How to Stop Sitting for so Long as a Health Unit Coordinator (Video)

Sitting for a long time is a part of the job of being a Health Unit Coordinator. There are some things that you can do to personally keep your body moving.

Leave the floor. I’ll usually go to the cafeteria daily, to not only grab something to eat but to also to just move my legs. I usually walk down the stairs from the 3rd floor to the basement, and then to the other side of the building. 

Get up and go gossip. I don’t sit on the company’s telephone and gossip with other coworkers. I’ll get up and go where they are and catch up on what’s going on in their life and at work.

Just move. There are times where I will grab my Bluetooth, cell phone, and head outside and walk around the building (or walk to the parking garage) and just listen to music or a podcast. The fresh air and a quick sprint are all that is needed to get the blood pumping. 

Dating a Co Worker as a Health Unit Coordinator (Video)

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I dated a coworker once. We kept it private even though I think that he wanted it out in the open so that other guys would know that I was off of the market. We were constantly told that we made a cute couple. We would laugh at them because they didn't know our secret.

We kept it discreet because we didn't want to become the talk of the hospital. We didn't want people trying to break us up by spreading lies. 

So, keep it cute and put it on mute. 

The Dress Code and the Health Unit Coordinator

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Sometimes, I wonder if some people weren't told about the dress code for the Health Unit Coordinator.

The work attire could either be scrubs, personal clothing of a specific color, or business casual. Whatever it is, please stay within it. 

I'm evaluated on my dress yearly. I'm not going to lose out on any money because I wanted to wear Yoga pants to work. I've seen HUCs in blue jeans at work and I'm thinking to myself, "How did they think that was appropriate?"

Bad Managers and the Health Unit Coordinator (Video)

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You feel that you have a bad manager. So, what are you going to do about it?

You have two options. You can stay and become someone who loves their coworkers, but bitches and complains about the management and try to get them fired before they get you fired.

You can also leave the hospital and take another job somewhere else or you can transfer to another unit. 

That is the reason why I encourage you to float to other departments so that you can see if that department would be a better fit for your personality. 

Keeping Personal Business Personal as a Health Unit Coordinator (Video)

People should only know the basics about you such as whether you are married, have children or any pets.

People should not know that you got laid last night from a one night stand. They definitely should not know that you and your spouse had a screaming match last night, the third one this week.

People should not know your financial business. Keep your woe is me to yourself. You're not the only one living paycheck to paycheck.

And stop bragging about what you have. Who cares that you are leasing a Mercedes. Most people are laughing at you for leasing a car in the first place. 

Just focus on doing your job.

Hurricane Lane and the Health Unit Coordinator

Currently, there is a hurricane headed towards the Hawaiian islands. Though I'm on the other side of the ocean, I do know what my fellow Health Unit Coordinators are going through, as I went through the same thing last year with Hurricane Irma. 

Click this link to read the article about my experience as a HUC trapped in a hospital during a hurricane. 

Happy National Health Unit Coordinator Day!

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I just wanted to wish all of the Health Unit Coordinators a happy Health Unit Coordinator Day. Without you, the hospitals around the country could not run properly.

What to Do During Downtime as a Health Unit Coordinator? (Video)

There are a few things that I can recommend that you do during downtime at work.

1. Go through the patient's charts and make sure that they have enough face sheets and labels. Also, make sure that the right patient's information is in the right chart.

2. Sanitize the nursing station. Remove as much as you can and do a thorough cleaning.

3. Go through the drawers and throw away outdated forms.  Get a binder and put the most used forms in there for easy access for everyone.

4. Clean and organize the workstation. Are there post-it notes all over the place?  A random piece of paper with a doctor's cell number on it taped to the computer screen? Get an empty binder and put all phones numbers in a book.

5. Make sure all supplies are stocked. Running low on pens and markers? Write it down and let someone know. Out of applesauce for the patients? Let someone know.

6. Read up on hospital policies. Do you know why I know so much? All of the hospital policies are on the hospital's intranet and when times are slow, I read up on them.

7. Straighten up the pantry or breakroom. Label the drawers and cabinets so that anyone who walks in there will know where everything is.