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Continuing Education

Nursing Unit Clerk Certificate

Health Care

Launch a career in healthcare

Get ready to work as a certified nursing unit clerk in a hospital or care facility and take on the administrative and liaison responsibilities that enable a healthcare unit to function smoothly.

The Nursing Unit Clerk program teaches you to communicate effectively with nurses, physicians, and other members of the healthcare team. You learn to prioritize in a fast-paced environment, identify commonly used hospital drugs, process doctors’ orders, and follow up accordingly. Course materials based on current industry standards and a hands-on practicum ensure that, upon graduation, you are fully qualified to launch a career in this dynamic field. Due to the fast-paced and complex nature of healthcare service, NUCs must possess excellent communication skills, keen multitasking abilities, and attention to detail.

Credential: Certificate

Format: Full time

Delivery: Online courses at scheduled meeting times; practicum in person at an assigned work site

Duration: 6.5 months

Days and times: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:00 am-2:30 pm

Tuition*: $8,703

Program eligible for financial aid

Practicum available? Yes

Start dates: January, September

* Tuition subject to change without notice. Textbooks are not included in tuition.

Entrance requirements

Entrance requirements

You must meet all entrance requirements to be accepted to the program. View the entrance requirements in the UFV Academic Calendar.

Supporting documents

Once you have applied to the program, you will need to submit the following four documents. All of them except the keyboarding assessment must be submitted before the program starts.


1. Health Assessment

  • Have your doctor complete and sign the Health Assessment Record verifying your physical fitness and your mental and emotional wellness.


2. Immunization Record

The BC Health Authorities require you to be up-to-date on your vaccinations. For questions about immunizations, please contact Immunize BC, your doctor, or a community health centre.

 

3. Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening

A satisfactory Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening is required for practicum. Complete the Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector using access code CACJXKC5VT.

After making the fee payment, you will receive an online receipt from the Ministry of Justice. Your results are sent directly to Continuing Education.

 

4. Keyboarding Assessment

A keyboarding speed of 40 net words per minute (NWPM) is required by the end of the program to be eligible for graduation. You can schedule a keyboarding assessment whenever you are ready, as long as it is completed by the time you apply for graduation.

  • If you can type 40 NWPM, you are ready to schedule a keyboarding assessment with UFV Assessment Services.
  • If you cannot yet type 40 NWPM, you will automatically be enrolled in a free online keyboarding course so you can gain the skills you need. 
  • To get an idea of your current keyboarding speed, you can take a practice test on a number of free websites such as typingspeedtests.com.


How to submit the above documents

Your Criminal Record Check and your keyboarding assessment will both be automatically sent to Continuing Education upon completion, but you will need to submit the Health Assessment Record and your immunization records by email before your program begins.

To submit your documents, email continuingeducation@ufv.ca and attach both the Health Assessment Record and your immunization records.

  • These documents must be scanned. Photographed documents will not be accepted.
  • Label the email subject line as: NUC Documents, Lastname, First Initial
  • If you fail to email this documentation, you cannot be placed in a practicum and are not eligible to graduate.
Program outline

 Courses

The program consists of 12 courses that include a combination of theory and practice-related exercises before you participate in a 150-hour hospital practicum. 

 

Nursing Unit Clerk Fall 2023 Schedule

Nursing Unit Clerk Winter 2024 Schedule

 

Practicum

Students complete a 150-hour practicum at the end of their program that provides a meaningful work-like experience and exposure to a hospital setting. To qualify for practicum, you must successfully complete all courses within the program.

 

Practicum schedule

Your practicum placements will reflect the business practices of your practicum host. Many nursing unit clerks work part-time hours and varying shift schedules, so your practicum shifts will reflect the schedule of the host you are paired with.

 

Practicum location

While we try to place students near their city of residence, we cannot guarantee a practicum placement in a particular city. For example, students who live outside the Fraser Valley may need to travel to the Fraser Valley to complete their practicum. Transportation to the practicum site is your responsibility.

 

Missing your practicum

Completing your practicum is a requirement for graduation. If you are unable to attend or complete your practicum due to extenuating circumstances, please contact Continuing Education immediately.

Extenuating circumstances are defined as a situation beyond your control that prevents you from completing a course, program, or practicum. These are circumstances that are unexpected and/or uncontrollable and arise during the course of the program. Examples include:

  • Death of an immediate family member
  • Car accident
  • Medical emergency
  • Incapacitating illness
  • Serious personal situation

The following does not qualify:

  • Inability to achieve a passing grade
  • Unawareness of deadlines
  • Unfavorable weather conditions
  • A short-term illness
  • An unmanaged, pre-existing health condition

Please discuss any barriers that may affect your practicum assignment with Continuing Education immediately after registration.

 

Labour Market Information

Below is a list of resources to gain information on the Canadian labour market trends:

Textbooks

To find your textbooks, use the UFV Bookstore's textbook search tool. Select "CE - Continuing Education" as your area of study.

Questions?

Phone: 604-851-6324
Toll free: 1-888-504-7441 ext. 6324
Email: continuingeducation@ufv.ca
Or ask online

It was an intensive eight months. It’s very different from high school. It requires a lot of studying, but you end up with more knowledge than you expected. Teachers are passionate about the subject. And you get grounded in medical terminology and what to expect in a hospital setting.
  • – Victoria Hu
  •    NUC, Abbotsford Regional Hospital

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