Ward Clerk, Acute Care .FTE

Description

The Ward Clerk functions under the direction and supervision of the supervisor/registered nurse to perform assigned general clerical duties which may include preparing, compiling, maintaining records on the nursing unit; demonstrating proficiency and accuracy.

The Ward Clerk is assigned to receive and transmit communication to appropriate persons, process physician’s orders, complete required documents specific to patient care procedures, maintain patient census report, file reports of diagnostic/therapeutic services in the patient record, obtain/delivers items as needed, and maintains stock inventory.

• Subject to review by the staff nurse, consistently and legibly transcribes physician’s orders from patient charts to nursing records and medication sheets. When several charts need processing, scan all of them to get any “Stat Orders” first.
• Ensuring the phone is attended at all times. Answering the telephone with courtesy and make appropriate transfer of calls to proper location or persons. Takes message when appropriate to do so. Consistently utilizes telephone system correctly, using established phone procedures and etiquette. Always identify yourself when answering the phone.
• Acts as a receptionist. Asks visitors how they can be helped and directs them appropriately to patient’s room and other hospital departments.
• Keeps nurses station tidy and organized
• Fax information with the fax machine at the nurse’s station. Placing any faxed material in the appropriate chart or department.
• Operate the radio at the nurse’s station. Know how to use the pager system via the radio and phone.
• Notifies patient’s nurse, or other nurse if call light has been on longer than 5 minutes.
• Places lab work, X-ray reports on patient’s charts in a timely manner after the nurse has reviewed and initiated them.
• Adds extra chart forms (i.e. doctor’s orders, progress notes, nurse’s notes, and graphic forms when needed).
• Notifies nurse when monitor alarms go off. Looks at monitor to see if patient leads are off or battery needs to be replaced.
• Notify lab for any now orders or any specific time draws as ordered by the doctor. Follow up with the lab if time frame has come and gone to make sure order has not been overlooked.
• Make appropriate copies of chart for transfer of a patient to another facility. Make sure discharge forms is on chart for doctor and nurse to fill out.
• Make out and keep up to date the call list for physicians and staff in other departments.
• May need to call surgery staff in for emergency surgery. This should be done under the direction of the house supervisor only after the primary physician has contacted the anesthesiologist.

• Reports to work in proper uniform/attire.
• Leaves for meal break on time and returns on time.
• Varies work schedule to meet the needs of the department.
• Ensures the department manager has approved all scheduled overtime.
• Seek supervisor approval before working beyond scheduled hours that will result in overtime.
• Schedules all time off with supervisor’s approval.
• Strictly adheres to hospital attendance/tardiness policies 100% of the time.
• Performs all duties as assigned.
• Wears I.D. badge in a visible location at all times on hospital property.
• Protects I.D. and access badge and reports any issues or loss immediately to supervisor or to the Human Resource Department.

3.Attends and participates in meetings and is…