Want to be a unit secretary

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hi everyone :)

i'd like to work as a unit secretary in the local hospital. i have taken the medical terminology class that the position requires and also have the secretarial experience. however, i have not been considered for all the unit secretary positions that the hospital has (over 5). i'm trying to get my bls certification from american heart assoc. i spent the money on the medical terminology course thinking that it would be worth it since having that would make me hirable. i feel so disappointed, my class finished in february and i still have nothing.

i am in the midst of doing my prerequisite courses for the nursing program. i spoke to the nursing director of the floor that i'd like to work in, (l&d), and she basically said that i needed to reapply since my initial application is almost 8 months old! any advice?

thanks.

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will repost

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hi everyone :)

i spoke to the nursing director of the floor that i'd like to work in, (l&d), and she basically said that i needed to reapply since my initial application is almost 8 months old! any advice?[/size][/b]

thanks.

seems like you answered your own post my dear.....re-apply

all the best

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Hi-

I was a unit secretary all throughout nursing school and it really helped my nursing career. I was originally hired to work in the ER (I worked at Starbucks before that) with no experience in healthcare at all except that I was interested in working in healthcare. The ER manager hired me after she interviewed me and saw how persistent and motivated I was to work in the hospital setting. That job opened soooo many doors for me as I floated to other units and built an excellent reputation. I was just offered a new grad position as an ICU RN (they usually don't take new grads) and I can't tell you how happy I am. DEFINITELY re-apply and follow up on the position if you really want it. You've chosen the right path-good luck!:wink2:

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Hi there,

Thank-you for your encouraging reply. I did reapply and I also got my BLS certification for Healthcare Providers. Before that, I followed up in person with the nursing director at L&D for the second time and I don't think that :cry:it went too well this time. I had been waiting for what thought then, for her to get off the phone. I didn't want to poke my head in there and interrept her so I waited out of earshot of her conversation. That's when a u/c walked up to her open office door and told her that I was waiting there. I guess this must have seemed like I had been listening all along to her conversation because she didn't look too thrilled to see me. Well needless to say I stammered and basically told her that I was getting my BLS certification the next day to which she happily replied "good for you!" I feel so embarrassed that I keep going up there to see about the job being open (b/c she has it closed since there isn't a real need right now ..) She told me that it'd be a few weeks before anything came up ..... I wonder if I'm being stubborn. :banghead:

I've applied to other positions in the hospital just so I can get "my foot in the door", but nothing! Not even a food service aide!

I just hope I didn't get on her nerves by going there a second time. I don't want to over do it, you know? It's just that my husband and I really need for me to work since he is not working right now. :(

Thanks for listening (reading) :)

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I am a unit secretary at a military base. Everything you have is okay. Do you have any expereience in Microsoft Office or any thing like that? What got me in the door, was I became a medical office asssitant (MA). Just keep reapplying....alot of the hospitals here in Georgia like to multi-task individuals-----unit clerk/patient care tech.

Keeping trying:D

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Hi Bikrgrl

I do have experience with MS office in general (Word, Excel, Powerpoints, Outlook, etc.). I'm paying myself through the pre-nursing part of the program and I can't realistically afford to became anything else :( . Spending the $$ on the medical terminology was supposed to have been an investment. I had been told by the hospital that with that "under my belt", I'd have a great advantage... but so far nothing :( So I'm at this point weary of investing $2k approx for another career that might not get me the u/s job.

I just wish they'd give me a chance. I'd love to prove myself. I've even dreamt myself working there, I hope it works out.

:}

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All that should be sufficient. I can't understand why they haven't called. I have seen people hired with some office expereience, no medical background or CNA with no office experience. Is there any chance of getting finacial aide and doing something like medical office assistant or LPN? I did MA about 12 years ago, paid for phlebotomy outta of pocket and now in LPN school. Paying the then $650 for phlebotomy class paid off, I got a job right out of the 6 week course while I was still in school for MA. Phlebotomy is part of the MA course, but I wnated to get a job quick way before finishing school for MA. Sometimes investestments do work out. Is there any other part of the hospital offereing unit secretary? Maybe it is the way your resume is worded or maybe you are competing against others that have some medical background? \

Don't give up......keep trying!!!! :bow:

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Thanks :)

I do hope to work there sometime soon. I get all excited just being in the hospital. And I love to help people! I was thinking about dropping off a note to the nursing director saying how much I want to work there and what skills I "bring to the table". Well thanks for your input! And I will look into financial aid/assistance so that I may better myself and become more employable.

:)

pcaldea

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Hi all,

I am in the same shoes as you and the original poster, I want a Unit Secretary position too. I am currently a BSN student in Southern California. This is my second career and second bachelors (first one was business finance) . I too am having no luck getting my foot in the door. I have taken Medical Terminology, Medical Math, HP-CPR, Basic EKG (2 lead) & Arrythmias, in addition to the core classes of Anatomy, Physiology, etc. I was thinking to take a "unit secretary course", and ACLS. Most of the requirements posted in my area are for experienced workers only. I even took care of TB and tithers (while i still had COBRA coverage) I was thinking to volunteer (and I even applied for volunteerring) but there is a 3-6 month waiting list for my local hospitals. Any advice? Any jobs that you know of in the Inland Empire? I would love to get experience and help support my family while I am in school. Does having your CNA/ MA have that much of an advantage?

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Hi all,

I am in the same shoes as you and the original poster, I want a Unit Secretary position too. I am currently a BSN student in Southern California. This is my second career and second bachelors (first one was business finance) . I too am having no luck getting my foot in the door. I have taken Medical Terminology, Medical Math, HP-CPR, Basic EKG (2 lead) & Arrythmias, in addition to the core classes of Anatomy, Physiology, etc. I was thinking to take a "unit secretary course", and ACLS. Most of the requirements posted in my area are for experienced workers only. I even took care of TB and tithers (while i still had COBRA coverage) I was thinking to volunteer (and I even applied for volunteerring) but there is a 3-6 month waiting list for my local hospitals. Any advice? Any jobs that you know of in the Inland Empire? I would love to get experience and help support my family while I am in school. Does having your CNA/ MA have that much of an advantage?

Hi There!

The key word and what they are looking for is "experience." And not just experience in the medical field, but some customer service skills. If you volunteer within that hospital or another medical facility, you have just increased your chance for hire by 45%.....and this is true! I work at a hospital where students who have interned come back and volunteer and later on get a job! The unit secretary will orientate you to what you need to do as a ward clerk and every facility differs about their particular duties. But if you have some customer service skills, some Microsoft-keyboarding skills and an insite into the medical field.....you've got all the material to get a job. Probably what is happening is that these hospitals are doing internal hiring and not offering much to the outside world. Plus you have students in nursing, radiology, etc. that are willing to work prn (as needed) and probably sharing alot of the ward clerk duties. The last prn job I had was sec/tech----that I was a unit clerk + patient care tech.......might be what these facilities want....a hybrid professional. Going through the medical assistant course, prepares you for ANY medical facility...both front and back office. ACLS is usually for nurses as it is more advanced life saving skills. I took MA back in 1997 and go hired in both hospitals and doctors' offices without a problem since then. Try volunteering, it is free and you will learn alot about the job you are interested and acquire skills.

Good luck and let me know if need any help!!!

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