Do Mental Health Technicians do the same work as CNA's?

[Lady In Pink]

Would a Mental Health Technician have to be a CNA? Do they perform the same duties as a CNA?

[MSUOUgirl]

Mental Health techs are akin to PCAs but our employer requires them to have experience with psych patients (we are high acuity) and usually have a bachelors degree in something relevant. They are not licensed and have not completed education that CNAs have done. A regular non-med psych floor usually does not require that much CNA duties. Unfortunately it seems this trend in shifting into them admitting psych patients with medical problems that need a lot of attention to complete ADLs, cannot walk etc. How well they are trained once they are on the unit is key because it seems they are completing more and more CNA-type duties.

[Hygiene Queen]

I worked on a geropsych unit. We hired actual CNA's and preferred that they had eldercare (especially dementia type) experience prior to working with us. We called them PCT's. They worked along side the BHA's, who were staff that had a bachelor's and would run the groups.

The PCT's took care of ADL's, but the BHA's were expected to help with this (as did the nurses when we could). Our setting was like a mini nursing home.

When our PCT's floated to other units, there was not much they could do besides q15 minute rounds and 1:1's. Booooooring!

They also collected specimens, ran exercise and game groups, assisted in codes and escorted patients to the medical facility for tests and treatments.

EDIT: I see the original post is sorta old, but maybe it'll help someone else out!