Nursing Unit Clerk - Certificate
Overview
The Nursing Unit Clerk 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.
The Selkirk Advantage
What does Selkirk College's program offer that you can't get elsewhere?
- Flexibility! Fully online, no set hours to be in class. Work at your own pace with pre-determined assessment due dates.
- Optional one-to-one instructional support
- Affordability! Less money spent in tuition.
Take this program if you:
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Enjoy working in a busy, challenging and exciting team environment
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Have excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing
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Are highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to multitask
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Are able to be flexible in the performance of your job duties
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Are able to work independently and collaboratively within a team
What Is a Nursing Unit Clerk?
This is a unique and often little understood position. Persons in this job provide non-clinical support to the interdisciplinary health care team, working at a nursing station of a patient care unit. Nursing unit clerks (NUCs) 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. The NUC performs 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:
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Interpreting medical terminology and abbreviations
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Coordinating communications
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Using excellent, professional communication skills
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Protecting confidentiality and patient rights
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Processing physicians’ orders for patient care
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Processing patient admissions, transfers and discharges
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Collaborating with health care professionals
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Applying problem-solving and critical thinking skills
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Using organization, time-management and stress-management skills
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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
- English Studies 12 with a minimum of 60% or higher, or equivalent
- Keyboarding speed of 50 words per minute
- Computer skills, including knowledge of internet, email, word processing and file management
- Applicants must complete a criminal record check (CRC) from the Ministry of Justice as part of the application process. The CRC will be available, on request, to any hospital or health facility receiving students for the practicum.
- Current immunization record as per provincial guidelines
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.
Courses
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.
NUCL152 - Patient Chart Records
NUCL 152 Patient Chart Records introduces the learner to the forms used to create patient charts in the hospital. Information is given about how to create a patient admission chart, additional forms added to a chart to individualize it for a specific patient and the Nursing Unit Clerk's responsibilities for patient charts and chart forms. Actual forms are used for practice.
NUCL154 - Admissions, Discharges and Transfers
NUCL 154 Admissions, Discharges and Transfers introduces the learner to the Nursing Unit Clerk's (NUC) role in admission, discharge and transfer procedures within the hospital. Information is given about antibiotic resistant organisms and isolation procedures, the Admitting/Registration Department and their role in admitting patients, and how the NUC interacts with this department. Using case study examples and actual forms, the learner creates an admission chart, a transfer chart and a discharge chart.
NUCL156 - Drug Nomenclature
NUCL 156 Drug Nomenclature introduces the learner to the brand name, generic names and actions of some drugs commonly used in the hospital. Six general categories of drugs are covered, including drugs that affect the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, nervous system, gastrointestinal system, hormones and synthetic substitutes, and drugs for the treatment of infectious disease. Information is also given about pharmaceutical preparations, terminology and abbreviations. This course provides the learner with the pharmaceutical knowledge required to process physicians' medication orders.
NUCL162 - Medication Orders
NUCL 162 Medication Orders introduces the learner to physicians' medication orders and the Nursing Unit Clerk's role in processing medication orders. Information is given about the use of abbreviations and acronyms, the components of a medication order, routes of administration and administration times. The course also introduces the learner to intravenous (IV) therapy, the components of an IV infusion order and the NUC's role in processing IV infusion orders. Actual forms with physician orders are included.
NUCL164 - Laboratory Orders I
NUCL 164 Laboratory Orders I introduces the learner to five subdivisions within the Laboratory (Lab), the role of the Nursing Unit Clerk (NUC) in processing Lab test orders, and how the NUC interacts with the Lab. Information is given about the various specimens obtained for testing, abbreviations and acronyms used in Lab test orders, and requisitions used for Hematology and Chemistry subdivisions.
NUCL166 - Laboratory Orders II
NUCL 166 Laboratory Orders II introduces the learner to the Microbiology, Transfusion Services and Pathology subdivisions of the Laboratory (Lab) and the Nursing Unit Clerk's role in processing orders for these subdivisions. Information is given about the use of abbreviations and acronyms, specimens obtained and requisitions used for these subdivisions, and for specimens sent out to British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA) and the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) provincial Labs. Actual requisitions and physicians' orders will be used for practice.
NUCL168 - Diagnostic Orders
NUCL 168 Diagnostic Orders introduces the learner to the diagnostic departments of Diagnostic Imaging, Electrodiagnostics and Pulmonary Laboratory within the hospital and the Nursing Unit Clerk's role in processing diagnostic orders. Information is given about abbreviations and acronyms, requisitions and preparations for diagnostic procedures. Actual requisitions and physicians' orders from the hospital will be used for practice.
NUCL170 - Medical / Surgical Orders
NUCL 170 Medical / Surgical Orders introduces the learner to admitting, pre-operative (pre-op), discharge and post-operative (post-op) orders and is an accumulation of information learned in previous courses. Information is included about abbreviations and acronyms used for surgical procedures and the Nursing Unit Clerk's role in processing all types of orders. A sampling of actual, typical orders from medical and surgical units is included. The course will assist the learner in reviewing all program information.
NUCL180 - Practicum
NUCL 180 Practicum provides the learner with a consolidated clinical experience where they can apply theory from the Nursing Unit Clerk program. Students work full shifts with an experienced Nursing Unit Clerk.
Tuition & Fees
Domestic
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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