Nurses expectation of a unit clerk

MayisontheWay · Jul 12, 2008

My favorite clerk makes me a copy of the orders so that I can get started on my job while she enters them. I never have to ask.

She also does not leave orders hanging in the wind if she doesn't know what it is. She investigates until it's resolved. If she hears me say I need to call such and such Doctor, she says "I'll page him/her and let you know when they're on the line."

Are you starting to see that because of her, I get to do my job!

She is the backbone of my ICU and does it with a smile EVERY TIME! I never, ever miss an opportunity to remind her how important she is to us.

May

ChobeeStudent · Jul 12, 2008

Thanks for that insight!

Quidam · Jul 12, 2008

My favorite clerk makes me a copy of the orders so that I can get started on my job while she enters them. I never have to ask.
Thanks for this information. I am considering looking for a unit clerk position early next summer and really was unsure about what they do. I see from clinicals that the unit secretary position can be the backbone of the unit...and I have been awed by one in particular.

hellerd2003, RN · Jul 12, 2008

The best unit clerk takes the stress off the nurse. Be calm in a crisis. If a call comes in, screen it (I work in ICU, and it bothers me to no end when I'm pulled out of a patient's room for a call that could be diverted). Don't make personal calls on the hospital line and then expect me to answer the phones when I'm trying to take care of my patients (one of our clerks actually does that). And don't bring your own drama into work. One of our clerks was the drama QUEEN . . . and it affects the work environment.

Our best clerk knows heart rhythms, can multi-task, enters orders and gives us copies prior to her taking the chart, screens calls, KNOWS what is going on with each patient, and . . . most importantly, exudes confidence and calm. And she makes me laugh. I had a 51 y.o. patient made a DNR/ pulled off the vent, and emotionally, with family there, it was hard. She made me laugh every time I was out of the room. I needed it. I don't think this can be taught, but if you at least have the other characteristics (besides removing a nurse's emotional burden), you'll do fine. :nuke:

PiPhi2004 · Jul 12, 2008

Well I am definately not a 'seasoned' ICU nurse by any means, I have only been an RN for almost 1 year. However, I have to agree with everyone else's comments about we expect from our unit clerks. In our unit, the clerks deal with calls, are the gatekeepers for families, give us our orders, bring us lab slips, make sure all necessary paperwork is ready for admissions and transfers, order misc items that we dont have on our unit (waffle boots, cooling blankets, etc) and make sure labs that cant go through our tube systems are picked up in a timely manner. As an RN, I expect to not have to do these things myself as I have my own job to do. I could care less what else is going on that I'm unaware of, as long as the job gets done (Our unit clerks arent too good, so this is all I can ask for lol). It would also be a definate plus if you dressed professional, ours wear scrubs or dress clothes, but many of them wear LOTS of gawdy jewelry, wrinkled scrubs, stained shirts, facial piercings,tattoos visible, etc. Kept all personal calls to a minimum (ours often have the cell out and are chatting it up while the phone rings). Keep internet surfing to a minimum if that is available to you, and keep all things non-work related at home. Be friendly when you answer the phone and talk to anyone, be it patient, nurse, doc, family member, etc. Just kind of no-brainer stuff.

Our unit does not require the unit clerk to know anything about heart rhythms or our patients. Many of them have no clinical skill or experience whatsoever. Ours do not do scheduling but I have heard that some unit clerks make schedules for the RNS as well. I would LOVE if our unit clerk diverted calls that arent necessary, that would be a dream come true! You will learn a lot about how an ICU runs while you are a unit clerk though so it would be a good experience for you. Also, our unit clerks don't always work just our floor, sometimes they are pulled to other floors if they are desperately needed there (especially new ones), so you may not just be an ICU unit clerk, especially if you are newer.

Hope that helps! All in all just be professional and have a good attitude and you'll do great!

diveRN · Jul 12, 2008

Our better monitor techs / WCs will:

- Answer call lights & direct appropriate staff. (CNA vs RT vs RN)

- Screen calls/visitors

- Verify orders and diets with me daily and enter them in the computer appropriately

- Page MDs then let me know when they're on the phone

- Thin charts regularly and make sure they're stuffed daily with blank order sets and prog note sheets.

- Let's me know within a short time of ANY conduction changes or abnormal VS not caused by artifact or activity. (And knows how to tell the difference)

- Enters work orders / requests for me related to hospital services like housekeeping following a DC or transfer, biomed, plant ops, etc, etc.

- Keeps the coffee pot filled with good coffee.

ChobeeStudent · Jul 13, 2008

Thank you all for your insight!! It will be a wonderful new challenge for me and I am confident I will be good at everything you guys mentioned. It opened my eyes for sure as to what to expect on my first days and feel more prepared for sure! keep the advice coming!