Unit Secretary - 7N - Kidney Transplant - FT - Nights - Augusta, GA

About the role

How would you like to work in a place where your contributions and ideas are valued? A place where you can serve with compassion, pursue excellence and honor every voice? At Wellstar, our mission is simple, yet powerful: to enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve. We are proud to have become a shining example of what's possible when the brightest professionals dedicate themselves to making a difference in the healthcare industry, and in people's lives.

Job Summary: The Unit Secretary functions under the direction of the Nurse Manager and Assistant Nurse Manager to facilitate the provision of safe, age appropriate and culturally aware patient care by performing clerical and receptionist functions including computer order entry, retrieval of data, maintaining unit supplies, transporting supplies/equipment/patient medications, preparing and maintaining patient charts, providing customer service and acting as the central communication source on the nursing unit.

Responsibilities

• Excellence in Customer Service: partner with health care team, patient and family; protect rights and dignity of patient; build relationships with family; maintain confidentiality; participate in hourly patient rounding; maintain paper medical record and scan documents into electronic medical record as necessary; resolve patient concerns; proactively offer assistance and comfort measures; present self positively and professionally; show sensitivity to concerns and needs of others.
• Patient Centered Care: answer telephone calls and patient call lights; communicate patient needs to healthcare team; facilitate patient admission, transfer and discharge; track bed activity and notify housekeeping of discharge; assist in unit flow management during code situations; request patient escort when appropriate; facilitate direct admission; monitor data entry for key patient safety information.
• Team Work: support initiatives of health care team; participate in interdisciplinary rounds as scribe and facilitate outcome activities; perform charge reconciliation; notify nurse when physician has arrived; perform audits as requested; perform staffing reconciliation in Smart Square; complete and submit supply requisitions; accept and stock deliveries; place orders for durable medical equipment; participate in unit performance improvement initiatives; support professional nursing practice through shared governance, evidence‑based practice and ethical accountability; transport unit supplies, patient care supplies, medications and equipment as assigned; practice accountability.
• Communication: use effective written and oral communication with patients, staff, physicians, family and visitors; use safety communication techniques; place physician and ancillary consults; maintain computer and IT equipment; report malfunctioning devices; act as liaison between patients and diagnostic areas to determine anticipated test/procedure times; communicate with patient and update white boards; be knowledgeable and act as unit expert regarding patient care documentation tools during downtime; serve as unit super user for electronic documentation; facilitate data recovery during downtime; communicate patient care concerns/problems/emergencies to RN; use positive and respectful communication with all members of healthcare team, patients and families.
• Safety and Infection Control: provide a safe environment for unit operations; consistently use appropriate hand hygiene; keep patient rooms and unit areas clean and free of clutter; follow appropriate PPE/infection control policies; reinforce universal precautions with patient and family; operate Xenex machines after patient discharge; perform environment of care rounds; perform other duties as assigned; comply with all Wellstar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.

Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma / GED
• Licenses/Certifications: All certifications are required upon hire unless otherwise stated.
• Experience: Less than 1 year clinical experience in acute care setting (preferred)
• Skills: Ability to read, write and speak English; strong customer service and interpersonal skills; ability to collaborate with other health care providers; ability to multi‑task; ability to function in stressful and emergency situations; strong detail orientation; computer skills; personal time management; basic computer skills; ability to enter information into an electronic medical record; basic medical terminology.