Psych Tech Position

[FirstIn]

I have been monitoring the boards for a while, but this is my first post. Glad to be participating!

I am an EMT who just accepted a Psych Tech position at a psychiatric emergency room. I start in two weeks. Are there any EMT's or Medics on the boards that have done this sort of job or who have come unto contact with psych techs, and who can tell me what they know about this position?

Also, what do psych techs typically wear? EMS type clothing? Scrubs? I realize I will learn all of this during my orientation but I would love some insight from those EMT's and Medics who frequent this board. Thanks, and happy to join and be a part of EMTLife.

 

[Sublime]

Pysch techs will be wearing scrubs like all other hospital staff involved in patient care.

If it's anything like the hospital I worked at, pysch techs are sort of like enforcers lol. When the patients starts acting up the techs are the ones who have to hold them down and put on the restraints ect.

Otherwise expect to use none of your EMT training except maybe taking vital signs.

 

[Tigger]

Pysch techs will be wearing scrubs like all other hospital staff involved in patient care.

If it's anything like the hospital I worked at, pysch techs are sort of like enforcers lol. When the patients starts acting up the techs are the ones who have to hold them down and put on the restraints ect.

Otherwise expect to use none of your EMT training except maybe taking vital signs.

Friends that worked as psych techs report that they do pretty much all the physical restraining, vital signs (if no RN present), room checks and property searches, and general monitoring. If a patient needs to go to the ED, one of them will accompany the patient if possible, especially if they are going to be transferred from a local ED to a tertiary center.