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Pre-Licensed Psychiatric Technician (8233)

Pre-Licensed Psychiatric Technician

California State Personnel Board Specification

  • Schematic Code: TL65
  • Class Code: 8233
  • Established: 01/21/1970
  • Revised: 03/07/1995
  • Title Changed: --

Definition

Under direct supervision, in a State hospital for the mentally or developmentally disabled, to assist in providing basic general behavioral and psychiatric nursing care; to assist licensed staff in the overall treatment program; and to do other related work.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The classification of Pre-Licensed Psychiatric Technician is a temporary classification in the Psychiatric Technician series. Incumbents must have been graduated from a training program for Psychiatric Technicians accredited by the California Board of Vocational Nurse and Psychiatric Technician Examiners or must have been accepted by that Board to take the licensing examination. All positions in this class are established for a period not to exceed nine months and all appointments are made on a temporary basis. Incumbents will be required to become licensed by the California Board of Vocational Nurse and Psychiatric Technician Examiners within this nine-month period of time.

Typical Tasks

Assists in providing basic general behavioral and psychiatric nursing care to mentally or developmentally disabled voluntary, involuntary or judicially committed clients; works with other disciplines as part of the treatment team to assist in providing an overall treatment program for the client; under direct supervision, assists the medical and licensed nursing personnel who are administering treatments including urinary catheterizations, enemas and taking and charting temperature, pulse, blood pressure and respiration; observes clients' physical condition and behavior and reports significant changes to unit supervisor or physician; helps to create a safe and therapeutic environment for clients; applies mental health principles in all relationships with clients; assists in the motivation of clients to develop self-reliance in daily living; assists with the development of, encourages participation in and supervises on-the-unit group and individual program activities for clients; assists other disciplines in occupational, recreational, vocational and educational therapy programs for clients; assists with client feeding, habit training, and maintaining a well-groomed appearance; keeps clients and their beds, clothing, and living areas clean; follows safe practices; protects clients from personal injuries; receives visitors and encourages their interest in the client's welfare; escorts clients on the hospital grounds and to and from the community; orders supplies as needed; keeps records; participates in in-service training programs.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Completion of a Psychiatric Technician training program accredited by the California Board of Vocational Nurse and Psychiatric Technician Examiners. (Equivalent study and training may be substituted for the required accredited training if such study and training has been accepted by the California Board of Vocational Nurse and Psychiatric Technician Examiners as qualifying for the Psychiatric Technician licensing examination.)

Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of: Technical skills and specific knowledge required of a Psychiatric Technician, such as are required by means of a prescribed course in an accredited program of Psychiatric Technician training.

 

Ability to: Perform assigned nursing duties.

Special Personal Characteristics

An interest and willingness to work in a State hospital; alertness; patience; tolerance; tact; emotional stability; neat personal appearance; hearing and vision required for successful job performance.

Drug Testing Requirement

Applicants for positions in this class are required to pass a drug screening test. Testing of current employees who are applicants in an examination or who are transferring is permitted only if the person does not have a current appointment to a class for which drug testing is a requirement.

  Updated: 6/3/2012
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