Ward staff members provide administrative support in hospitals, handling paperwork, patient records, and transfers. No special education is required, but computer skills and hospital experience are preferred. On-the-job training is provided, and some use the role as a stepping stone to other healthcare careers.
A ward staff member provides administrative support for a hospital ward or nursing unit. Their duties typically range from handling patient records to answering phones. In most cases, a person who wants to become a ward worker does not need special education beyond high school, as employers often provide on-the-job training for their new hires. Administrative work experience, computer skills, and experience in a hospital environment can increase a person’s chances of being hired for this job.
People who work as ward staff have an important job to do in a hospital. They provide critical administrative help to a nursing unit, allowing nurses more time to care for patients. Sometimes referred to as a floor secretary, a person in this position handles paperwork, creates new patient records, adds new information to records, and prepares medical tests, medications, and supply forms. When a patient needs to be transferred to another unit or simply to another room, a ward staff member can arrange the transfer. It can also receive patient visitors and deliver mail to hospital patients, answer unit phones, and relay messages to the appropriate recipient.
An individual who wants to become a ward worker will generally not need any special education to secure a job. In most cases, employers are willing to hire people who have earned high school diplomas or general education development (GED) diplomas. Beyond this basic level of education, employers often prefer job applicants who have good computer and typing skills. Knowledge of acceptable office practices is also typically required. As a ward worker will have to interact with medical staff, patients and hospital visitors, he is generally expected to have good communication skills and understand telephone etiquette.
Most people who do this work receive training from their employer. An individual can also gain experience in an office-related position or by taking classes at a community college or vocational school. For example, he might take typing lessons to improve his accuracy and speed, or take courses in medical terminology. Volunteering in a hospital can also provide a person in that field with valuable experience in a healthcare setting.
Typically, a person who decides to become a ward clerk does not have many chances to advance. Some, however, continue to seek training to pursue other health-related careers. For example, a person can work in this field while taking the necessary classes to become a medical records clerk or a registered nurse.
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