Unit Secretary

DCH Health System•Northport, AL

19d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the supervision of the RN, the Unit Secretary assists in planning, organizing, implementing, and evaluating activities at the nursing station. The role performs clerical and receptionist duties and maintains the physical environment of the area. The position supports safe, smooth unit operations through cardiac-monitoring coordination, order transcription and medical-record maintenance, communication, patient-related notifications, and routine safety and census checks. It also supports documentation, performance improvement, supply and equipment stewardship, and compliance with DCH Health System policies and standards. Physical presence onsite is essential.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Basic mathematics and computer skills to support clinical care and use the electronic medical record, e-mail, time-and-attendance software, learning-management software, and intranet.
Ability to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.
Ability to communicate clearly and accurately, work with different personalities, engage in face-to-face discussions, handle conflict and unpleasant or verbally aggressive personalities, receive delegation, work in groups, perform structured and unstructured work, meet time pressure and timelines, and work accurately.
Ability to use electronic mail, telephone, and texting.
Ability to tolerate possible exposure to human body fluids, disease, infection, laboratory chemicals, hazardous materials, and cleaning solutions, and to wear common protective and safety equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, masks, and gowns.
Light work: exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, up to 10 pounds frequently, and a negligible amount constantly to move objects.
Ability to tolerate prolonged standing and walking; reach reasonable distances in any direction; stand, walk, kneel, bend, sit, stoop, lift, and run in an emergency.
Ability to move fingers in a coordinated manner and perceive temperature, texture, shape, and size with fingertips.
Ability to perform duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
Normal hearing and vision, or corrected to within normal range.
Stamina to work a prolonged shift.
Physical presence onsite is essential.

Nice To Haves

Prior secretarial experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Coordinate clerical unit functions to support safe and smooth operations.
Observe cardiac-monitoring status for all patients and ensure the monitor station is attended by qualified staff during breaks and lunch.
Validate that cardiac alarms have been assigned to caregivers at the beginning of each shift.
Notify staff of alarms, rhythm changes, and leads-off alarms.
Validate each patient's monitoring status at least every two hours, at shift change, and during hand-off communication for breaks and lunch; document the validation on the appropriate form.
Perform a monitor count each shift, as appropriate for the area, to ensure monitors are present.
Transcribe orders accurately and assemble, maintain, and disassemble medical records.
Answer phones and intercoms and communicate messages.
Round on all patients each shift to confirm appropriate placement of care reminders, such as hearing assistance and fall precautions.
Provide timely patient discharge notifications.
Conduct census verification rounds at predefined intervals.
Check emergency telephones daily and emergency-box contents periodically.
Respond promptly to patient needs and consistently perform basic duties, including hand hygiene and use of two patient identifiers.
Use supplies economically and help maintain equipment and nursing units in a clean, safe manner.
Document accurately according to policies and procedures and apply safety principles when performing duties.
Support performance-improvement activities, including serving on PI teams as warranted, assisting with PI measures, and implementing changes needed for improvement.
Maintain a working knowledge of the order-entry process and transcription of physician orders.
Maintain a well-organized, well-supplied, clean nursing unit.
Maintain statistics and logs as required by the unit Manager or Director.
Meet performance, patient-satisfaction, employee-satisfaction, and financial standards outlined in the performance evaluation.
Meet compliance requirements in the Employee Handbook and adhere to DCH Behavioral Standards and all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
Perform essential job functions in a manner that promotes the safety of patients, visitors, and employees; identify unsafe practices and take appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards.
Use electronic mail, time-and-attendance software, learning-management software, and the intranet.
Perform other duties as assigned.