RN as Unit Secretary ?

ashemson · Jan 7, 2005

I am currently a unit secretary at a hospital. We do have some nurse techs and CNA's that fill in as unit secretary's. It actually works out really well. If the desk isn't busy, then they do help out on the floor. Also, I think that all new RN hires have to have at least one day computer training so that they know the "basics" of entering labs, etc. on the computer. Especially the noc shift, since there isn't usually a secretary staffed all night, just a float.

razdee · Jan 7, 2005

thanks for the response....Do you have formal training as a unit secretary? Were you trained on the job?

I am currently a unit secretary at a hospital. We do have some nurse techs and CNA's that fill in as unit secretary's. It actually works out really well. If the desk isn't busy, then they do help out on the floor. Also, I think that all new RN hires have to have at least one day computer training so that they know the "basics" of entering labs, etc. on the computer. Especially the noc shift, since there isn't usually a secretary staffed all night, just a float.

jetsetter · Jan 7, 2005

I think it would be horribly expensive to pay RN wages for secretarial work. Unit secretaries make or break the shift, if they don't do their job well all suffer, but I can only think of a few instances where they need medical background, and our secretarie know they can ask us anything, we'll always help out.

busylynn · Jan 7, 2005

I work in a small community hospital. All of our CNA/PCT's are cross trained to do either that job or secretary just in case we are in need for a night. We also utilize our LPN's and RN's in the same way. I can't say that I like it. If we are short a unit clerk on our shift then our charge nurse usually picks up the slack at the desk. I guess it works out if we all work together.

I am wondering what most small hospitals do when staffing their unit secretary/ward clerk position. Currently we use nursing assistants in this role. They can then help answer lights, pass trays, etc. There are several problems so we are considering putting an RN into this role. Is anyone doing this and how is it working. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

ashemson · Jan 7, 2005

I really lucked out and got the unit secretary job w/ no experience. Now that I am starting nursing school, I cannot tell you how much I have learned from that job, the terminology, what certain labs are for, meds, etc.

I will say there are some RN's that are great on the computer, and some are scared to death of it! They are all very helpful if I cannot understand something though...

mattsmom81 · Jan 7, 2005

For 2 years I was charge nurse of a busy 38 bed telemetry ICU stepdown unit. I worked 7p-7a and I had a secretary for the first few hours of my shift, then the desk was all mine plus I usually took some patients as well. I had a monitor tech who helped answer phones but I did all the orders, bed control, etc. I know my staff appreciated knowing I was at the desk managing things and could also be a resource for them...a nurse at the desk can prevent a lot of problems. But the workload and stress can be very overwhelming when as charge you are expected to 'do it all' and it can easily get out of control.

An RN simply working as an unit secretary who still has a license is held to that standard legally...something important to remember. she cannot simply look at situations as a unit secretary without incurring some risk IMO.