Unit Secretary/Nursing Attendant - Telemetry Observation - Night

Unit Secretary/Nursing Attendant - Telemetry/Observation Unit (Tele/Obs)

• 30-bed Telemetry-Observation Unit providing care to the cardiac, the medical and the surgical patient
• We use an Interdisciplinary team approach to patient care
• Short length of stay for most patients
• EKG, ACLS, and residency classes are provided
• Individualized orientation program for each new member joining our team

Position Function: As a Unit Secretary, performs the clerical duties on the patient care unit while functioning as the focal communication source at the nursing station. As a Nursing Attendant, functions as an integral part of the patient care team by performing selected patient care treatments and tasks as delegated by licensed nurse. Is accountable for own action in performing duties as assigned and for which they are trained. Included is recognition and understanding of the physical, cognitive and psychosocial changes unique to the age/population group served on the unit.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Core Values: Service, Integrity, Compassion
1. Demonstrates service excellence and patient and family centered care by showing respect, honesty, fairness, and a positive attitude toward all customers.
2. Maintains confidentiality.
3. Demonstrates dependability, to include attendance and punctuality.
4. Is accountable - takes initiative and ownership of issues.
5. Displays a professional demeanor. Represents hospital in a positive way. Has a compassionate working relationship with patients and families.
6. Assumes personal responsibility for 2-way communication. Communicates and listens effectively with patients, families, coworkers, other departments, physicians/providers, and community.
7. Supports coworkers, initiatives and a patient and family centered philosophy; pitches in; does own part and helps others.
8. Works to continuously improve work environment/processes (Performance Improvement). Demonstrates a patient and family centered focus when considering/developing improvement solutions.
9. Represents willingness/enthusiasm to create, embrace and facilitate change.
10. Develops self and others; supports a learning environment; leads by example. Encourages patients and families to give feedback and suggestions for improvement.
11. Develops working relationships critical to the organization including patients, families, coworkers, other departments, physicians/providers, and community.
12. Encourages others by providing recognition and support.

Technical Excellence
1. Thinks critically; utilizes sound judgment; promptly reports potential risks.
2. Maintains state of art knowledge of area of specialty, healthcare trends and practice, and populations served.
3. Maintains a level of computer literacy appropriate to their role.
4. Meets and maintains current all unit specific and organizational skills/competencies, certifications/licensures, as required.
5. Completes hospital-required reviews, e.g., HIPAA, safety, health screening,
care concerns, and others as assigned.
6. Adheres to National Patient Safety Goals.

Job Class Specifics
Unit Secretary
1. Remains calm, reassuring, and proficient during emergency situations.
2. Readily adapts to changes in workload. Prioritizes work.
3. Receives, places and transfers telephone calls using appropriate telephone etiquette while promoting positive customer service.
4. Assists in orientation of all new staff to unit, demonstrated by being friendly and encouraging, sharing knowledge and skills, and being willing to participate in orientation.
5. Maintains appropriate quantity of forms, materials, and supplies.
6. Accurately records/enters information as required (I.e., patient charges, appointments, etc.).
7. Initiates, assembles and maintains charts for all patients on the assigned unit.
8. Under the supervision of the RN, completely and accurately transcribes physician orders utilizing Epic.
9. Seeks guidance and direction as needed for performance of duties.
10. Advises appropriate personnel of situations requiring attention or follow-up.
11. Maintains chart check to ensure no missed orders (N/A where indicated).
12. Assists during emergency situations as directed by shift charge nurse. Reports any patient problems to a direct care provider immediately.
13. Supports, reinforces, coaches, and assists, as necessary, the physicians in the retrieval of clinical information from the EMR.
14. Maintains patient assignments boards, patient therapy board or tracker.
15. Completes appropriate forms upon patient's death to include calling CORE, notifying funeral home and coroner, when necessary.
16. Demonstrates involvement in unit by attending 50% of staff/committee meetings and in-services for area.
17. Responsible for maintenance and activation of downtime forms during planned and unplanned Epic downtime periods.
18. Expected to float to other Patient Services areas to cover assigned duties as needed.
19. Transports medications within the hospital as requested and needed according to Hospital policy.
Nursing Attendant
20. Demonstrates ability to communicate pertinent information to the primary nurse.
21. Seeks guidance and direction, as necessary, for performance of duties and completion of assignment.
22. Assists and maintains a neat, clean, and safe environment for patients and other nursing staff.
23. Attends 50% of in-services and staff meetings for area.
24. Familiar with duties and performs them independently, accurately, efficiently, promptly, recognizing their importance and relationship to patient care for all age/population groups.
25. Receives instructions and follows directions accurately and in a cooperative manner.
26. Observes changes in patient condition & promptly reports to primary nurse.
27. Utilizes proper body mechanics to prevent injury to self and others. Safely positions, transfers, and transports patients.
28. Assists in maintaining equipment assigned to patient care and reports malfunctioning of equipment to appropriate personnel.
29. Assists in orientation of new personnel to the unit by being friendly and encouraging and serving as a preceptor or "buddy".
30. Recognizes and responds to priorities in the patient care process. Readily adapts to changes in workload and responds efficiently.
31. Responds appropriately to emergency situations.
32. Anticipates unit's needs, and promptly answers/responds to patient call lights, pages, and safety checks.
33. Assists in postmortem care and transports the body to Morgue on occasion.
34. Performs external cardiac compressions to patients during Code Blue activities if required.
35. Transports medications within the hospital as requested and needed according to Hospital policy.
General Requirements

The following requirements are expected of all employees:

Core Values: Integrity, Compassion, Excellence, Service
Annual Health Screening with Infection Control and Blood Borne Pathogens Education
Safety Awareness: Hospital Fire, Safety, and Disaster Procedures
Confidentiality: Maintains Employee and Patient Confidentiality.
Attendance: Regular attendance is an essential function of the position
Leadership Standards:
Character: Attitude, Integrity, Role Modeling
Job Performance: Results Orientation, Customer Focus, Decision Making, Awareness
Interpersonal Skills: Communication, Relationship-building, Team Player, Celebration
Innovation: Breakthrough Thinking, Knowledge-Building/Sharing, Coaching/Empowering, System Vision & Management

Working Environment: Work is performed in a clean, well-ventilated, indoor area; possible exposure to patients with infectious diseases or to bodily fluids which may contain infectious agents. Some risk of physical harm in dealing with patients who may pose a danger to self, others, or property.

Reporting Structure:
A. Formal Reporting and Chain of Command - Reports to the Clinical Manager of the assigned unit or their designee. In his/her absence, reports to Nurse Manager, Administrative Shift Supervisor, Director of Patient Services and/or Vice President of Patient Services.
B. Informal Reporting and Relationships - Establishes and maintains harmonious, productive relationships with all levels of nursing personnel, other hospital personnel, management, physicians, patients, and the general public.

Disclaimer: These essential job functions are requirements of the position which must be performed either with or without reasonable accommodation. The essential job function list is intended to be a guide rather than a limitation. The Chambersburg Hospital possesses the right to add new responsibilities to the list as business demands dictate. Some of the essential job functions may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat/significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or others.

By identifying essential job functions, we are in no way stating or implying that these required tasks are the only activities that are to be performed by the employee occupying this position. In addition, employees will also be expected to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties that are included in the job description. The preceding requirements represent only the minimum acceptable levels of knowledge, skills, and/or abilities that a job incumbent must possess; in order to perform the job successfully, the incumbent will possess additional aptitudes so as to perform the other duties that the job description entails.

Qualifications and Standards

Education: Formal Education and Training - High school graduate or the equivalent. Graduate of a nursing educational program preferred.

Experience: Experience applying customer service behaviors and communication skills required. Proficiency in the use of computers, fax machine, and related equipment required. Prior clerical experience in health care setting preferred.

Certifications/Licensure: None required.