MCCCD Program Description

Psychiatric Technician Overview

Course: NCE103

First Term: 2016 Spring

Lecture 2 Credit(s) 2 Period(s) 2 Load
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: S- Standard

Description: Students learn to care for patients with a wide variety of mental illness to include anxiety, mood, personality and psychotic disorders, as well as post-traumatic stress syndrome and behavioral issues. Psychiatric technicians follow physician/nurse instructions and hospital procedures. Identification of modalities to monitor patient`s mental and emotional status, physical symptoms related to mental disorders, and recognition of medication side effects. A variety of therapies will be covered to include rehabilitation and treatment programs, as well as recreational activities used as treatment options.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Compare and contrast the basic care of patients with mental health disorders and patients with post-traumatic stress syndrome and behavioral issues. (I, II) 2. Identify the characteristics of common psychiatric disorders. (III) 3. Describe side effects that can be observed from common psychiatric medications. (IV) 4. Display an understanding and respect for the diversity of cultures, races, genders and sexual orientation among patients. (VI) 5. Discuss the role of the psychiatric technician in educational, recreational and therapeutic activities. (V) 6. Demonstrate an understanding of life cycle (developmental) psychiatric disorders in the young and older adult patient. (VII) 7. Define strategies when dealing with a violent patient. (VIII) 8. Review reporting and documentation of care for the mentally ill patient. (VIII) 9. Discuss treatment options available for the mentally ill patient. (IX)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Common mental health disorders II. Developmental health disorders III. Characteristics of common mental health disorders IV. Psychiatric Medication overview A. Observation of Side effects, adverse effects of medications V. Therapeutic Activities A. Educational B. Recreational C. Role of the Psychiatric Technician in therapies VI. Cultural, racial, gender and sexual orientation variations VII. Psychiatric disorders across the lifespan A. Pediatric patients B. Adolescent C. Geriatric VIII. Violent patient guidelines A. Procedures and legalities B. Role of the technician IX. Medical treatments for the mentally ill A. Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) B. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) C. Other brain stimulation therapies

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: November 24, 2015

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.