Definition of Unit Secretary

A hospital would be very chaotic without order. The responsibility of a unit secretary is to bring organization to the facility. A unit secretary interacts with hospital staff, as well as patients and the family or friends of patients. Unit secretaries must have great communication skills.

Educational Requirements

• The education required of a unit secretary varies by health care facility and duties. Some facilities only require at least a high school diploma or equivalent, but majority require a certified nursing assistant certification, certificate of basic life support (CPR), a registered nursing license and others.

Functions

• Some functions a unit secretary performs include answering phones, ordering supplies, transcribing physician orders, maintaining records with the supervision of a registered nurse and coordinating the needs of the nursing unit with other departments.

Working Environment

• A unit secretary works in a hospital environment as an assistant in the emergency room, operating room or other units of a hospital.

Salary

• According to indeed.com, the average salary of a unit secretary was $43,000 as of 2010.

Time Frame

• The shifts that a unit secretary works vary from facility to facility. Some unit secretaries work eight hour shifts and others work 12-hour shifts around the clock, such as 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and other shifts.