Nursing Unit Secretary - JRI - F/T Days

Hackensack Meridian Health - Edison, NJ

Full-time - Entry Level

Edison, NJ

Hospitals

About the position

The Nursing Unit Secretary (NUS) at Hackensack Meridian Health plays a crucial role in supporting the professional nursing staff by performing a variety of tasks that relate to both direct and indirect patient care. This position is essential for maintaining the smooth operation of the nursing unit, ensuring that both patients and staff have the necessary resources and support to provide high-quality care. The NUS is responsible for a range of administrative duties, communication functions, and acts as a receptionist, all of which contribute to the overall efficiency of the nursing unit. In this role, the NUS will perform various administrative tasks as directed by the Registered Nurse in Charge, acting as a liaison for patients, visitors, and hospital personnel. This includes managing the unit's communication systems, which involves answering phones, call-bells, and utilizing the Careboard to address the needs of patients, families, doctors, and nursing staff. The NUS will also ensure that supplies and equipment are adequately maintained to support patient needs and the functionality of the nursing unit. The position requires the NUS to prepare, compile, and maintain patient medical records, ensuring accurate labeling and filing of information using appropriate patient identifiers. The NUS will enter physician's orders into the computerized order entry system and prepare discharge or transfer documentation. Additionally, the NUS assists physicians in retrieving records and automated diagnostic results, maintains the Patient Horizon Scheduler (PHS), and supports the Nurse Manager with unit-based documents such as meeting minutes and memos. Participation in daily rounds is essential to ensure patient safety and promote a positive patient and family experience. The NUS will also perform environmental rounds to maintain a safe and risk-free environment, addressing any identified issues promptly. In emergency situations, the NUS is expected to assist as necessary and report any environmental and safety hazards to the registered nurse or charge nurse. The role also includes attending unit-specific staff meetings to stay informed about changes in the department and medical center, along with other duties and projects as assigned. The NUS must adhere to Hackensack Meridian Health's organizational and managerial competencies and standards of behavior, while also meeting physical demands such as lifting, pushing, pulling, and standing for extended periods.

Responsibilities

• Performs a variety of administrative tasks to support the daily workflow of the nursing unit as directed by the Registered Nurse in Charge.
• Acts as a liaison in receiving patients, visitors, and hospital personnel.
• Manages the unit's communication systems to address needs of patients, families, doctors, and nursing staff (answers phones, call-bells, Careboard).
• Ensures adequate maintenance of supplies and equipment to support the needs of patients and the functionality of nursing units.
• Attends NUS meetings and unit-based staff meetings. Supports nursing staff as needed.
• Prepares, compiles, and maintains the patient's medical record including chart documentation. Ensures accurate labeling and filing of information using appropriate patient identifiers.
• Enters physician's orders into computerized order entry system.
• Prepares discharge and/or transfer documentation.
• Assists physicians in retrieving records and automated diagnostic results.
• Maintains timely Patient Horizon Scheduler (PHS).
• Assists the Nurse Manager with preparing unit-based documents such as meeting minutes, memos, etc. Assists with performing other unit-based clerical duties.
• Participates in daily rounds to ensure patient safety and promotion of a positive patient and family experience.
• Performs environmental rounds to ensure a safe and risk-free environment with follow-up on identified issues to completion.
• Takes necessary steps to reduce risks and reports all environmental and safety hazards to the registered nurse or charge nurse. Assists when necessary in emergency situations.
• Attends unit-specific staff meetings to keep abreast of changes in the department and medical center.
• Other duties and/or projects as assigned.

Requirements

• High School diploma, general equivalency diploma (GED), and/or GED equivalent programs.
• Computer proficiency.
• 1-2 years prior experience as a secretary in an acute care setting is preferred.
• Possess exceptional interpersonal skills and demonstrate functional competencies preferred.