Unit Clerk needs advice

Nurses General Nursing

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I just earned a job at the Trauma ICU at Harris Hospital in Fort Worth as the Unit Clerk. I will be in Nursing school in 2003, and thought this job would allow to see Nurses in work and since I am a male, see other Male RN would help as well.

My question (finally!), is what advice can you offer to me as a Unit Clerk to help you Nurses and be a good Unit Clerk? :confused:

I was going to nursing school while working in LABOR AND DELIVERY for 4 years. I would keep focus on your job and get an opportunity to observe procedures and care given. It really helps you in the long run. If you can find a real cool nurse he or she may let you assist them with a procedure. I drew and started lots of IV's and help with deliveries. I never gave meds just observe . Ask questions questions. Good luck.

Thanks!:cool:

I'm hope I find a kewl Nurse to allow me to learn!

Padawan-Nurse

you will have a wonderful opportunity to become familiar with dr's orders and the correlation between the medications and the patients diagnosis. Best wishes!

Originally posted by Teshiee

I was going to nursing school while working in LABOR AND DELIVERY for 4 years. I would keep focus on your job and get an opportunity to observe procedures and care given. It really helps you in the long run. If you can find a real cool nurse he or she may let you assist them with a procedure. I drew and started lots of IV's and help with deliveries. I never gave meds just

observe . Ask questions questions. Good luck.

Teshiee was very lucky, but find out what your paremeters are. In the hospitals here it is illegal for clerks to do nursing procedures regardless of whom is supervising! The best advice would be to do your job, when time permits, ask questions. Both doctors and nurses are invaluable for the advice they can give. In doing your job you will pick up tips. Don't overstep your bounds. Being a nursing student will give you a certain confidence, but remember you are working as a clerk, not a nurse. Best of luck!

JO

Ageless is right on the money. You have a leg up on the terminology by the time you get in school, you'll also learn to work in a fast paced enviroment.

I've always appreciated when a clerk as alerted me to STAT orders, because the docs don't always tell you they wrote one. More seasoned clerks were able to point out double orders or contradictory orders to me before they took them off.

You should do great! Good luck!

Being a unit clerk, you are in the middle of everything. You will learn so much without even trying to! But I agree with Tiiki, know your boundaries!

Heather

Absolutely, know your legal limits. If you asked me to let you do a proceedure I would be very concerned about the safety of having you on the unit. I would be concerned that you don't know your legal limits.

You will learn much without trying. Enjoy, keep your nurses informed, and keep on top of things, ask questions if unsure about something, don't ever guess what an order says.

At first it will be hard or even impossible to read many orders. ASK. After a while you will get used to the style of writeing by individuals. Never, ever be embarrassed to ask. Good luck and welcome.:kiss

Congratulations on your new position! I also PM'd you in response to your question. :)

Do not expect too much out of yourself ---you will be in an intensive care area and school is dealing with basics first.....so things in ICU will be way over your head at first.

Learning to read docs' handwriting and enter orders is a great perk you will appreciate...you will have a leg up on the other students! Hope you enjoy your experience throughly!

Thanks for your replys and yes, I will be mindfull of my borders. I am looking forward to this new job!

Don't be like the unit clerk who wouldn't put fresh progress notes or other forms in the charts--she'd just throw them on our work tables for us to file. She would say, "I don't want to spoil you girls." Of course, she came in late, left early, took multiple breaks, and spent most of the night reading novels and doing her nails while we filed paperwork, took off orders, and answered phones (plus our thousand real duties).

a good unit assistant does all things for all people

serves the docs, the charge nurse, all the nurses,

answers lights, etc. etc. etc.

and takes off orders proficiently and perfectly at all times

very needed

good luck and keep on keepin on

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