Class
Code: 02000
82000
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES –
HUMAN RESOURCES
NURSING UNIT COORDINATOR
DEFINITION
Coordinates clinical and non-clinical activities and
performs reception and clerical support functions for a nursing care unit;
performs related work as required.
The Work Examples and Competencies listed are for
illustrative purposes only and not intended to be the primary basis for
position classification decisions.
WORK
EXAMPLES
Transcribes doctor's orders by recording
the order on the resident's medication and care kardex, identifying controlled
drugs and establishing a discontinuance date for them, schedules the time of
day and number of times per day medications are to be administered, and
notifies the pharmacy of the order.
Assists with the admission of new
residents by preparing a medical chart and medication sheet, establishing vital
sign norms, assigning bath schedules, requesting admissions laboratory tests,
and sending referrals to the dentist, optometrist, podiatrist, etc., as
directed by the nursing staff.
Assists with the transfer of residents
to other nursing care units, Veteran's Administration or university hospitals
by compiling all medical information for the resident from nursing care plans
and charts indicating diagnoses, medications, treatments, allergies, vital
norms, diet and ambulation; arranges for most feasible time for transfer and
notifies other departments of the transfer.
Assists the Public Health Team with
mass inoculation programs for pheumovax, influenza, TB and tetanus by securing
signed consent and information forms and assisting residents with their
clothing during the inoculation.
Schedules appointments for residents
for annual physicals, laboratory work, physical therapy, beauty or barber shop,
etc., by notifying the nursing staff of residents due for annual physicals,
scheduling pre-physical laboratory work and insuring that medication is
administered as required by the specific tests to be completed.
Receives and directs visitors to the
unit, answers the telephone and relays messages to the proper staff, keeps
track of the whereabouts of all staff members and residents, answers calls for
assistance from residents, and covers for the unit when the clinical staff are
in meetings.
Maintains daily census sheets on all
residents in the unit so that all residents can be accounted for on any given
day to justify reimbursement of federal funding.
Prepares a variety of monthly reports
indicating the number of laboratory tests administered, admissions, transfers,
deaths, furloughs, resident accidents, etc., following established
institutional procedures and formats.
Prepares new medication sheets monthly
for each resident on the unit to insure proper medication is given at proper
time intervals, updates resident charts which contain nurses and doctors
progress notes, histories, lab and x-ray reports and reports from private
hospitals.
Performs a variety of tasks to assist
residents such as explaining Veterans Administration and Social Security checks,
ordering cigarettes and beer when prescribed, delivering mail, taking clothing
to the laundry, sewing room or dry cleaner, and assisting with writing
correspondence.
Maintains an inventory of medications and stock supplies
on the unit such as laundry soap, bleach, hand soap, juices, milk and coffee by
estimating the needs, conferring with medication charts, and preparing
requisitions.
COMPETENCIES
REQUIRED
Knowledge of the general
organization and activities of an institutional nursing care unit and the
various departments interacting with the unit such as Physical Therapy,
Pharmacy, Social Services, Dietary and Laboratory.
Knowledge of the clerical support
procedures required in admitting, discharging or transferring residents such as
preparation of medical charts, establishing vital sign norms, scheduling
laboratory tests and preparing patient medical treatment histories.
Knowledge of the nursing care unit’s
procedures for completing medical forms such as laboratory slips, doctor’s
order sheets, nursing care forms, and medication sheets.
Knowledge of medications and medical
terminology required for transcribing doctor’s orders to schedule time
intervals for meds passing and to establish time limits for various controlled
drugs such as antibiotics.
Knowledge of the procedures for
estimating and ordering medications and stock supplies such as soap, bleach,
juices, milk and coffee used by the nursing care unit.
Ability to establish and maintain
effective working relationships with professional treatment staff, supervisors,
and other employees.
Ability to establish and maintain
effective working relationships with institutional residents and to deal with
each resident sympathetically and tactfully.
Ability to transcribe doctor’s
orders for medications and laboratory tests, establishing time schedules for
administering medications and scheduling laboratory tests in conjunction with
specific preparation orders.
Ability to maintain medical charts
and treatment records.
Ability to prepare a variety of
clinical and non-clinical reports to comply with state and federal reporting
requirements.
Ability to organize and carry out
work assignments in an environment where interruptions are frequent.
Displays high standards of ethical
conduct. Exhibits honesty and integrity. Refrains from theft-related, dishonest and
unethical behavior.
Works and communicates with internal
and external clients and customers to meet their needs in a polite, courteous,
and cooperative manner. Committed to
quality service.
Displays a high level of initiative,
effort and commitment towards completing assignments efficiently. Works with minimal supervision. Demonstrates responsible behavior and
attention to detail.
Responds appropriately to
supervision. Follows policy and
cooperates with supervisors.
Aligns behavior with the needs,
priorities and goals of the organization.
Encourages and facilitates
cooperation, pride, trust and group identity.
Fosters commitment and team spirit.
Expresses information to individuals
or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the
information. Listens to others and
responds appropriately.
EDUCATION,
EXPERIENCE, AND SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
The equivalent of two years of
full-time clerical work experience involving the use of medical terminology;
OR
employees with current continuous
experience in the state executive branch that includes the equivalent of one
year of full-time work experience as a Resident Treatment Worker, Pharmacy
Assistant or a position providing nursing care or clerical work in a state
institution providing medical services shall be considered qualified.
SELECTIVE
CERTIFICATION
For designated positions requiring
skilled Nursing duties, the appointing authority, with prior Iowa Department of
Administrative Services – Human Resources Enterprise approval, may request the
referral of only the names of those applicants who have completed an Iowa
approved Nurse Aide training course of 75 or more hours and who are on the
State of Iowa Nurse Aide Registry.
116 Certified Nurse Aide/Orderly
Applicants wishing to be considered for such designated
positions must list applicable coursework, experience, certificate, license, or
endorsement on the application.
Effective Date: 06/08
SH