Nursing Unit Clerk certificate

Nursing Unit Clerks work in patient care areas of hospitals, public health care agencies, and long-term care facilities. Unit clerks liaise with doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, coordinating many of the activities of the unit and dealing with crises in a calm and timely manner.

Daily activities may include: processing doctors’ orders, booking tests, booking ambulances and procedures, ordering supplies and equipment, setting up services after discharge, ensuring pre- and post-operative testing is done and results are available, and maintaining confidential medical records.

Employment potential for nursing unit clerks is good. With an aging population, the demand for health care workers grows. 

View entrance requirements in the UFV Academic Calendar.

Students are also required to complete a keyboarding assessment before you start your classes.

Once you have been conditionally accepted to the Nursing Unit Clerk program, follow the steps below for the required program documentation:

1. Health Assessment form must be completed by your doctor. Print a copy of the Health Assessment Record
   Submit the form in person to Continuing Education at the Clearbrook Centre campus or by email to continuingeducation@ufv.ca
2. Immunizations must be up-to-date, check with your high school, parents or Community Health Centre, as they could have a copy. If you do not have your record of immunizations, print the Immunization Record (NUC) and have your doctor complete it. You will be asked for the record at the start of the program.
3. Satisfactory Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening. This form will be completed in class at the start of the program.

Health authorities require the immunization and criminal record check information before a student can be placed in a hospital for practicum.

*All documents must be scanned, pictures of documents will not be accepted* 
If you fail to obtain this documentation, you cannot be placed in a practicum and are not eligible to graduate from the program.

Nursing Unit Clerks (NUCs) are the key communication link between visitors, nurses, physicians, and other members of the health care team. Due to the fast-paced and complex nature of health care service, NUCs must possess excellent communication skills, keen multitasking abilities, and attention to detail.

UFV’s Nursing Unit Clerk certificate program will teach you how to communicate effectively with patients, visitors, and other members of the health care team. You will learn how to multi-task in a fast-paced environment, process doctors' orders and instructions, and perform clerical duties that relate to the overall care of the patient. You will also gain a working knowledge of health care code of ethics. UFV offers small class sizes for individualized attention to optimize your learning.

Courses

The program consists of 12 courses that include a combination of theory and practice-related exercises before you participate in a 150-hour hospital practicum.

• Professionalism and Communication  
• Unit Clerk Fundamentals
• Admissions, Transfers, Discharges, and Patient Records
• Medical Terminology and Pharmacology I
• Medical Terminology and Pharmacology II
• Diagnostics
• Laboratory Orders
• Surgical Orders
• Specialty Nursing Areas
• Practicum
• Practicum Orientation
• Medical Imaging

An optional Medical Imaging practicum is available for an additional cost.

Practicum

In order to qualify for the practicum module, you must have successfully completed all previous coursework and attendance requirements.

When you qualify for a practicum, UFV Continuing Education will assign you a placement that provides you with meaningful work-like experience and exposure to a hospital setting.

Practicum placements reflect the business practices of the practicum host, which includes placement during standard business hours. Transportation to the practicum site is your responsibility and may require travel outside your community of residence. If you refuse an assigned practicum site you will need to find your own site and obtain departmental approval prior to the start of your practicum.

Please discuss any barriers that may affect your practicum assignment with UFV Continuing Education immediately after registration.