Health Unit Coordinator

[WannaBeNrse]

Hi,

I am a nursing student (well, technically, pre-nursing still, but accepted to the program for 1/09) and just got a job as a health unit coordinator at a hospital med/surg unit. I am so excited :-) .......and so nervous. I am not even really sure what it is that I am going to be doing. Apparently a lot of paper work, like faxing orders, preparing discharge packages, stuff like that, but what else? The job requires CNA certification, yet they do not have their hucs work in patient care, other than occassionally answering a light. I am confused. And - this WILL sound stupid, but I am really not sure - do hucs wear scrubs? I have my first day of orientation/training next week - should i wear scrubs for that? I feel really confused right now.

I only worked at nursing homes and group homes so far, but always wanted a hospital job, because I think it will be much more interesting. I completed a career diploma program for medical office assisting, will that help, or is a hospital completely different? What do the hucs do where you work?

Any answers would be greatly appreciated!!!

[Dolce, RN]

Congratulations on your new job! You will learn a lot as a huc and it is good experience for your future nursing endeavors. Some places have their hucs wear scrubs and some don't. I would call your manager to clarify what you should wear.

[hikernurse]

It should be an interesting job :). Our huc's usually wear scrubs; they don't need to, I think it just feels more "hospitally" to them. Some never do.

On my old unit the huc's wore street clothes unless they were filling in as an aide that day; sometimes they would work an hour or two on the floor.

You'll learn a lot about orders--you huc's are sometimes the only one who end up being able to read some of the doc's writing .