It was in the 1940s when Hospital Unit Coordinators (HUC) became a part of the hospital setting. At that time, a writer by the name of Abraham Oseroff noticed how terribly harassed nurses were. In an article that he wrote, he commented that these nurses needed some sort of human assistance that can take some of the pressure off of their workload. It was this article that paved the way for the HUC to become a welcome addition to the hospital. Before you decide to work in this hospital career, use these tips to learn what this healthcare professional does and what the requirements are for getting into these hospital jobs. If you’re interested in online learning, you can become an HUC by getting an online degree in nursing or by obtaining other types of medical career training through an accredited online college. The guidelines below will help you prepare for this hospital career.
Here’s how to become a hospital unit coordinator.
- What does it take to become an HUC? The HUC is generally the first person that people come in contact with when they walk on the hospital unit. The scope of the job is large and very important. They answer the phone, direct patient visitors, and generally control the traffic on the unit. They arrange for transportation of patients to departments for examinations, transcribe physician’s orders, and order meals or snacks for patients who did not receive meals due to testing. They also order supplies, inventory stock as needed, and relay messages to the nursing staff from patients and visitors. They are also invaluable in emergency situations when an extra pair of hands can make a huge difference. In some facilities they may also occasionally help with moving patients when an extra person is needed.
- Finding a school. The minimum education entry level is a high school diploma. In addition you should be comfortable with dealing with the public and good at handeling stressful situations. Some facilities will do on-the-job training, while others will require a class at a community college. These classes range from 11 weeks to one year. Prepare to study medical topics related to your HUC career including the terminologies and organizational aspects of working in a hospital setting. If you can’t take this program at a community college or technical school for one reason or another, you can opt to take it online through distance learning, but make sure the credentials of the online school is cleared by and is accredited with the National Association of Health Unit Coordinators (NAHUC).
- Get certified. Certification is not really required from you prior to employment but it will look great on a resume and will make you more prepared for this complex job. This exam is given by the NAHUC.
- Continue learning. This is necessary for you to keep your certification. A total of 36 hours of continuing education spread over a period of three years should maintain your status as an HUC.
- What to expect in your wallet. The salary range for a HUC is $22,000 to $33,300 with the median salary being $25,000. This job does include shift work and there is usually a shift differential with a great premium being paid for nights and in some facilities, weekends.
- There’s a strong job outlook. The job outlook for the next ten years is for a growth of around 20%. There is usually a fair amount of turn over in these positions as people use this as an entry level position to see if they will like a career in healthcare and then go on for more education.
- What the work environment is like. There will be a lot of desk work with this position and dealing with all departments in the hospital. It the roof springs a leak people will turn to the HUC to make the call to get it fixed. The patient in room 311 needs to see a member of the clergy; the HUC will need to make the call. Doctor A needs to find Nurse B, the HUC will be pressed into service to find the nurse. It is fast paced, exciting and fun. The hours can also be long when working a 12 hour night shift.
As you can see, this is not a job for the faint-of-heart. A well run nursing unit begins with a well organized HUC. They are an invaluable member of the hospital or extended care facility health care team. It is the perfect job if you can see yourself working with patients, families, physicians, nurses, aides, and all members of the healthcare team. If you have great organizing skills and like working with people in a fast paced environment, this may be your perfect job.