psychiatric technician

food service associate

Patton State Hospital

Provide basic level of general and psychiatric nursing care,supervised and provided groups and activities including unit routine. Provided structure, and assisted in maintaining therapeutic milieu, exercised the use of therapeutic intervention, crisis intervention and de-escalation as necessary, daily charting, weekly summaries, vital signs, glucose monitoring, escorts as necessary, grounds presence.

I learned the value of team work, respect of my co-workers and the individuals we served. Each day varied in some way or another, however I learned the importance of being vigilant, dependable, and reliable.

Management was hands on and quite involved, they participated in the unit activities and crisis. I found my particular management fairly understanding and supportive.

Workplace culture was supportive, reliable, and we worked as a team in most cases. There was a level of professional respect.

The hardest part of the job would be the shake downs, the crisis, the medical emergencies, and the deaths of both some of your co-workers due to illness or some other fatal circumstance, and also the death of an individual. Even though it's apart of life it's sometimes hard.

The most enjoyable part of the job is being involved and witnessing the growth and rehabilitation of individuals served. As well as seeing the growth and advancement of my co-workers.

Patton is a strange place.  Decisions made by administrators, program directors, managers and supervisors often seem like the opposite of what would work well.  They also don’t know how to utilize data to inform important decisions such as staffing of the units.  They see nursing staff as expendable and actually refer to them as “bodies”.  Many of the staff end up seeing themselves and co-workers as just “bodies” as well.  A few years ago the Bosses decided it was not a licensing violation to decrease the number of nursing staff on a unit or shift.   So they did it, even though it was dangerous for patients and staff and reduced the quality of care for patients.  They were not shy about saying they don’t care.  This change did not change the freakishly large number of mandatory overtime shifts staff had to work.  Nursing Staff is treated poorly at Patton.  

A typical day at work included answering phones, inputting medical records into databases, scheduling patient appointments, faxing documents, filing paperwork, making corrections to Administrative and Nursing policies, doing the minutes for meetings, etc. I feel that I learned a lot of things dealing with the medical field because I scheduled appointments and dealt with a lot of medical and confidential paper work. I feel that working at Patton, a mental hospital, it gave me a lot of experience with working in an office. The co-workers i met were amazing and were very helpful when I first started there. With their help I was able to catch on to everything at a very fast pace. My boss was very welcoming and was very appreciative for all the hard work that I put in for the two years I was there. I'm not sure what the hardest part of the job was because I am a very quick learner and it wasn't too difficult for me to learn the things I needed to learn. The most enjoyable part of the job was working with all my amazing co-workers.

This place has it's pros and cons.
I love the pay and benefits they are top notch. Work environment depends on what unit you are on. Overall most of the units are organized and the staff is cool. Some units are not as organized with not so friendly staff. 
My main Con I would say would have to be the hospital mandates. They are bad. Every week you can be mandated up to 2x ( some times more during the holidays) a week for another 8 hour shift. It's like you practically live here. 
 I'm on the fence when it comes to upper management. They pretty much leave you alone if you are an easy going person who follows the rules without questioning, but if you question something or challenge them, they will come for your neck in a heartbeat. A bit of nepotism if you want to advance. Everyone in upper management or recieves a promotion are practically related or all best friends  to one another. Just my observation. Patients range from well behaved, to quite dangerous which also depends on what unit. Overall the job is okay, but the mandates are what make it overall not so good. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
It's a different environment good working and a little challenging place to work also co workers are helpful and you form a tight bond it's a great place to work .

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
It's stressful at times but no matter what company or what profession your in there is stress but this place it's the patients there diffrent and will stress you out at times.  

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Environment is fast past at times  depends on the mood of some patients , culture is something you need to hear and feel from others and you will when working there  

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Well it's what you make of it your attitude how you feel the company is always there for you and they will help you through out the day no matter the situation there excellent.

Very dangerous environment. Very old facility and the buildings were not build to hold prisoners. Sometimes the keys do not work well which makes it very unsafe in patient areas. Management is horrible they are the type of people who got their position from stepping on others. Management is located far away from the patient units and are out of touch for what is actually going on. Employees get assaulted often especially the psych techs. Patton is not a safe work environment and for your own safety do not become complacent. 
Individuals with lower degrees such as associates have supervisor positions that oversee staff who have higher educational backgrounds. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
Access to Easily Double yearly pay, Overtime is not only Always available, but MANDATED on a regular basis.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Mandates to work extra shifts at least twice a week

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Depends on which Unit your on as to how deep the issues run there is a Racially DiVISIVE nature at Patton, that is IMPOSSIBLE for Management to hide as they are FULL SCALE Participants in these sometimes poisonous RACIALLY Divided Unit & Program atmosphere's.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Shift change report SOMETIMES,taking responsibility of the Unit ,24* Med checks, Rounds, possible PRN's

Now retired came from another state  facility.  Patton is all about who you know, hard work is paid off by watching your back, if you are not in the know or a family member expect to work hard and not reap benefits. Be aware you work for state, expect unrealistic rules and know if you have family that is no concern to Patton also you WILL be mandated often especially if you are not in the above category I previously mentioned. Patients run campus and if it is an issue between patients and staff you administration backs patients. Positives good benefits ok pay, overtime if wish, there are great people who work at PHS but know it is an old facility ran by the know who have been deep rooted for decades.

A typical day would start with filling orders for all the units of the hospital. Once that was completed we would deliver the medications to all the different units. During delivery all employees are required to wear a whistle along with there badge.The hospital houses serious psychiatric patients that have committed serious and violent crimes all staff must be constantly aware of there surroundings. My manager and co-workers were always helpful if any issues did arrive. The most enjoyable part of the job was working with a great staff and knowing that I was part of job that was necessary.

I exhibit exceptional interpersonal skills amongst my peers, supervisors, managers, as well as the public. I am able to utilize good judgment in analyzing and resolving various challenges.  Responsible for accounting for all food, clothes, and other items necessary to the proper care of the patients assigned to the facility
 Check (Search & X-Ray) patient property for contraband and other illegal or dangerous objects
 Collect and prepare receipt for monies

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Psychiatric technician 1 salary reported	$64,000 per year
Food service associate 1 salary reported	$1,900 per month

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