Unit Secretary

Volunteer on a busy floor that is short staffed for CNAs and Unit Clerks. Thats what I did and I landed a job as a CNA at the hospital. Be a super enthusiastic, busy volunteer. Talk to the nurses and after a few months, let it slip that you'd love to work there. Usually the charge nurse will direct you in your duties as a volunteer - try to chat with her in a few months, let her know how much you like volunteering and try to feel out if they'd be looking for people in those kind of positions. Volunteering is a great way to learn the ropes of an unit - esp. an acute care type unit. Just my Good luck! :)

Maria has given excellent advice and I can vouch for that because it's exactly what I'm doing! The charge nurse mentioned to me offhandedly if I was interested in job on the floor so I'm hoping it leads to something.

The other thing too is a lot of units in the hospital are cross training their PCAs to become Unit Clerks.

Hi,

I'm getting ready to apply to nursing school in a month and am in the middle of my nurse aide I class. What qualifications does a unit secretary need to have if you're going to volunteer? I want to get working, whether paid or unpaid, as soon as possible!

I did EXACTLY what you are doing. I switched careers in my late 20s and in order to get my foot in the door, I applied for the unit secretary job at my local university hospital. I started nursing school shortly thereafter and I had a leg up already because I understood and could interpret medical terminology and abbreviations. It was one of the wisest choices I had ever made. I got to know the docs, got to know how hospitals work, made some GREAT friends with the nurses, nurse managers and ancillary staff. I worked evenings and weekends while attending school. The docs and nurses knew how much I liked to learn, and would let me observe procedures while they quizzed me on the rationale of the care they were administering. It was truly valuable.

When I was finished with my first year of nursing school, I was qualified to be a CNA, and took the exam for it. I worked my last year of nursing school as a CNA for that same unit. I still work at this hospital as an RN.

You are making a very wise decision. Go with it!

A CNA license will make you a more attractive applicant. Most hospitals are cutting back, and a lot are requiring their unit clerks to be cross-trained. (Mine doesn't; however, when we have to cancel staff, the clerk cross-trained as a CNA is always the last to be cancelled since she can help with both).

Thank you wise ones!!! I'm going to pursue my CNA cert and keep trying to get into a local hospital.

xoxo!

Michelle

Coming in a little late here, but another option is to get your EMT-B--more employment options and generally (at least from what I've been told) you can tech as an EMT-B.