|
PCI PSYCHIATRIC ASSISTANT PROGRAM OVERVIEW
|
| Psychiatric Assistants assist in the professional
care and treatment of the mentally ill, developmentally disabled and those
in recovery from addictions. Graduates are employed in a variety of mental
health treatment centers and social service organizations. Please Note:
The Psychiatric Assistant training program is only available at the Dallas
Campus Location. |
|
COURSE CURRICULUM, TRAINING AND SKILLS LEARNED
|
|
|
THE STUDENT WILL HAVE
AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES, NORMAL AND ABNORMAL PARENTAL
BONDING/PRENATAL ISSUES, CHILD ABUSE, ADOLESCENT & ELDER DRUG USE/ABUSE,
AND THE FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME. ALSO INCLUDED WILL BE AN INTRODUCTION TO
PSYCHOGERONTOLOGY AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES. |
|
|
THE STUDENT WILL LEARN ABOUT STRESS AND
ANXIETY AND THEIR ROLES IN THE VARIOUS MENTAL DISORDERS PLUS GAIN INSIGHTS
INTO WOMEN'S ISSUES. TRAINING WILL ALSO INCLUDE CERTAIN ADDICTIONS, GROUP
THERAPY & GROUP PROCESS SKILLS, AND AN INTRODUCTION TO VARIOUS PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC
APPROACHES. THE STUDENT WILL ALSO OBTAIN A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF PSYCHIATRIC
DISORDERS. |
|
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND EATING
DISORDERS
|
|
STUDENTS WILL BECOME FAMILIAR WITH ALCOHOLISM,
CHEMICAL/ALCOHOL ABUSE, AND TREATMENT PROCESSES. THE STUDENT WILL LEARN
ABOUT VARIOUS EATING DISORDERS AND THEIR TREATMENT, PLUS GAIN KNOWLEDGE
OF SEXUAL, PHYSICAL, AND DOMESTIC ABUSE AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES.
|
|
|
INCLUDED IN THIS UNIT ARE CPR CERTIFICATION
PROCEDURES, EMERGENCY FIRST AID, UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS, VITAL SIGNS, HIV
& STD KNOWLEDGE, AND SUICIDALITY. ALSO INCLUDED ARE MEDICAL ETHICS, CONSUMER
RIGHTS AND HOSPITALIZATION, NEGLECT ISSUES, AND AGGRESSIVE PATIENT MANAGEMENT
TECHNIQUES. |
|
|
THE STUDENT WILL LEARN ABOUT HISTORY/ ASSESSMENT
EVALUATIONS, PLUS DOCUMENTATION PROCEDURES INCLUDING PROGRESS NOTES, TREATMENT
PLANS, TREATMENT OPTIONS, ADMISSION/DISCHARGE FORMS, AND REFERRALS. ALSO
INCLUDED WILL BE BASIC COMPUTER KNOWLEDGE AND OPERATION. |
|
MEDICATIONS AND TREATMENT
|
|
IN ADDITION TO LEARNING ABOUT THE CENTRAL
NERVOUS SYSTEM AND NEUROPHYSIOLGY, THE STUDENT WILL BECOME FAMILIAR WITH
THE THERAPEUTIC MEDICATIONS, PRINCIPALS INVOLVED IN DRUG THERAPY, PLUS WITHDRAWAL
SYMPTOMS AND RELAPSE PREVENTION. ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS SECTION IS RESUME
DEVELOPMENT AND JOB INTERVIEW SKILLS. |
|
SELF AWARENESS AND COMMUNICATION
|
|
THE STUDENT WILL LEARN THE CONCEPT OF SELF
AWARENESS, MULTI-CULTURAL DIVERSITY, PRINCIPALS OF VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL
COMMUNICATION, AND A HISTORY OF THE TREATMENT OF THE MENTALLY ILL, TERMINOLOGY
AND TECHNIQUES. ALSO INCLUDED WILL BE THE STUDY OF ADDICTIONS COUNSELING
AND ITS FUNCTION, AS WELL AS THE STUDENTS' DEVELOPMENT OF NETWORKING SKILLS. |
|
|
THE STUDENT WILL HAVE A REVIEW OF PRACTICAL
EXPERIENCE IN A PSYCHIATRIC / MENTAL HEALTH SETTING UNDER THE SUPERVISION
OF QUALIFIED PERSONNEL. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE POLICIES ARE ENFORCED DURING THE
STUDENTS' EXTERNSHIP. THE DIRECTOR OF PLACEMENT MUST APPROVE THE EXTERNSHIP
SITE. |
