotionally disturbed patients; collaborates with other medical staff and interdisciplinary health treatment teams to evaluate and prepare treatment plans; assists with day treatment programming; performs related work as assigned.

Psychiatric Technician I is the entry level class in this series. Initially under close supervision, the incumbents perform the more routine technical nursing duties while learning County policies and procedures. This class is alternately staffed with Psychiatric Technician II and incumbents may advance to the higher level after gaining experience and demonstrating proficiency which meet the qualifications of the higher level class.

Psychiatric Technician II is the journey level class in the series, fully competent to perform responsible and difficult patient assessments and prepare patient treatment plans for the mentally ill in out-patient, in-patient or after-care settings. This class is distinguished from Psychiatric Nurse in that the latter provides professional nursing services requiring licensure as a Registered Nurse.

• Assesses patients upon admission to unit, evaluates patient needs for emergency medical treatment and/or emergency psychiatric medication, and makes presentation of physical and mental condition findings to attending physicians.
• Manages assaultive behavior of patients and places difficult patients in seclusion and/or restraints, as ordered by a physician.
• Participates as a team member in developing patient care plans and informs appropriate medical support staff of patient needs.
• Observes and charts vital signs, assists patients with personal hygiene activities, collects samples for routine lab tests, and performs facility house cleaning, cooking and other household living tasks.
• Administers oral and hypodermic medications and observes and records their effects; obtains and transcribes appropriate orders from physician to facilitate patient treatment.
• May serve as case coordinator for assigned patients or clients.
• Performs crisis intervention, in person and over the phone, to provide support and assistance in problem resolution and to coordinate or arrange for the provision of needed services.
• Provides supportive services in a psychiatric health facility or a day treatment center including various group activities such as exercise and art; monitors patient adjustment and progress.
• Transports patients to other facilities, doctor's appointments or related activities.
• Maintains accurate records and files; documents patient progress and procedures performed.
• Confers with medical, clinical, and inter‑agency staff regarding patient needs and ways of improving staff's ability to impact on patients.
• Develops communications with agencies specifically related to after‑care as needed.
• Performs charge duties on limited basis including: accepts report from previous shift, makes appropriate notes on charts, writes medication orders, reviews charts for completeness, assigns duties and oversees staff on assigned shift, and serves as liaison with on-call physician.

• Principles and practices of general and psychiatric nursing care, as defined by the State of California licensing requirements.
• Techniques for dealing with disturbed individuals and/or their families.
• Medical and psychiatric terminology and first aid methods and procedures.
• Psychotropic medicines, including narcotics, and their side‑effects.
• Standard medical record‑keeping, including patient charting and the processing and maintenance of required documentation.
• Standard office administrative practices and procedures.
• Basic…