Unit Secretary/Nursing Attendant - Behavioral Health Inpatient

WellSpan Health • Chambersburg, PA

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Unit Secretary/Nursing Attendant works on a 26-bed adult inpatient psychiatric unit, which includes a 16-bed less acute unit and a 10-bed acute care unit. The unit provides 24/7 inpatient psychiatric care, including diagnostic assessments, stabilization, and personalized treatment plans. The role is part of a multidisciplinary team that includes Psychiatry, Nursing, Licensed and Unlicensed Professional Counselors, Occupational Therapy, RN Care Management, and Social Work.

As a Unit Secretary, the employee performs clerical duties on the patient care unit and serves as the focal communication source at the nursing station. As a Nursing Attendant, the employee supports the patient care team by performing selected patient care treatments and tasks delegated by a licensed nurse. The employee is accountable for assigned duties for which they are trained, including recognizing physical, cognitive, and psychosocial changes relevant to the age and population groups served.

This is a full-time position of 72 hours biweekly, working 12-hour night shifts from 6 to 6 and every third weekend. Shift and weekend differentials are available. The employer describes a supportive team culture and offers access to nursing leadership pathways, preceptorships, a graduate nurse residency program, educational support for nursing certifications, and mentorship from nursing and clinical leaders.

Requirements

• High school graduate or equivalent.
• Experience applying customer service behaviors and communication skills.
• Proficiency using computers, a fax machine, and related equipment.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification or licensure.

Nice To Haves

• Graduate of a nursing educational program.
• Prior clerical experience in a healthcare setting.

Responsibilities

• Remain calm and reassuring during emergencies and adapt to changing workloads while prioritizing work.
• Receive, place, and transfer telephone calls using appropriate etiquette and positive customer service.
• Assist with orienting new staff by sharing knowledge and skills and participating in orientation.
• Maintain appropriate quantities of forms, materials, and supplies.
• Accurately record or enter information, including patient charges and appointments.
• Initiate, assemble, and maintain patient charts for the assigned unit.
• Under RN supervision, accurately transcribe physician orders using Epic.
• Seek guidance as needed and alert appropriate personnel to situations requiring attention or follow-up.
• Maintain chart checks to ensure orders have not been missed, where applicable.
• Assist during emergencies as directed by the shift charge nurse and immediately report patient problems to a direct care provider.
• Support physicians in retrieving clinical information from the electronic medical record.
• Maintain patient assignment boards and therapy boards or trackers.
• Complete forms following a patient's death, including contacting CORE and notifying the funeral home and coroner when necessary.
• Attend 50% of staff or committee meetings and in-services for the area.
• Maintain and activate downtime forms during planned and unplanned Epic downtime.
• Float to other Patient Services areas to cover assigned duties as needed.
• Transport medications within the hospital as requested and according to hospital policy.
• Communicate pertinent information to the primary nurse.
• Help maintain a neat, clean, and safe environment for patients and nursing staff.
• Perform assigned duties independently, accurately, efficiently, and promptly, recognizing their relationship to patient care across age and population groups.
• Follow instructions and directions accurately and cooperatively.
• Observe changes in patient condition and promptly report them to the primary nurse.
• Use proper body mechanics and safely position, transfer, and transport patients.
• Help maintain patient-care equipment and report malfunctioning equipment to appropriate personnel.
• Assist with orienting new personnel, including serving as a preceptor or buddy.
• Recognize and respond to care priorities, changing workloads, and emergencies.
• Anticipate unit needs and promptly answer patient call lights, pages, and safety checks.
• Assist with postmortem care and occasionally transport bodies to the morgue.
• Perform external cardiac compressions during Code Blue activities if required.

Benefits

• Shift differential eligibility.
• Weekend differential eligibility.
• Access to nursing leadership pathways, preceptorships, and a graduate nurse residency program.
• Educational support for nursing certifications.
• Mentorship from a dedicated Nursing Educator, Clinical Managers, and a Licensed Professional Counselor leader.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED