Unit Secretary-Perinatal Full Time Evenings

Northwestern Memorial Healthcare•Palos Heights, IL

About The Position

The Unit Secretary reflects Northwestern Medicine’s mission, vision, and values; follows its Code of Ethics, Corporate Compliance Program, policies, procedures, and applicable regulatory and accreditation standards; and supports organization and communication within the nursing unit by performing clerical functions under the direct supervision of the Clinical Nurse Manager/Charge Nurse. This is a full-time position working 80 hours per pay period on the evening shift, 3:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Weekends and holidays are not scheduled, though this may be subject to change. The role involves welcoming and assisting patients, families, visitors, and staff; maintaining confidentiality and professionalism; supporting teamwork and service excellence; entering orders and medication information accurately; assembling charts; maintaining unit records and communication tools; managing calls and messages; and keeping the nursing station and supplies organized. The Unit Secretary also attends required safety and role-related in-services and meetings and stays current with nursing updates, newsletters, and posted memos.

Requirements

High school graduate.
General clerical skills and typing ability.

Nice To Haves

Some medical background and knowledge of medical terminology.
Knowledge of computer and printer operations and features.

Responsibilities

Acknowledge and greet customers promptly, remain calm under pressure, and respond to customer needs in a polite, friendly, timely, and accurate manner.
Keep patients, families, and staff informed of delays and take action to show that their needs are a priority.
Respect cultural differences, rituals, religious beliefs, and the confidentiality of patient, coworker, and visitor information.
Help others, demonstrate teamwork, welcome new staff, and share expertise with colleagues, including those on other units.
Incorporate CARE standards and service-excellence behaviors into daily practice, maintain a professional demeanor, and seek resolutions or management assistance when needed.
Enter orders accurately in Meditech and enter Nursing Home medications accurately into admission medication reconciliation.
Assemble charts accurately.
Attend annual in-services on safety, infection control, and the hospital exposure control plan related to blood-borne pathogens.
Use proper body mechanics to avoid hazardous situations.
Attend Unit Secretary in-services and staff meetings, and stay current by reading nursing updates, Informatics Newsletters, and posted memos.
Follow hospital policies and procedures, including the dress code.
Keep nursing-station areas neat and orderly.
Order and maintain adequate clerical supplies for the nursing unit.
Initiate, update, and maintain patient and unit communication tools, such as the Daily Floor Census Record and sign-out sheets.
Check the pneumatic tube station frequently and address received contents promptly.
Use proper phone etiquette, reconnect with callers while they are on hold, take messages, and relay them to appropriate staff promptly.