Your Unit Secretary

altomga, ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN · Oct 10, 2004

The unit secretary that I normally work with is great! (Thank goodness:)) Actually, since I can be on one of 3 units (NSICU, SICU, TICU) I have worked with some really good secretaries! One of them has even helped the RN;s when for example we needed someone to hold the end of the sheet when pulling someone up in bed and you don't want the bottom of the sheet coming with the patient. This of course is not part of her "job description"...

But yes, I have worked with some that have given me grief for asking them to do a secretarial "duty"! I have just told them what I wanted and walked away. I didn't have time to stand there and argrue with them!

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Oct 10, 2004

We have one where I work who's more of a drill sergeant than anything else....."You take pager number 11, your assignment is rooms 201 to 205, and you've got an admit on the floor and a post-op coming in 45 minutes". I'll say this for her, though......at least she lets you know what's coming down the pike, and---unlike another of our unit secretaries---she will process orders immediately rather than let the charts sit there for two hours while she makes copies for the staffing office!

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Oct 10, 2004

We have one where I work who's more of a drill sergeant than anything else....."You take pager number 11, your assignment is rooms 201 to 205, and you've got an admit on the floor and a post-op coming in 45 minutes". I'll say this for her, though......at least she lets you know what's coming down the pike, and---unlike another of our unit secretaries---she will process orders immediately rather than let the charts sit there for two hours while she makes copies for the staffing office!

chaosRN, ASN, RN · Oct 10, 2004

I love our secretaries. We only have 2 - day and night. They are both great, gets orders done on time and does what we need them too without asking. I couldn't do their job. I have worked with a few who wanted to do nothing but ansrew the phone. They got angry if you asked them to do something, like put an order in :angryfire . But the 2 we have now are wonderful and I frequently teel them so!!!! :)

chaosRN, ASN, RN · Oct 10, 2004

I love our secretaries. We only have 2 - day and night. They are both great, gets orders done on time and does what we need them too without asking. I couldn't do their job. I have worked with a few who wanted to do nothing but ansrew the phone. They got angry if you asked them to do something, like put an order in :angryfire . But the 2 we have now are wonderful and I frequently teel them so!!!! :)

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Oct 10, 2004

Our night shift secretaries are super. They are cross-trained as PCTs and, if we're in a bind, they will help get morning labs and pitch in in other ways as well.

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Oct 10, 2004

Our night shift secretaries are super. They are cross-trained as PCTs and, if we're in a bind, they will help get morning labs and pitch in in other ways as well.

PHTLS · Oct 11, 2004

Ha!

I used to be a unit clerk myself. Heck, I wish I was still a unit clerk. All I did was transcribed doctor's orders, restock patient charts, answer phone calls, data input, and direct lost hospital visitors. Easy job when there's not that many new admissions to my former med surg units.

PHTLS · Oct 11, 2004

Ha!

I used to be a unit clerk myself. Heck, I wish I was still a unit clerk. All I did was transcribed doctor's orders, restock patient charts, answer phone calls, data input, and direct lost hospital visitors. Easy job when there's not that many new admissions to my former med surg units.

nurtch04 · Oct 11, 2004

We have one unit clerk on nights that is fantastic. The other 2 are just too anxious for the job. One will keep charts for hours on end. New admissions are horrible to deal with when she works. The other one is so moody. You know when she is on because everyone says oh no kay is working better walk on eggs shells. She screams at the nurses, lies on the nurses and nothing has ever been done to her. The one night she screamed at me I was in charge and notified the nsg supervisor and she was sent home. Needless to say I am no longer permitted to do charge. (thank goodness)

nurtch04 · Oct 11, 2004

We have one unit clerk on nights that is fantastic. The other 2 are just too anxious for the job. One will keep charts for hours on end. New admissions are horrible to deal with when she works. The other one is so moody. You know when she is on because everyone says oh no kay is working better walk on eggs shells. She screams at the nurses, lies on the nurses and nothing has ever been done to her. The one night she screamed at me I was in charge and notified the nsg supervisor and she was sent home. Needless to say I am no longer permitted to do charge. (thank goodness)