Unit Support Specialist Special Care Unit

• Job Summary
  • Works under the supervision of RNs and LPNs to provide assistive care, clerical support, and communication for patients, team members, professional and technical staff, and visitors.
• Education
  • High school diploma or equivalent.
  • One year of clerical experience required and familiarity with medical terminology preferred.
  • Candidate must have at least one of the following:
    • Six months of patient care experience within the last two years
    • Enrolled in a medical related college programs and in clinical rotation
    • CNA, CMA, PCT or EMT certification
• Experience
  • Internal candidates who have completed all required competencies and are fully trained will also be considered.
• Licensures, Certifications, and/or Registries
  • Current BLS certification required. 

Additional Information

The Special Care Unit (SCU) is a 26 monitored bed pediatric step-down unit located on the 7th floor Harbert in the Benjamin Russell Building at Children’s of Alabama. We care for critically ill patients from birth to 18+ years old, with complete spectrum of diagnosis. Patients are admitted to SCU from every service line in the hospital, including trauma, post-op patients, Hematology/Oncology, Neurosurgery, NICU, and PICU step-down patients.  Our patient population is diverse and requires skilled medical care. The average patient length of stay is 24 to 72 hours. There is a multidisciplinary team, including medical and surgical physicians, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, child-life specialists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists and social workers, who work to meet the needs of our patients. 

The typical nurse to patient ratio is 1:2 with 1:3 being the maximum. Our Charge Nurses are responsible for managing patient flow of the unit and do not take a patient assignment. Depending on staffing and patient census, the goal is to staff each shift with 1 to 2 resource nurses to assist the unit with procedures, admissions, transfers and off-unit testing. Our nurses also serve as back-up for the rapid response team. 

SCU offers a welcoming environment for new staff, so they can learn and develop their skills. Our multidisciplinary approach, commitment to excellence, focus on teamwork and dedication to patient care helps us ensure we provide the very best for our patients.