Nursing Unit Clerk - Certificate
Overview
This program prepares students with the knowledge, skills and experience to work in a health care setting as a nursing unit assistant, nursing unit clerk or health unit coordinator/hospital unit clerk.
Take this program if you:
- Enjoy working in a busy, challenging and exciting team environment
- Have excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing
- Are highly organized, detail-oriented and able to multitask
- Can be flexible in the performance of your job duties
- Can work independently and collaboratively within a team
Upcoming Intake: Winter 2026
What Is a Nursing Unit Clerk?
Nursing unit clerks provide non-clinical support to the interdisciplinary health care team, working at a nursing station of a patient care unit. They play a vital role in managing information flow in the hospital nursing unit. They have been described as the “go-to” person and the “hub” of the nursing unit, performing tasks such as answering phones, taking and relaying messages, greeting people who come to the desk, answering questions, completing paperwork and computer data entry.
Job roles and responsibilities can include:
- Interpreting medical terminology and abbreviations
- Coordinating communications
- Using excellent, professional communication skills
- Protecting confidentiality and patient rights
- Processing physicians’ orders for patient care
- Processing patient admissions, transfers and discharges
- Collaborating with health care professionals
- Applying problem-solving and critical thinking skills
- Using organization, time-management and stress-management skills
- Entering and retrieving information utilizing electronic health records
Program Information
The program is delivered in an online format. It is not available in a classroom on campus.
A computer is required to complete this online program—cell phones and tablets will not support all functionalities.
Students must have computer skills to complete this program (i.e., be familiar with internet, email, word processing and file management).
This is not a self-paced program; it is a scheduled program. Each course has a designated start and end date. Students are required to follow their program schedule and complete the courses within the allotted timeframe.
Students need at least 25 hours of study time per week and complete the program in two semesters (one school year).
Study time does not include time the student spends doing homework (completing assignments, studying for and writing exams, etc.).
Program Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Contribute to a culture of safety in practice with accurate interpretation and processing of orders
- Apply basic knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, diagnostics and pharmacology in an acute-care setting
- Engage in respectful and professional practices in accordance with codes of ethics, standards, and organizational policies to ensure confidentiality and privacy of information
- Demonstrate the ability to follow instructions, work independently, adapt to changes and manage time under pressure
- Be motivated, self-reflective and engage in lifelong learning to maintain currency
- Collaborate and communicate effectively with patients, the health care team and the public
- Apply critical thinking skills and transfer knowledge effectively
Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting the general admission requirements to Selkirk College, the applicant must meet the following Nursing Unit Clerk Program requirements to be considered fully-qualified:
- English Studies 12 with a minimum of 60% or higher, or equivalent
- Keyboarding speed of 40 words per minute
- Computer skills, including knowledge of internet, email, word processing and file management.
- Criminal Record Check (CRC) clearance letter by the Criminal Record Check from the Criminal Records Review Program, including clearance to work with vulnerable adults. as part of the application process. The CRC will be available, on request, to any hospital or health facility receiving students for the practicum.
- Selkirk College immunization form as required by practice partners and as ordered by the Medical Health Officer of British Columbia.
Before an application file is considered complete, a Selkirk College Application Form along with proof of the above requirements must be received by the Admissions Office.
Program seats will be offered on a first-qualified, first-served basis. Partially qualified applicants may be offered a conditional acceptance; an interim statement of grades will be used for the purposes of conditional acceptance. All program admission requirements must be met prior to starting program courses. Once the seats have been filled, a waitlist will be created and maintained for 12 months, after which applicants who are not admitted or have deferred a seat must reapply to affirm their continued interest in the program.
APPLICATION PROCESS
1. Before an application file is considered complete, the following must be received by the Admissions Office:
a) Selkirk College Application Form
b) Official transcripts of high school grades (an interim statement of grades is acceptable if applicant is still attending school)
c) Official transcripts for any post-secondary education studies in which the applicant has enrolled
d) Evidence of keyboarding speed of 40 words per minute
e) Criminal Record Check (CRC) clearance letter by the Criminal Record Check from the Criminal Records Review Program, including clearance to work with vulnerable adults
f) Selkirk College immunization form as required by practice partners and as ordered by the Medical Health Officer of British Columbia.
2. The Admissions Office will acknowledge receipt of application forms. Program seats will be offered on a first qualified, first served basis.
3. Partially qualified applicants may be offered conditional acceptance; an interim statement of grades will be used for the purposes of conditional acceptance. All program admission requirements must be met prior to starting program courses.
4. Once the seats have been filled, a waitlist will be created and maintained for 12 months after which applicants who are not admitted or have deferred a seat must reapply to affirm their continued interest in the program.
To qualify for graduation, a student must meet the following requirements (see Policy 8617: Graduation):
To progress from term to term, students must obtain a minimum grade of 80% in each course and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00.
PROMOTION
1. To progress from semester to semester, students must obtain a minimum grade of 80% in each course and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0.
2. Students who fail in any course must re-register and repeat the course in its entirety before proceeding on to the next course.
3. All courses must be completed in the time frame specified by the college timetable. Allowances may be made for the preceptorship due to the employer's ability to accommodate.
4. Probation will be initiated if a student fails two (2) courses.
5. Failure of a third course may be cause for dismissal from the program.
Courses
NUCL100 - NUCL Program Foundation
NUCL 100 Program Foundations introduces learners to the Nursing Unit Clerk Program structure and how to navigate the learning management system and other technology utilized in the program. An overview of the curriculum and teaching and learning strategies are introduced and discussed. Students are introduced to and supported by instructors in learning threshold concepts to prepare them for the course requirements.
MTED101 - Medical Terminology II
MTED 101 Medical Terminology II. Learners study anatomy and physiology of the main body systems. Learners will learn the word parts, abbreviations, prefixes, suffixes, disease process and treatments relating to terminology specific to each body system, including disease processes and treatments. Learners will correctly pronounce medical terms relating to terminology specific to each body system.
NUCL146 - Hospital Orientation
NUCL 146 Hospital Orientation introduces the learner to hospital departments, staff and communications, with emphasis on the role of the Nursing Unit Clerk (NUC) as the communications coordinator for the nursing unit. Information is given about processing physicians' orders for patient care, confidentiality and ethics, hospital codes, coping skills and technology in the workplace.
Tuition & Fees
All amounts are estimates and are subject to change. Tuition amounts are based on a full-time course load. Please note that many programs have additional costs beyond those listed here. For more information, please visit Tuition & Fees.
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