Hospital ward clerk

Name: Hutoxi Philips
Role: Ward clerk, haematology/oncology ward, Starship Hospital
Working hours: 40-hour week, 6.45am to 3.15pm.
Average pay: $31,832-$39,905
Qualifications: BA, majoring in philosophy and history

Describe how you got this job

In my previous job at Auckland Hospital we shared offices with the paediatric palliative team of Starship Children's Health. A wonderful palliative nurse specialist got me interested in working with children. I thought it would be a challenge to have a front-line position and work for a medical team. When I saw the position advertised, I applied.

Describe what you do

I provide clerical support to the medical and nursing staff and assist the charge nurse in the practical daily management of the ward.

You can also say I'm a jack-of-all-trades, ordering and maintaining ward supplies and equipment and operating different computer programs.

I help organise the Sibling Day, which we have for siblings to learn more about what's happening to their brother or sister. I liaise with the Child Cancer Foundation, Ronald Macdonald House, Canteen, and other affiliated organisations. I also help families and visitors with queries. And I have incorporated data analysis into my job, as I enjoy doing it.

What have you had to do to succeed at this job?

Listen, follow the patient confidentiality code, and deliver results while paying attention to detail.

As this is a fast-paced ward I have to be prepared for anything. You also have to have a lot of patience, empathy and never lose that sense of humour.

What sort of training or experience do you need?

Knowledge of hospital systems and medical terminology is helpful. But the Auckland District Health Board provides full training. Most important, you need to have a lot of compassion and empathy, especially on a ward like ours, where it can be really overwhelming for newly diagnosed families.

What skills and qualities do you need?

Most of all you should be a good listener. Be humble, think outside the square and have a passion for the job.

Best part of the job?

I work with a brilliant medical team. We've had some really nice families and gorgeous kids - what more could one ask for? It makes my day when one of the kids tell me, "When I grow up I want to be a ward clerk." Most of the time it is, "I want to be a doctor or nurse".

You also get lots of cuddles and get to play with the kids, as they are not sick the whole time they are in hospital.

The most challenging part?

It is absolutely heartbreaking when a child does not make it through the full treatment.

How do you define success in this job?

Thanks to advanced research and technology we have a lot of kids who do well on the treatment. When these kids come to say hello and find out how we are doing, that's when I know why I get out of bed at 5.30am to come to work.

What are your career hopes for future?

This is a very satisfying job and I am quite happy doing it until I find something more challenging to move up to. I guess after some time you do need a break.

If I wanted a job like yours how would I go about it and what qualifications would I need?

You could look at the Auckland Health Careers website [link below], check job ads, or call the human resource department and ask for a job description. There is no formal qualification, but applicants should be fluent in English, have superior communication skills, good keyboard skills, and knowledge of Microsoft Office.

What advice would you have for someone contemplating a career like yours?

Don't look at the old-fashioned job title - there's a lot more to it. It is entirely up to you how interesting and challenging you want your job to be.

When people hear I work on the oncology ward, they give me a sad look and say: "That must be really depressing." But I beg to differ.

We do have kids for whom the treatment fails, but we also have lots who make it. If you have patience, like kids, are a people-person and want to make a difference, then Starship is a lovely place to work.