The best part is...

What do you enjoy most about health unit coordinator work? What do you dislike the most? Is it challenging? Are there many opportunities to learn and advance?

What keeps you at your job?

I was employed as a HUC here in Phoenix AZ and the pay was $13/hour which is high for Phoenix. Top earners make about $15/hour here and they typically are CNA's who combine HUC duties with nursing assistant responsibilities. Please be aware this will probably be the busiest, most demanding job you will ever have. I would recommend this job only to those who plan to become health care workers such as nurses or technicians because it isnt a job you stay in for the long haul for most people. The work is too demanding and the pay too low to be a career choice. I worked twelve hour shifts were I could stop to take a lunch so be advised you will either love it or hate it, there is no in between!

In my area of Tenn, I have seen the job postings for Health Unit Coordinator/Unit Secretary and most of them are saying "cross training as a CNA required"...Does anyone know if this is the case all over the US and do they train you for the CNA or will that be your responsibiity and costs?

I am a CNA,that changed my position to make more money. It was not a qualification to be a CNA to recieve the position. There is no way in hell a person can perform the job of a CNA and work as a health Unit Coordinator too. That is crazy. My qualifications as a CNA did not even come up.

Tara in Michigan in Flint, Michigan said: I am a CNA,that changed my position to make more money. It was not a qualification to be a CNA to recieve the position. There is no way in hell a person can perform the job of a CNA and work as a health Unit Coordinator too. That is crazy. My qualifications as a CNA did not even come up.

Tara:

Do you enjoy being a CNA though? When I first took the HUC course many years ago, it seemed like a job I would love. The only thing about CNA duties is the bathing/dressing of patients, etc. I am not sure I would like or be able to do that. I am only 100 pds. What are your main duties each day? I did find out that cross training is very hospital specific, so that is good.

I have been a HUC in a major university medical center surgery stepdown unit for 8 years. The job is hetic, crazy and sometimes just plain nuts (three admits lined up during a code blue). My hospital is trying to get HUCs to convert to CSTs (combined CNA & HUC). I will tell you first hand it does not work. No matter who your staff are (RNs) an person in a combined role will get worked to death.

Amen to that. I am no longer working as a HUC but I cannot imagine doing both the job of a HUC and a CNA and not burning out completely in a short time. Wow that is hard to believe.