Unit Secretaries

Published

I saw another thread about unit secretaries and I have always wondered about how much they make. Does anyone know? I've been thinking about it because I think that you have to be real sharp to do that job and I have a feeling that they aren't paid anything what they are worth. I don't know how they can decode the MD's handwriting, or any medical abbreviations, when they haven't gone to school. It kind of freaks me out how they do that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Our UC's often go to school. There is some kind of program at the local community college. They make about the same as what the aides make, which is absurd, about $8.00/hr to start. They deserve more! They often work without breaks or even lunch. Under lots of stress too. If this interests you, you could take medical terminology at the local community college and that would help you understand the terminology and the abbreviations. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, OB/GYN, L/D, NBN.

My mom has been a Unit Sec for about 26 years and she is great at what she does. I would love to be able to have her on my shift on my team but we can't work together because of conflict of interest being related. She should go back to school...she knows more than most of the nurses do!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You are right, unit secretaries are not paid what they are worth. At my hospital they make between $8 to $10 per hour. They work very hard and are often pulled in many directions at once.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

When I started as a UC five years ago, I was paid $10/hr. When I finished nursing school in May, I was making just over $12/hr as a UC.

Andrea

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma/ED.

I was a unit secretary while going through nursing school. It paid 65cents more an hour than the CNA's but it gave me great practice with the computer systems, the order entry, reading doc's writing, the phones etc. The knowledge I gained as a secretary made things a lot easier for me compared to my classmates who never worked with orders or computer entry etc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro, Critical Care.

I was offered 12 to start plus 2$ shift differential but I didn't end up getting the job, then I went to nursing school and now I don't have time for a job:(

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.

My mother was a unit secretary at a small hospital in Indiana for about 2 years. After getting her LPN license and getting a nursing job at that hospital, she actually made 50 cents LESS an hour than she did as a secretary.

Although, the hospital did pay for her schooling and she was bound to a two year contract, so that probably had something to do with the sucky pay.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych.
Our UC's often go to school. There is some kind of program at the local community college. They make about the same as what the aides make, which is absurd, about $8.00/hr to start. They deserve more! They often work without breaks or even lunch. Under lots of stress too. If this interests you, you could take medical terminology at the local community college and that would help you understand the terminology and the abbreviations. Good luck!

Amen to that! I don't know about them making more than aides, a good one in either job class is worth their weight in gold. I work an inpatient psych unit and we once hired a psych major who was at work on his master's degree to be our clerk. After 2 shifts, the guy had to give up on the job because he said he "couldn't handle the responsibility" This makes me chuckle, our 2 best clerks have little more than a high school education. But, man, are they sharp! Don't forget to remember them on secretary's day (Whenever that is)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

You can get information about the unit clerk job from their national association: The American Association of Health Unit Clerks. You get used to reading specific doctor's handwriting after looking at it enough. Each doctor has specific little quirks. I can recognize a doctor by his handwriting a lot of times. The orders the doctors write are often very routinely worded. If I really am having a problem reading a doctor's handwriting I will call him to get a clarification of what he wrote. Others who have posted here are right. You need to have a class in medical terminology. It used to be that a unit secretary was just a high school graduate who walked through the doors of the hospital looking for a job. They were trained on the job. More recently, however, training programs have been established for them. It is a very busy, stressful job for someone until they have learned the routine of putting doctors orders into effect in the hospital in which they work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

I don't know how much our secretaries get, but its not enough. On rare occasions, when there are no secretaries available, I have filled in as secretary (very fun being charge nurse AND secretary simultaneously in a busy ED). Believe me, whatever they get paid, they deserve more. :uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

It is really a regional thing. It is a great background for success in nursing school though.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion