A variety of learning experiences

Nursing Unit Clerk – Certificate

Program Details

Length: 8 months

Total Credits: 28

Intake Terms: Fall

Delivery Method: Online

Campus: Online

Credential: Certificate

Student Loans:

This program is eligible for student loans

Credential Received

Certificate in Nursing Unit Clerk

Overview

Program Summary

The Nursing Unit Clerk Program prepares students with the knowledge, skills and experience to work in a health care setting as a nursing unit assistant (NUA), nursing unit clerk (NUC) or health unit coordinator/hospital unit clerk (HUC).

This is a unique and often little understood position. Persons in this job provide non-clinical support to the interdisciplinary health care team, working at a nursing station of a patient care unit. Nursing unit clerks play a vital role in managing information flow in the hospital nursing unit. They have been described as the “go-to” person and the “hub” of the nursing unit. The NUC performs tasks such as answering phones, taking and relaying messages, greeting people who come to the desk, answering questions, completing paperwork and computer data entry.

Roles and Responsibilities

  • Interpreting medical terminology and abbreviations
  • Coordinating communications
  • Using excellent professional communication skills
  • Protecting confidentiality and patient rights
  • Processing physicians’ orders for patient care
  • Processing patient admissions, transfers and discharges
  • Collaborating with health care professionals
  • Applying problem-solving and critical thinking skills
  • Using organization, time-management and stress-management skills
  • Entering and retrieving information utilizing electronic health records

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  1. Contribute to a culture of safety in practice with accurate interpretation and processing of orders
  2. Apply basic knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, diagnostics and pharmacology in an acute-care setting
  3. Engage in respectful and professional practices in accordance with codes of ethics, standards, and organizational policies to ensure confidentiality and privacy of information
  4. Demonstrate the ability to follow instructions, work independently, adapt to changes and manage time under pressure
  5. Be motivated, self-reflective and engage in lifelong learning to maintain currency
  6. Collaborate and communicate effectively with patients, the health care team and the public
  7. Apply critical thinking skills and transfer knowledge effectively

Program Admission Requirements

Academic Requirements

In addition to meeting the general admission requirements to Selkirk College, the applicant must meet the following Nursing Unit Clerk Program requirements to be considered fully-qualified:

  • English Studies 12 with a minimum of 60% or higher, or equivalent

Additional Requirements

  • Keyboarding speed of 40 words per minute
  • Computer skills, including knowledge of internet, email, word processing and file management.
  • Criminal Record Check (CRC) clearance letter by the Criminal Record Check from the Criminal Records Review Program, including clearance to work with vulnerable adults. as part of the application process. The CRC will be available, on request, to any hospital or health facility receiving students for the practicum.
  • Selkirk College immunization form as required by practice partners and as ordered by the Medical Health Officer of British Columbia.

Before an application file is considered complete, a Selkirk College Application Form along with proof of the above requirements must be received by the Admissions Office.

Program seats will be offered on a first-qualified, first-served basis. Partially qualified applicants may be offered a conditional acceptance; an interim statement of grades will be used for the purposes of conditional acceptance. All program admission requirements must be met prior to starting program courses. Once the seats have been filled, a waitlist will be created and maintained for 12 months, after which applicants who are not admitted or have deferred a seat must reapply to affirm their continued interest in the program.

APPLICATION PROCESS

1. Before an application file is considered complete, the following must be received by the Admissions Office:

a) Selkirk College Application Form

b) Official transcripts of high school grades (an interim statement of grades is acceptable if applicant is still attending school)

c) Official transcripts for any post-secondary education studies in which the applicant has enrolled

d) Evidence of keyboarding speed of 40 words per minute

e) Criminal Record Check (CRC) clearance letter by the Criminal Record Check from the Criminal Records Review Program, including clearance to work with vulnerable adults

f) Selkirk College immunization form as required by practice partners and as ordered by the Medical Health Officer of British Columbia.

2. The Admissions Office will acknowledge receipt of application forms. Program seats will be offered on a first qualified, first served basis.

3. Partially qualified applicants may be offered conditional acceptance; an interim statement of grades will be used for the purposes of conditional acceptance. All program admission requirements must be met prior to starting program courses.

4. Once the seats have been filled, a waitlist will be created and maintained for 12 months after which applicants who are not admitted or have deferred a seat must reapply to affirm their continued interest in the program.

Graduation and Promotion

To qualify for graduation, a student must meet the following requirements (see Policy 8617: Graduation):

To progress from term to term, students must obtain a minimum grade of 80% in each course and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00.

PROMOTION

1. To progress from semester to semester, students must obtain a minimum grade of 80% in each course and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0.

2. Students who fail in any course must re-register and repeat the course in its entirety before proceeding on to the next course.

3. All courses must be completed in the time frame specified by the college timetable. Allowances may be made for the preceptorship due to the employer's ability to accommodate.

4. Probation will be initiated if a student fails two (2) courses.

5. Failure of a third course may be cause for dismissal from the program.

Program Courses

Required Courses

CodeTitleCreditsTotal Hours
NUCL100NUCL Program Foundation

1.00

30
MTED100Medical Terminology I

1.00

30
MTED101Medical Terminology II

3.00

90
NUCL146Hospital Orientation

2.00

60
NUCL152Patient Chart Records

2.50

75
NUCL154Admissions, Discharges and Transfers

2.50

75
NUCL156Drug Nomenclature

3.00

90
NUCL162Medication Orders

2.00

60
NUCL164Laboratory Orders I

2.00

60
NUCL166Laboratory Orders II

2.00

60
NUCL168Diagnostic Orders

2.00

60
NUCL170Medical / Surgical Orders

2.00

60
NUCL180Practicum

4.00

120

Additional Program Policies

Effective Term: Fall

Effective Year: 20240801

Advanced Standing:

ADVANCE OR TRANSFER CREDIT AND PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT

1. A student may obtain credit for a maximum of 75% of program requirements by Transfer Credit, Advanced Placement, Prior Learning Assessment or combination thereof.

2. Application for advance or transfer credit must be made prior to entry into the program as per Policy 8614: Advanced Standing – Course Challenge, PLA, Transfer Credit and approval obtained from the Registrar.

3. Individual consideration will be given to students who apply for advanced standing from another Nursing Unit Clerk Program.

4. A student who wishes to prove mastery of part or all of a course’s content must apply for Prior Learning Assessment (PLA). The School Chair in consultation with program instructors will determine whether PLA credit is assigned.

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Re-Entry Instructions:

1. Students in good standing who must interrupt their program may apply to re-enter the program within one year of departure.

2. Students who fail to successfully complete a course may apply to re-enter the course the next time it is offered.

3. Priority for re-entry will be given as follows:

a) Students who interrupted their program for illness or compassionate reasons.

b) Students who failed to meet program requirements for promotion.

4. Students must complete the entire program within two consecutive academic school years of initial entry. Exceptional cases will be considered individually at the discretion of the School Chair.

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Assessment:

Grading in theory courses will be as per the Standard Grading Table for Nursing Unit Clerk as defined in Selkirk College Policy 8612 – Grading.

Grading in practicum courses will be as per the Competency Based Grades as defined in Selkirk College Policy 8612 – Grading.

Grading Table: Other

Grading Table: Both the Standard Academic and Career and the Competency Based grading tables will be used.

Types of Assessments:

a) Assignments: forum postings, peer review

b) Online quizzes and examinations for theory courses;

c) Preceptorship: self-assessment and preceptor feedback documented; instructor is responsible for assigning grade of CRG or NCG

Supplemental Assessment(s)

If a student scores less than 80% on any assessment and is at risk of failing the course, they may request a supplemental assessment based on the criteria below:

a) Requests for supplemental assessments must be received within 48 hours of the posting of marks and completed within 7 calendar days of approval.
b) Supplemental assessments will be limited to one per course with a maximum of 3 total.

c) The result of a supplemental assessment cannot exceed 80% and is used in calculation of the final grade.

d) Under extraordinary circumstances, one supplemental final exam per student may be granted following consultation between Instructor and School Chair. In this consultation, a timeline will be set for the final exam's completion. In no case will the exam be completed more than 30 days from the end of the course.

e) The result of the supplemental examination will replace that of the final examination in calculation of the final grade. The final grade for the course can be improved to 80%only.

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Attendance:

To be successful in this program, each course has a minimum required number of hours which the student uses to practice in preparation for testing. To be successful, some students may be required to spend additional hours on a course(s).

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Professional Requirements:

  1. A 120-hour practicum is required at the end of the program and must be completed within 6 weeks from the practicum (NUCL 180) course start date. The course start date for the practicum may be adjusted due to the employer's ability to accommodate the practicum time frame.
  2. Students are eligible for practicum after successful completion of all theory courses.
  3. Selkirk College, in consultation with the administrators of each placement facility, arranges practicum placements. Students are not to solicit potential placements; such activity could jeopardize possible placement opportunities. Final placements are at the College’s discretion. If the student declines the placement arranged, the College is not obligated to arrange an alternate placement.
  4. During the practicum, students are expected to dress in scrubs or office dress. Students are expected to meet or exceed management requirements for job performance and to maintain a good working relationship with their unit clerk supervisor and other staff.
  5. Students are subject to College and program policies as well as the policies of the facility.
  6. If the student gains employment as a unit clerk prior to completing the program, the student may apply for prior learning assessment (PLA) for the practicum.

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Other regulations:

PROBATION (See College Policy 8619: Student Probation)

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