Unit Secretary - Acute Care - Neuro - Full-Time Day Shift

Wellstar North Fulton Hospital has an opportunity for a Unit Secretary on a full-time day shift.

Overview

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. These include 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
  • Partners with healthcare team, patient, and family to protect rights and dignity of the patient at all times.
  • Builds relationships with the family and maintains confidentiality.
  • Participates in hourly patient rounding.
  • Maintains paper medical records and scans documents into the electronic medical record as necessary.
  • Resolves patient concerns and proactively offers assistance and comfort measures.
  • Presents self in a positive and professional manner, showing sensitivity to concerns and needs of others.
• Patient-Centered Care
  • Answers telephone calls and patient call lights, communicating patient needs to the healthcare team.
  • Facilitates patient admission, transfer, and discharge as appropriate.
  • Tracks bed activity and notifies housekeeping of patient discharge.
  • Assists in unit flow management during code situations (e.g., answers call lights).
  • Requests patient escort when appropriate and facilitates patient direct admission.
  • Monitors data entry for key patient safety information.
• Team Work
  • Supports initiatives of the healthcare team and participates in interdisciplinary rounds as a scribe.
  • Performs charge reconciliation and notifies nurses when physicians arrive on the unit.
  • Performs audits as requested and completes staffing reconciliation in Smart Square.
  • Completes and submits supply requisitions, accepts and stocks delivery.
  • Places orders for durable medical equipment and participates in unit performance improvement initiatives.
  • Supports professional nursing practice through shared governance, evidence-based practice, and ethical accountability.
  • Transports unit supplies, patient care supplies, medications, and equipment as assigned.
  • Practices 200% accountability.
• Communication
  • Uses effective written and oral communication skills with patients, staff, physicians, family, and visitors.
  • Uses safety communication techniques and places physician and ancillary consults.
  • Maintains computer and other related IT equipment, reporting issues as needed.
  • Acts as liaison between patients and diagnostic areas to determine anticipated times for tests/procedures.
  • Updates whiteboards with information and maintains expertise in patient care documentation tools during downtime.
  • Serves as unit super user for electronic documentation and facilitates data recovery during downtime.
  • Communicates patient care concerns/problems/emergencies to the RN.
  • Uses positive and respectful communication with all members of the healthcare team, patients, and families.
• Safety and Infection Control
  • Provides a safe environment for unit operations and consistently uses appropriate hand hygiene.
  • Keeps patient rooms and unit areas clean and free of clutter.
  • Follows appropriate PPE/infection control policies and reinforces universal precautions with patients and families.
  • Operates Xenex machines after patient discharge and performs environment of care rounds.
• Performs other duties as assigned and complies with all WellStar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.

Qualifications

• Required Minimum Education: High school diploma or equivalent from an accredited program.
• Required Minimum Experience: Less than 1 year of clinical experience in an acute care setting (preferred).
• Required Minimum Skills:
  • Ability to read, write, and speak the English language.
  • Strong customer service and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to collaborate with other healthcare providers in the provision of patient care.
  • Ability to multi-task and function in stressful and emergency situations.
  • Strong detail orientation and computer skills.
  • Personal time management skills.
  • Basic medical terminology.
• Required Minimum License(s) and Certification(s):
  • Basic computer skills required.
  • Ability to enter information into an electronic medical record.