Unit Secretary and Nursing Assistant - PACU

WellSpan Health•Hanover, PA

About The Position

The Unit Secretary and Nursing Assistant is a key member of the care delivery team, providing receptionist, administrative, and clinical support in the PACU. The role serves as a central contact for telephone calls and visitors and handles paper and electronic communications, laboratory and test results, patient records, data entry, and scheduling of patient care services. The position also supports patient care staff by taking vital signs, assisting patients with activities of daily living, and maintaining supplies and equipment. Special assigned duties may include performing EKGs and Point-of-Care testing. This is a full-time position scheduled for 64 hours biweekly on the day shift, Monday through Friday. The role requires patient-facing communication and coordination with physicians, visitors, patients, staff, and other departments, as well as accurate transcription and maintenance of patient records and orders.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Less than one year of relevant work experience.
Basic Life Support certification upon hire.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Excellent computer skills and ability to use various software applications in a Windows environment.

Nice To Haves

Certified Nurse Aide upon hire.
Completion of a course for unit secretaries and medical terminology upon hire.

Responsibilities

Provide general nursing care and personal care assistance, including bathing, dressing, eating, changing linens and bed pans, and positioning patients.
Assist with preparing and transporting patients for tests and procedures.
Monitor patient condition levels and report changes to appropriate personnel.
Maintain appropriate stock levels in patient rooms, nursing areas, supply carts, and assigned units; notify a supervisor when reorder points are reached.
Greet, direct, and assist physicians, visitors, patients, and ancillary department staff, and orient patients to their rooms as appropriate.
Answer telephone calls, intercom messages, and email; provide accurate information or direct inquiries to the appropriate resource.
Identify emergency messages and direct information to appropriate personnel while maintaining confidentiality.
Enter and retrieve data using established computer files and patient management applications, and assist others with navigating those applications.
Keep current with information system and application upgrades.
Create and maintain patient medical records to support admission, transfer, and discharge; assemble and copy charts and forms and ensure required documentation is present.
Ensure medical records contain signed orders and an H&P, place transcribed orders on the chart, monitor for missing items, and complete data entry, chart preparation, filing, and photocopying according to policy.
Transcribe orders and document on paper or electronic records; place pharmacy orders on the MAR, follow up on orders, check open orders, and ensure verbal orders are signed according to hospital policy.
Consult with clinical and nonclinical personnel to resolve issues involving medical records, ancillary department results, and patient or family inquiries.
Schedule tests, procedures, and other patient services, coordinating with clinical care providers as appropriate regarding sequencing, activity tolerance, and special needs.
Communicate changes in patient condition and other urgent information to the Registered Nurse in a timely manner.
Report actual and potential problems concerning patients, families, staff, and departments to team members and the charge nurse or nurse manager.
Communicate delays, difficulties in providing services, or alterations to routine.
Acknowledge and respond to patient alarms and notify the appropriate care provider as needed.
Order and replenish supplies and equipment on an ongoing basis.
Provide age-appropriate care by applying knowledge of growth and development across the assigned patient population.
Follow safety regulations, report errors and hazardous conditions, participate in safety education and root cause analyses as required, and identify opportunities to improve safety.
Maintain effective, respectful, and courteous communication and working relationships with patients, visitors, staff, and other disciplines.
Identify learning needs and pursue education; participate in meetings, committees, educational programs, and community outreach efforts as applicable.
Provide outstanding customer service, foster teamwork, and practice fiscal responsibility through improvement and innovation.