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 because as the population ages the demand for health care workers is growing. 

View entrance requirements in the UFV Academic Calendar.

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

Health authorities require a criminal record check and up-to-date immunizations. 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 consist of 12 courses that include a combination of theory and practice-related exercises before your participate in a 150-hour hospital practicum.

• Communication Skills
• Medical Terminology
• Pharmacology I
• Patient Chart Records
• Admissions/Transfers/Discharges
• Pharmacology II
• Laboratory Orders
• Medical Imaging
• Diagnostic Orders
• Surgical Orders
• Therapeutic Orders
• Hospital Practices
• Practicum

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.