Ward Clerk in Med/Surg Unit

PPL, BSN, RN · Jun 11, 2000

At our hospital, ward clerks transcribe doctors orders into the computer and otherwise, answer phones, transfer calls, answer patient call system, alert the nurse that patient has called, if nurse is tied up somewhere else, and generally can be a HUGE help to the nurse. They also order supplies, go for supplies,etc. If you are reliable, sharp, and detail oriented, this helps. Believe me, you will get an education about what nurses are up against. Essentially, you are there to support the staff, but not do patient care, unless you are cross-trained as CNA. There will be no end to how helpful you can be! Hope this helps. depending on the hospital, you will have more or less duties, probably more.

lapiazze · Sep 3, 2005

At our hospital, ward clerks transcribe doctors orders into the computer and otherwise, answer phones, transfer calls, answer patient call system, alert the nurse that patient has called, if nurse is tied up somewhere else, and generally can be a HUGE help to the nurse. They also order supplies, go for supplies,etc. If you are reliable, sharp, and detail oriented, this helps. Believe me, you will get an education about what nurses are up against. Essentially, you are there to support the staff, but not do patient care, unless you are cross-trained as CNA. There will be no end to how helpful you can be! Hope this helps. depending on the hospital, you will have more or less duties, probably more.

i have a chance for a job as a ward clerk in oneida, ny. i have had three years experience as an ER ward clerk. this job was in the late eighties and ended in 1990 because the hospital closed down. i am a little nervous. do you think with the experience i have had that after training it will all come back to me? i love medicine and love working in the hospital. i miss it so much and i hope i get the job badly. write me back and let me know what your thoughts are on this.

lapiazze

SarasotaRN2b · Sep 16, 2005

At our hospital, ward clerks transcribe doctors orders into the computer and otherwise, answer phones, transfer calls, answer patient call system, alert the nurse that patient has called, if nurse is tied up somewhere else, and generally can be a HUGE help to the nurse. They also order supplies, go for supplies,etc. If you are reliable, sharp, and detail oriented, this helps. Believe me, you will get an education about what nurses are up against. Essentially, you are there to support the staff, but not do patient care, unless you are cross-trained as CNA. There will be no end to how helpful you can be! Hope this helps. depending on the hospital, you will have more or less duties, probably more.

This sums it up pretty well. I have been working as a Health Unit Coordinator (aka ward clerk:) ), and I think the experience has been wonderful. I, too, work on a med/surg floor (can be very busy since this is the first floor that is filled when there are new admits. It also made me realize that nursing is the career for me. I'm planning on getting my CNA license so that I can be cross-trained to be a Patient Care Assistant

The best advice I can give you is to give it your all, I have found the nurses most appreciatiable, making me want to help them in anyway possible.

Good luck!

miphillli · Oct 31, 2005

I you want to be a nurse anyway,why don't you get your CNA first and work hands on, with the pt's. That would give you a good foundation to start from. Ward clerks are wonderful too.:balloons: