1. Follow applicable security protocols and checks (e.g. securing staff and hospital equipment, reporting unknown people in unit)
2. Perform safety checks and watches. including monitoring and observing patients, performing patient counts, and assisting with rounds
3. Use psychological and physical crisis management techniques (including de-escalation) to manage violent or potentially violent situations (considering both patient-on-patient and patient-on-staff violence)
4. When required, restrain patients who are violent or potentially violent (including to themselves) and monitor patients while in restraint and/or isolation
5. Perform safety drills (fire, inclement weather. etc.)
6. Initiate the facility's emergency response system (e.g., activate codes and alarms, notify appropriate supervisory staff of safety or security issues)
7. Respond to alarms and participate in emergency codes (e.g., early response and Dr. Strong codes)
8. Check and maintain integrity of equipment (e.g., adaptive equipment. restraint bags)
9. Perform checks of patients, visitors, living environment, and mail for prohibited items (e.g. illicit substances, weapons, tobacco)

1. Monitor patients' emotional and behavioral condition. listen to their concerns, and report significant changes and/or unusual behavior to other licensed staff (e.g. MD, psychologist, RN, lead psych tech, etc.)
2. Monitor and assess patients for suicidal and self-harm behaviors
3. Provide support during one-on-one therapy sessions and psych visits, when requested by therapists, psychologists, or psychiatrists
4. Lead prescribed group therapy sessions and other therapeutic group activities groups focused on coping skills, anger management, medication management. Substance use recovery/relapse prevention), as allowable under state regulations
5. Assist other behavioral health professionals with running prescribed group therapy sessions and other therapeutic group activities
6. Encourage and facilitate patient participation in groups and group activities
7. Assist patients with modifying and managing their behavior, including by teaching positive coping skills
8. Build rapport with, show empathy to, and provide emotional support to patients
9. Lead morning, group goal setting, and afternoon wrap-up meetings
10. Assist psychologists, counselors, therapists, social workers, and psychiatrists with developing patient treatment plans, including by recommending behavioral interventions based on where patients are in their treatment
11. Gather behavioral health information on new patients to complete admission forms, including interviewing them to assess their mental health status and to obtain their mental health and treatment history

1. Observe, measure, and record the patient's physical condition, including taking pulse, temperature, weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, and body mass index, and other vital signs
2. Report out-of-range vitals, physical ailments, and/or significant changes in a patient's condition to other professional staff (e.g., the in-charge nurses)
3. Listen to patient health concerns and elevate to other professional staff when appropriate
4. Monitor patients after medication is administered, including verifying medication is taken, taking vital signs, and observing for response and side effects
5. Provide basic life support (e.g. CPR, the Heimlich maneuver) when needed
6. Prepare and administer oral and other medications according to physician's prescriptions and facility's procedures, as allowable under state regulations
7. Provide pre-operation and post-operation care
8. Assist with providing therapeutic care, including turning and repositioning patients in bed and performing range of motion exercises
9. Assist with providing care for various medical needs (e.g., diabetic, skin. respiratory, GI, bladder. bowel, wound, and cast care), as allowable under state regulations
10. Assist health care practitioners during examinations, treatments, and labs. as allowable under state regulations
11. Assist with operating diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment (e.g. EKG, IVAC, Sphygmomanometer, scale), as allowable under state regulations
12. Provide medication education to patients and families, including to increase medication adherence

1. Help patients manage personal hygiene (e.g., bathing, personal grooming, oral care, keeping clothes clean)
2. Assist patients with other daily activities (e.g. eating. dressing, toileting, bed making)
3. Monitor and provide for patients' nutritional needs, including assisting with mechanical feeding
4. Assist patients with ambulation
5. Teach patients to use adaptive equipment
6. Teach patients to perform daily activities on their own, to encourage independence and self-reliance
7. Supervise maintenance of living space help patients keep living areas clean and orderly)
8. Assist with laundry care, including managing the clothing and linen exchange

1. Assist with admitting, transferring, and discharging patients
2. Manage communication with patients
3. Provide new patient orientation
4. Accompany patients to appointments, services. and activities on- and off-site (e.g., to rehab visits, day treatment centers, canteen, gym, dining room, library, leisure activities), reducing support as they gain skills and independence
5. Facilitate fresh air breaks
6. Meet weekly with patient to discuss progress
7. Assist with scheduling appointments with other professionals (e.g. physicians, psychiatrists)
8. Assist patients in making their own appointments

1. Assist with providing vocational, social, life skills, financial literacy, leisure, and recreational activities (e.g., helping patients shop, use public transportation, open a bank account)
2. Encourage and facilitate patient participation in vocational, social, life skills, financial literacy, leisure, and recreational activities
3. Assist with facilitating outings (e.g. to the mall, to the grocery store)
4. Provide coaching. mentoring, and guidance to patients to support their overall growth and development
5. Teach strategies to promote patient independence, including by encouraging patients to perform tasks independently
6. Teach patients social skills, including by modeling and reinforcing social norms
7. Teach strategies to promote patient health and wellness (including around sleep, exercise, and nutrition)

1. Complete required reports, notes, and other forms (e.g. shift, incident, and abuse reports: daily/weekly patient notes; documentation of patient property and financial interactions; documentation of patient groups; admission forms)
2. Update and maintain patients' charts, including recording care given, medications administered, patient vital signs, other patient care data, and progress throughout treatment
3. Maintain medical records in applicable systems
4. Collect medical information and history from patients, family members, or other medical professionals
5. Transcribe physician orders, as allowable under state regulations
6. Perform clerical work, as required
7. Maintain inventory of medical supplies, medication, and equipment

1. Follow all facility policies and procedures
2. Maintain all required professional licenses and certifications
3. Attend program and staff meetings
4. Complete facility-mandated training and continuing education as required by the state
5. Maintain patient confidentiality (e.g. ensure HIPAA compliance)
6. Set limits with patients and maintain appropriate boundaries and behavior
7. Participate in various committees (e.g. facility and unit-based committees)
8. Provide mentorship to new employees
9. Participate in process improvement activities

Sample learning objectives: Describe the signs and symptoms of medical emergencies, such as heart attack, stroke, syncope, or seizure and the appropriate emergency response to each to protect the health and safety or save the life of the person suffering a medical emergency. Describe the appropriate treatments that can be used to sustain life and reduce further injury in the event of a burn, laceration, accidental amputation, drug overdose, choking, bone fracture, compound fracture, potential head injury, or potential spinal injury. List the four main categories and seven types of shock, including potential causes for each and the emergency medical response appropriate for people experiencing shock. Demonstrate the ability to determine when to use and how to appropriately use automated external defibrillators. Describe the modifications needed in administering first aid and emergency care to infants and children and demonstrate the ability to appropriately administer first aid or CPR to an infant or child.

Sample learning objectives: Describe the history and origins of the study of psychology. Describe key stages in human development and cognition. Describe the biology of psychology, including the central nervous system and brain function. Explain personality theory and, using case studies, identify how different types of personalities react to stressors, perceive the world around them, and engage in consciousness and self-visualization. Describe the types of physiological disorders often seen in human populations as well as the various treatment modalities used to help people cope with these disorders. Explain the purpose of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) and demonstrate the ability to use the manual understand the signs and symptoms of various mental health disorders or diagnoses. Explain how people can recover from or develop skills to cope with mental health disorders or crises. Discuss the etiology of various developmental disorders, including those that result from genetic abnormalities, accidents or injuries, or drug and alcohol abuse (including fetal exposure or addiction). Explain the etiology of common types of developmental disabilities as well as effective strategies for enabling those with developmental disabilities to optimize their learning and cognitive function and to adapt to the limitations imposed by their disability. Discuss the role of aging on cognition and brain function and describe the types of cognitive dysfunction seen among elderly populations. Discuss the link between mental illness, substance use disorders, and incarceration.

Sample learning objectives: Explain the role of physicians, physician’s assistants, nurses, psych techs, and psychiatric aides in caring for and treating people with mental health disorders or developmental disabilities. Recognize the potential risk factors and warning signs for a range of mental health problems, including depression, anxiety or trauma, psychosis, and psychotic disorders, substance use disorders, and self-injury. Explain the role of talk therapy, including group and individual therapy, and discuss the techniques that psychiatric professionals use to engage people in productive talk therapy. Discuss the role of occupational therapy, music therapy, art therapy, and emotional support animals in treating people with mental illness or developmental disabilities and demonstrate the ability to support the use of these therapies in treating patients. Demonstrate the ability to use appropriate language to communicate clearly with psychiatric patients in inpatient and outpatient treatment centers. Explain techniques used to quickly assess a person’s cognitive abilities and mental health status when first meeting a new patient or when interacting with current patients. Describe the techniques used to ensure safety to patients and care providers when mental health disorders or developmental disabilities result in tendencies to engage in physical altercations or inflict harm on oneself or others. Demonstrate the ability to effectively use deescalation strategies to reduce tension, anger, and anxiety exhibited by patients or their family members. Describe the role of physical restraints and other security protocols to protect patient, staff, and public safety and discuss who has the legal authority to order the use of these devices or protocols and the parameters for their use. Describe the situations in which a psych tech can independently decide to use physical restraints as well as the situations in which the use of restraints must be ordered or approved by a licensed medical professional. Discuss the types of physical, environmental, emotional, interpersonal, and financial stressors that can lead to a mental health crisis, as well as strategies for helping people manage their reactions to those stressors.

Sample learning objectives: Describe the various categories and classes of pharmaceuticals that are used to treat various types of mental health disorders or developmental disabilities, to slow disease progression or related conditions, and to manage the side effects of certain pharmaceutical products. Explain the source of tardive dyskinesia and various ways to treat or help patients manage the symptoms of this pharmaceutically induced disorder. Describe the importance of patient compliance with psychiatric treatment plans, including the use of psychiatric medications and the challenges many patients face in adhering to medication schedules and dosages. Explain the limitations that state scope-of-practice licenses impose on who can prescribe and dispense or administer pharmaceutical products, and the appropriate role of psychiatric aides in dispensing medications or making sure patients are taking the medications dispensed to them. Discuss the complications that can evolve when prescribed pharmaceuticals are mixed with certain over-the-counter medications, alcohol, certain foods, or illicit drugs. Explain the signs and symptoms of pharmacological overdose as well as the emergency actions care providers and others must take to assist people who have intentionally or accidentally consumed excess amounts of prescribed medications, self-administered drugs, or alcohol.

Sample learning objectives: Describe the role of each member of the health care team that may be involved in providing patient care or patient support services. Explain the privacy protections guaranteed to patients by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and discuss strategies used by care providers to maintain compliance with the law. Explain the key responsibilities of a psychiatric aide, psych tech, nurse, nurse practitioner, psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker, physical therapist, an occupational therapist, or a music, art, or dance therapist and the types of patient care or therapeutic activities provided by each, as well as the scope-of-practice restrictions placed on various professionals. Exhibit the ability to communicate clearly, listen actively, and extract key messages or themes from oral and written communication. Explain the importance of medical records and demonstrate the ability to read and interpret clinical notes, or contribute to those notes, as appropriate. Demonstrate the ability to prioritize among competing demands in the clinical setting. Demonstrate the ability to identify the warnings signs of patients who may pose a threat to themselves or others, and describe strategies for managing and diffusing anger or tension in such situations. Describe the types of direct care that psychiatric aides, nursing assistants, or psych techs often provide to patients as well as the techniques and assistive devices available to help in providing assistance with bathing, toileting, oral care, eating, transferring from bed to a chair or wheelchair, and ambulating. Describe the role of private health insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, and other health care resources in providing treatment, therapy, or assistance to people with mental health or developmental disorders. Describe the laws intended to protect patient privacy, ensure the rights of patients in making decisions about their own health care, and, in the event of a mental health crises, enable family members or medical practitioners to commit a person to inpatient care against their will. Describe the importance of ethics in medicine and engage in role-playing and case studies to demonstrate the ability to make ethical choices when confronted with challenging situations.

Sample learning objectives: Describe the role of nursing assistants in providing patient care, including in feeding, ambulating, personal hygiene, bedmaking, etc. Describe the proper way to help a patient move in a bed, move from a bed to a chair, ambulate using an assistive device, or ambulate independently. Explain the importance of using correct body mechanics when lifting or moving patients to protect the provider from personal injury. Explain the importance of using personal protective devices, such as gowns, masks, gloves, face shields, and safety glasses, when working with patients to protect against the spread of transmissible diseases and to provide personal safety to health care workers. Demonstrate the ability to select and appropriately use personal protective devices based on a patient’s diagnosis or other factors. Explain the basic function of the main systems in the body, including the circulatory, respiratory, urinary, digestive, neurological, musculoskeletal, endocrine, and reproductive systems. Name the types of physicians that specialize in the care of each system and the types of diseases they commonly treat. Explain the importance of accurately measuring pulse, respiratory rate, temperature, and blood pressure levels as well as the normal ranges for each in adult, pediatric, and neonatal patients. Describe the importance of routine laboratory tests, such as the complete blood count, respiratory gas analysis, urinalysis, and blood glucose testing as well as normal and abnormal results for each. Describe the theory behind measuring blood pressure and the normal blood pressure ranges for infants, children, adults, and the elderly—such as what are common reasons for abnormally high or low blood pressure and what actions should be taken by nursing assistants when an abnormal reading is obtained. Explain normal temperature ranges for adult, neonatal, pediatric, and elderly patients, and based on the method used to obtain body temperature (oral, rectal, body strip, digital devices, etc.), describe the action a nursing assistant should take when an abnormal body temperature reading is obtained. Explain the importance of good personal and oral hygiene and techniques used by nursing assistants to provide assistance or direct care to patients to maintain good oral and personal hygiene. Describe the techniques used to maintain patient modesty and privacy while bathing or dressing a patient, and describe the techniques used during bathing to examine a patient for bedsores, skin lesions, and other signs of skin degradation or damage. Explain techniques used to avoid, minimize, and treat bedsores and other lesions associated with prolonged time in bed. Explain the purpose of nasogastric tubes, chest tubes, urinary catheters, hyperalimentation lines and IV ports, the ways in which each is cleaned and maintained, and ways to detect obstructions or malfunctions of these devices that should be reported to the nurse or supervisor. Describe the unique treatments, examinations, or care that must be provided to postsurgical patients, postpartum patients, and those who have experienced significant trauma. Describe the stages of death and the signs and symptoms commonly observed among dying patients. Explain the proper procedures to follow when a patient expires. Describe the signs and symptoms of a myocardial infarct, cerebrovascular accident, and syncope and the steps that should be taken if a nursing assistant suspects that a patient is experiencing one of these phenomena.

Sample learning objectives: Describe the impact of substance abuse on cognitive function and behavior as well as the reasons people may engage in substance use and abuse. Describe the signs and symptoms commonly associated with substance use and abuse. List the types of substances that are commonly used and abused as well as the sources of obtaining these substances. Describe the role of fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal drug addiction on the well-being of a developing fetus, on labor and delivery, on the physical development of a fetus, and on the cognitive development of an infant, child, or adult. Discuss the physical and psychological symptoms patients commonly experience when going through substance abuse withdrawal and the techniques used to minimize or help patients cope with those symptoms. Describe the theory behind drug and alcohol cessation programs, such as 12-step programs and other behavior modification programs and discuss the process by which people engage in these programs. Describe the types of emotional and physical support that family, friends, and professional caregivers can provide to assist a person in ending substance abuse and addiction. Describe the techniques patients commonly use to avoid taking medications. Discuss the pharmaceuticals often used in treating substance abuse, as well as the side effects of those medications and the risk of intended or unintended overdose. Describe the roles of substance abuse counselors, social workers, physicians, nursing assistants, psychiatric aides, and psych techs in providing care for those who engage in substance abuse. Describe strategies for complying with HIPAA and other legal requirements regarding patient rights and patient privacy.