Nursing Unit Clerk Overview Are you up for a truly challenging career in the healthcare field? Consider becoming a Nursing Unit Clerk. The Nursing Unit Clerk position was created during World War II out of need to relieve nursing staff of the many administrative duties associated with providing patient care. This allowed the nurse more time at the bedside. Nursing Unit Clerks, originally known as ward clerks, act as the anchors of patient care departments. The Nursing Unit Clerk focus is on the non-clinical tasks of the department, and delivering and communicating the physician’s orders with the nursing staff and the other departments (laboratory, diagnostic imaging, pharmacy, dietary, and therapies). Without the unit coordinator, the nursing staff would be unable to complete their duties. Depending on the health care environment, Nursing Unit Clerks may also be referred to as Nursing Unit Coordinators, Nursing Unit Assistants or Health Unit Coordinators. The Stenberg College Nursing Unit Clerk Diploma Program will provide you all the skills necessary for employment as a Unit Clerk in a British Columbia hospital, including software program training. Our graduates are highly regarded and have found employment throughout the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health Regions, as well as within other provincial health authorities. Keep reading to learn more... Typical Job Duties Most Nursing Unit Clerks work in hospitals, assisting staff by performing a wide range of clerical tasks to ensure the efficient operation of the hospital unit. Following are examples of some typical job duties: Processing physicians’ orders for all patient care, such as medications, activity, parenteral therapy, nutrition, rehabilitation therapy, social work, and home care Preparing charts and expediting pre- and post-operative diagnostic tests Responding to calls and directing resources Gathering, summarizing, and organizing data for a variety of reports Assembling and maintaining patient charts from admission to discharge Receiving and recording telephoned laboratory and diagnostic results, and notifying appropriate medical staff of these results Processing patient orders, requests for examinations, and other ancillary services, such as x-rays, laboratory tests, and transportation Ordering and maintaining office equipment inventory Coordinating patient admissions, transfers, and discharges Maintaining nursing and medication files Word processing, data entry, and using a variety of software applications The work can be stressful. You’ll be expected to juggle a variety of tasks, so you’ll need the ability to work under pressure and work with minimal supervision. You should also be able to take initiative, prioritize, and meet deadlines. Part of your job will require interacting with patients’ visitors. Therefore, you’ll need to demonstrate the ability to deal tactfully and professionally with patients, staff, and co-workers. You will also need to maintain confidentiality and communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. Potential Employers As a nursing unit clerk, you could find opportunities for employment in a: Hospital Extended, intermediate, or long-term care facility Private surgical clinic Wages and Career Outlook Career outlook is steady throughout the health regions in British Columbia. The Nursing Unit Clerk is an integral part of the healthcare team. Skilled Nursing Unit Clerks who meet employment-testing requirements continue to find work in various facilities. In British Columbia, wages are negotiated by the Hospital Employees Union as outlined in the collective agreement. Based on employment statistics gathered by Stenberg College, the average wage of students who completed the Nursing Unit Clerk program and are working in their field of study is $20.77 per hour, plus 12.2 percent in lieu of benefits. A Nursing Unit Clerk graduating from Stenberg College is qualified for employment in other provinces within Canada. As a graduate, you will also be able to seek a professional designation in the United States as a Certified Health Unit Coordinator. Please see the National Association of Health Unit Coordinators for more details. The following list shows some other sources for career research. By no means is this a comprehensive list, but it is a place to start: BC Work Futures Fraser Health Authority Vancouver Coastal Health Provincial Government Jobbank Ontario Job Futures Alberta Occupational Profiles Is This Program for You? It is if you: have an excellent command of English, both spoken and written would enjoy working in an office environment where the work is largely clerical are comfortable working in a unionized environment following strict job descriptions can handle a stressful job, which is often described as "being in the middle of a storm” Duration and Financing Duration: 37 weeks including a practicum Financing: You could be eligible for ELMS funding, government student loans and other financing options; the Stenberg College Financial Aid Officer would be happy to provide further assistance. Program Entrance Requirements Completion of Grade 12 or equivalent Passing Entrance Examination with a score of 70% or more Successful completion of a short written essay Passing Verbal Test of English (if English is a Second Language) Passing formal entrance interview with a score of 70% or more Minimum typing speed of 30 wpm Students must provide the following to their Program Advisor prior to program start: Acceptable criminal record check Acceptable medical examination report Negative TB test report or clear chest X-ray Immunizations as required by industry at time of application Quick Links: Nursing Unit Clerk: Program Courses Nursing Unit Clerk: Top Reasons to Choose Stenberg

Nursing Unit Clerk Fraser Health Interior Health National Association of Health Unit Coordinators Northern Health Provincial Health Services Vancouver Coastal Health Vancouver Island Health