What is a Unit Secretary?

A unit secretary's role in healthcare is essential for efficient patient care. A unit secretary coordinates communication between staff, patients, and families in a medical setting. They must be organized, flexible, and possess strong interpersonal skills to ensure that patients receive proper care. Let’s take a look at what being a unit secretary entails.

Duties of a Unit Secretary

The primary responsibility of a unit secretary is to be the liaison between doctors and nurses as well as patients and family members. This includes checking patient records, managing phone calls, organizing paperwork, and filing documents electronically or manually. They may also be responsible for ordering supplies. 

A unit secretary must have excellent verbal and written communication skills to perform these tasks effectively. They also need to think quickly on their feet to manage multiple tasks simultaneously while still providing quality service to patients and their families. Furthermore, they must know how to use computers since most of their job responsibilities involve working with electronic health records (EHR) software or other computer programs related to medical information management.

A unit secretary must also know about healthcare regulations such as HIPAA laws to secure confidential information. Moreover, they must stay up-to-date with current technology trends in healthcare as this will help them remain competitive in the job market.

Unit Secretaries Do Way More Than Just Answer The Tephone (Video)

Unit secretaries are the unsung heroes of the medical world. They do everything from handling patient appointments to ordering supplies to keeping track of medical charts. Without them, hospitals would be in chaos. This video looks at what unit secretaries do and how they make a difference in the lives of patients and doctors alike.

• Unit secretaries play a vital role in ensuring that hospitals run smoothly and efficiently. We are often the first point of contact for patients.
• Depending on the department they work in they play a crucial role in ensuring that appointments and procedures are scheduled correctly.
• They also keep track of medical charts and records, which helps to ensure that doctors have the information they need to provide the best possible care.

While they may not be as glamorous as doctors or nurses, unit secretaries are an essential part of the medical team, perform a vital service and make a real difference in the lives of those they serve.

Top 3 Viewed Videos on My YouTube Channel (Video)

I've compiled a list of the top 3 watched YouTube videos on my channel. Hopefully, this will help you to get a little break from your work and learn something new. 

1. This video is at number 1 with 4,823 views. It explains how the first hour of my day starts and I'm convinced if you do these steps then when the curveballs come they will not stress you out. 

2. This is a video I made about the 3 hardest things to learn as a Unit Secretary. It was my first ever Number 1 ranking on YouTube, so it's kind of neat looking back at all those years ago! 4338 views for this particular one - not too shabby considering how long ago it was published...

3. I'm still shocked at how fast this video rose to the top. Sitting a number 3 with 3,206 views, I talk about my one day working in the Emergency Room.

If you haven't already done so, don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel. Thanks for reading and watching!

Nursing Station Etiquette (Video)

When you're a unit secretary, it is important that your basic nursing station etiquette reflects the professional image of yourself and others. The following are some examples:

First. Keep in mind is the fact there are many people who rely on your daily tasks and duties so they can get their work done efficiently without any hiccups or complications along the way! This means we must all strive for excellence at our jobs which will lead to more productivity when completing these responsibilities effectively - not only by following proper procedures but also by listening carefully during conversations between staff members and taking notes if needed. 

Second. Never hesitate to offer to help when needed.

Third. This may sound like common sense- keep your voice down while at work so that others can do the same thing without being distracted by loud noises or conversations nearby. The number one complaint in the hospital from the patients is the amount of noise that they hear. 

Fourth. Straighten up after yourself when finished with tasks at work. 

Fifth. Put away personal items once finished with them so that they do not distract from what's happening around YOU. 

Remember to be professional and courteous when you're on duty. You never know who will walk onto the unit!

PCA/Unit Secretary Job Requirement (Video)

The PCA/Unit Secretary position is a hybrid of two positions. It combines the duties and responsibilities of both the PCA and the Unit Secretary.

In this video, I'll explain what the PCA/Unit Secretary does.

How To Deal With Rude Doctors and Nurses (Video)

The number one problem in healthcare today is doctor and nurse etiquette. Nurses often have a hard time dealing with rude doctors, whereas physicians can be very unpleasant to deal with due to low payments from Medicaid/Medicare which is causing them much higher overhead costs.

There are many ways to deal with a doctor or nurse who is rude. One way, for example, would be not taking any notice of their manners and just carrying on as normal in order to ignore them until they're finished talking. Another option might involve being respectful but also firm about demands made on you. 

In all cases, it is best to remain calm and collected. In other instances when hospitals staff members seem more approachable than others, you may be able to explain to them how they can better communicate with you. 

It's important that we all work together and remember that we are here for the patients.

I Know This Woman.....(Video)

Yo! I know this lady who allegedly killed her husband. She's a former coworker, who just happened to be a unit secretary. She's in jail now, but when I tell you that I'm in shock......

What Are The Responsibilities of a Unit Secretary (Video)

Unit secretaries have the responsibility to compile lists of supplies and equipment for their departments. They also organize materials, plan events, help to maintain morale in the department, and provide support and guidance for their co-workers. 

 

What's in it for me?

The Unit Secretary will be the link between management and staff, ensuring a great way to use your people skills! The best part about this job is you're recognized as someone who can handle anything thrown at them by whoever walks onto the unit - even if they don't always show gratitude or appreciation.  

Why Would I Want to Work in the Hospital as a Unit Secretary? (Video)

Why would I want to work in the hospital as a Unit Secretary?

You love working with people and helping them feel better.

Hospital unit secretaries have an essential role in helping patients, visitors, and staff members feel welcome. They are the first faces many see when they come into a hospital's front doors, so they must be friendly and helpful!

Why would I want this job?

There are many reasons why working as a Unit Secretary would be better than elsewhere. For example, some people might find it dull or unenthusiastic, it can be intense and stressful and long and tedious, but it also offers many benefits.

You'll meet lots of interesting people from all walks of life who have their own stories to tell!

In addition, you will get experience working in one place for an extended period which could help when applying elsewhere later down the track or even just giving your resume more credibility if there's ever any doubt about whether the hiring process would suit someone.

There is always something that needs to get done, like making sure doctors have their coffee just how they like it!

 

Working in the hospital as a Unit Secretary is not for everyone. But if you're really into working with people and helping them heal from their diseases, this might be a tremendous opportunity!

Medical Secretaries are the Backbone of the Hospital! (Video)

Medical secretaries are the backbone of the hospital! They work with doctors, nurses, coworkers, and patients. 

And because hospitals can't function without us, we spend our days multitasking between filing paperwork, answering phones, and much more. 

Unvaccinated Nursing Students Face Hurdles Getting Degrees (Video)

Some nursing students who choose not to get vaccinated against COVID-19 struggle to complete their clinical training and degrees. 

Some nursing schools say it's been more challenging to place unvaccinated students in healthcare facilities that will accept them.

These are some of our fellow Unit Secretaries who are working and going to nursing school simultaneously. 

In my opinion, this mandate will only contribute to the nursing shortage that was present before the pandemic. 

Be Prepared to Work Harder as Unit Secretary (Video)

With the vaccine mandates for healthcare workers spreading across the county, as a Unit Secretary, I want you to be prepared to work harder and longer hours.

You know firsthand about the staffing shortages for those of you who worked at a hospital before the pandemic. 

And the pandemic not only exposed the staffing shortages but also stretched them.

With these vaccine mandates, it will be stretched even more as your coworkers quit or are fired. 

So I want you to get your mind together before you walk through those hospitals doors. 

I want you to be prepared to float to another floor if your department gets shut down. I want you to be ready to float to another floor if another department has needs more significant than your department. 

A Hurricane is Coming! What to Expect Working as a Unit Secretary During a Hurricane (Video)

With a Hurricane fast approaching, I have a video for those new Unit Secretaries who have never worked at a hospital during or after a Hurricane. Check it out. 

The First Certified Health Unit Cordinator

I found this story about the death of the first person to become a Certified Health Unit Coordinator. She lived a great life—condolences to her family. To read the story click here!

Unit Sectaries and Their Health (Video)

    Check out this story about one of our fellow Unit Secretaries who was saved by quick-thinking nurses in the ICU that she works in. 

    This reminds me of secretaries that I worked with who suffered health setbacks. One had a stroke, the other had multiple heart attacks. Two others both died of cancer.

    I suffer a health setback, and I almost died.  

    Life is precious.    

To order a copy of Healing Is Mine. End of Discussion, click the link.

Hospital in Texas Facing Water and Heating Woes as the Winter Storm Rages (Video)

 

Whenever a hurricane was approaching Florida, I would volunteer to work during the hurricane because the hospital is the "safest place to be." When you really stop and think about it, a hospital is basically its own city. 

But when the state that you live in is catching hell and then the hospital starts to catch hell, well then...

My heart goes out to everyone suffering and I want to thank all of the Unit Secretaries all of the county who are doing their part to help in a time like this. 

What Is It Like Working the Night Shift as a Unit Secretary?

New unit secretaries want to know what it is like working the night shift. It's different from working the day shift. Night shift has its own flow and style, and I'll tell you what you might experience if you choose to work this shift.

• The staff has a different vibe. They are wide-eyed, smelling good, and ready to work.
• The unit secretary may be required to run down to the cafeteria and get food from the grill for the patients who arrive on the unit from the emergency room (at the change of shift) when dietary is closed.
• The unit is usually much quieter once visiting hours are over. You will deal with patients, friends, families, and doctors, but not on the level of what the day shift deals with.
• When the computers go down, you will not panic because you will know how to keep the unit running. Most computer systems are updated in the middle of the night, so you will be much more familiar with sending lab requests and ordering tests from radiology using the downtime form better than the secretaries who work the day shift.
• Some night shift secretaries do not call in consults, which I will never understand. They will wait until the days shift secretary comes in and have them do it. Or they will call in all of the consults closer to the change of shift.

Do you work the night shift as a unit secretary? What have I left out? Put the answer in the comment section.

How to Be "Damn Near Perfect" as a Health Unit Coordinator (Video)

Do you want to be damn near perfect....like me? 

I recently had my evaluation done and was told that I was 'damn near perfect as a Health Unit Coordinator.'

I answered, “I know.”

I take my job seriously because we are all supposed to be there to care for our patients – who are also our neighbors.

That's my goal, and it should be yours also.

I Was Interviewed for Moneyish.com

I just did an interview for an article titled You've Peaked at Your Job. Now What?

In my last blog post, I wrote that I felt like I didn’t want to be a Health Unit Coordinator anymore, but I didn’t know why. And I had asked myself a bunch of questions, and even then, my answers still didn't give me a conclusive answer.

But now I know what the issue is.

I've peaked at my job. I'm so good and know so much that I need a new challenge.

Read the article and share your thoughts with me.

Should You Attend Health Unit Coordinator Meetings?

Over the last four weeks, you’ve been reading a quick summary of some of my tips from my new booklet Steps To Becoming a Health Unit Coordinator.

This is not just another book that lists suggestions. I actually put all of these tips into action – and I share that information with you!

Topics include:

1. Committees – should you get involved on committees to make the hospital a better place?
2. CPR – you work the desk – why do you need to know CPR? It's important.
3. Health Unit Coordinator Meetings – should you attend them?
4. Leaving the Company – when is it a good time to move?
5. Orienting New Secretaries - do you feel comfortable training new Health Unit Coordinators?

Order your copy today!