Health Unit Coordinator
Start date: Fall (full-time) and January (part-time)
Description
The Health Unit Coordinator (formerly Nursing Unit Coordinator) Program provides students with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills, and values required as a front-line person in a hospital setting, either in acute care, long-term, or extended care units.
Students will study anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology; communication strategies that focus on acute, emergent, and long-term needs; assembling and disassembling patient charts according to hospital policy; legal aspects and patient confidentiality; pharmacology fundamentals, generic and brand name drugs and their uses; treatment and medication orders, equipment and medical devices for specific procedures; CPR; admitting, transferring, and discharging patients; lab orders; diagnostic orders; medical, surgical, and maternity orders.
The Health Unit Coordinator Practicum is offered in cooperation with hospitals in the Greater Vancouver area and the Kwantlen University College region. A variety of practicum settings will be used to give students diverse hospital experiences. Practicums will be run on a preceptorship model and will include on-site instructor supervision.
Career Opportunities
This program prepares students to work as Health Unit Coordinators in a hospital setting, either in acute care, long-term, or extended care units, in admitting or radiology departments, as medical office assistants or as staffing clerks.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must have completed:
- Grade 12 or an acceptable equivalent (i.e. ABE Advanced, ABE Provincial, or the GED)
- Computer skills prerequisite
- Typing speed 40 wpm (50 wpm upon course completion)
- Office background; skills or experience (optional)
- Successful completion of a reading/writing comprehension test at a validated level at Kwantlen
- Scheduled Health Unit Coordinator Information Session
- Criminal Record Search
Content
Term I
Designed to give students a theoretical background to the subject matter and its application.
HAUC 1000 Medical Terminology
HAUC 1005 Communication and Logistic Skills
HAUC 1010 Chart Records and Admissions
HAUC 1015 Pharmacology Fundamentals
Term II
The course work will blend theoretical and practical subject materials. Practical experience in a nursing unit will be incorporated in the program.
HAUC 1100 Treatment and Medication Orders
HAUC 1110 Laboratory Orders I
HAUC 1115 Laboratory Orders II
HAUC 1120 Diagnostic Orders
HAUC 1125 Medical/Surgical/Maternity Orders
Term III
This term provides students with clinical experience requiring the application of knowledge and skills developed in Terms I and II.
HAUC 1200 Practicum
Total Program Hours - 678 hrs.
Program Goals
The graduates of this program will be able to:
- Communicate effectively with patients, visitors, and other members of the health care team
- Demonstrate an understanding of the organization, structure, and function of the various departments of a hospital
- Function effectively in a fast paced environment, often in emergency situations
- Process doctors' orders
- Perform clerical duties related to the hospital setting and patient records
- Identify, pronounce, and spell the names of commonly used hospital drugs
- Perform clerical duties relating to the overall care of patients
- Perform standard receptionist duties
- Have a knowledge of and ability to work within general hospital code of ethics
Tuition
$5000.00 (tuition subject to change without notice; student loans available for full-time program). Students are also responsible for costs related to travel to practicums, uniforms, and textbooks.
Graduation
Upon successful completion of this program, students are awarded a Kwantlen University College Certificate in Health Unit Coordinator.
More Information
This program is offered on the Langley Campus over three consecutive terms on a full-time day or part-time evening basis. The full-time program begins in the fall and the part-time program begins in January.
