Ward Clerk/Unit Secretary U

Bronx, New York • Grant funded • Bargaining Unit 1199

About the Role

The Unit Secretary is responsible for the flow of information within and between units and among members of the patient care team. Additionally, the unit secretary functions as a receptionist while performing secretarial and routine administrative duties. The primary role includes integrity and maintenance of the medical record from admission to discharge, ordering supplies, and coordination of patient movement on the assigned unit. Utilizes effective interpersonal skills to communicate and collaborate with the Interdisciplinary Care Team.

Responsibilities

• Provides assistance/supervision during activities of daily living such as eating, bathing, and ambulating for neonatal, pediatric, adolescent, adult, or elderly patients.
• Meets hygiene and grooming needs of patients including bathing, shaving, hair care, oral care, and perineal care.
• Assists with patient mobility through range-of-motion exercises, ambulation, transfers, and application of splints or braces.
• Participates in maintaining skin integrity through pressure-relieving devices, turning, positioning, and pressure ulcer care.
• Provides patient comfort measures such as bed making, positioning, body alignment, and back rubs.
• Assists with elimination needs, including administration of cleansing enemas, urinary catheter care, output measurement, and bowel/bladder retraining.
• Ensures a safe environment through observation, safety rounds, call bell response, and adherence to Montefiore Excellence Standards.
• Maintains a quiet environment to support patient rest and sleep.
• Follows body substance precautions and infection control policies.
• Obtains and documents vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiration, pain score, height, weight) and reports variations to the RN.
• Collects and documents specimens (urine, stool, sputum) and notifies RN if incomplete.
• Administers hot and cold applications as directed.
• Assists in preparing patients for surgery and performing diagnostic/therapeutic treatments.
• Provides assistance during emergency procedures as directed.
• Provides post-mortem care and transports patients to the morgue as assigned.
• Admits patients to the unit, including orientation, comfort supplies, and documentation of clothing/property.
• Packs and transports patient belongings in cases of transfer or expiration.
• Provides patient care in accordance with policies for side rails, restraints, and observation.
• Maintains a clean environment, including soiled linen disposal.
• Ensures patient safety appropriate to their population (neonatal, infant, child, adolescent, adult, or geriatric).
• Accompanies patients during admission, transfer, or transport to diagnostic procedures and other hospital locations.
• Transports medical records to designated locations as directed by the RN.
• Replenishes and restocks supplies, transports equipment, and maintains utility/service rooms.
• Performs equipment checks and follows infection control policies.
• Answers patient call lights promptly and assists patients, families, visitors, or coworkers as needed.
• Refers questions from patients and families to the RN.
• Maintains patient confidentiality and privacy.
• Documents accurately in the patient’s medical record.
• Communicates courteously and appropriately with patients and families based on age.
• Reports observations and changes in patient condition to the RN.
• Seeks clarification from the RN as needed.
• Adheres to dress code policy and maintains a professional demeanor.
• Completes assignments within scheduled timeframes.
• Introduces self to patients/families/visitors at the start of shifts and updates the whiteboard daily.
• Collaborates with all departments and disciplines as a team member.
• Complies with attendance, sick call, meal break, and time-off policies.
• Participates in assigned Performance Improvement activities.
• Adheres to Nursing policies and procedures.
• Promotes efficient use of resources and reports unsafe conditions to the RN.
• Respects patient rights as outlined in the “Patient Bill of Rights.”
• Attends educational programs related to practice.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by leadership.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• 1-3 years of clinical experience.
• Effective English communication skills, both written and oral.

Schedule

• Work Shift: Evening (3 PM–11:30 PM).
• Scheduled Daily Hours: 11.5 hours.
• Work Days: Alternate weekends.

Pay

Hourly Rate: $25.33. For positions with only a rate listed, the displayed rate is the hiring rate but may vary based on shift differential, experience, education, or other factors.