Infection Control Nurse

SUMMARY:

Coordinates Infection Control activities for the facility to minimize patients, families and employees’ risk of exposure. Directs the activities of an assigned patient unit on a 24-hour basis. Assures patient care, maintains a safe and therapeutic environment. Provides assessment, surveillance, data collection, reporting, and education to employees, patients, and families according to Joint Commission, Federal and State Regulations, policies and procedures, CDC and PI standards. Directs, Educates, and leads all Nursing Personnel.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.Assists Infection Prevention & Control Practitioner in managing, evaluating and assuring the effectiveness of the Infection Prevention Program on an ongoing basis

2.Maintains a working knowledge of Infection Prevention related standards, guidelines and laws.

3.Assists in providing Infection Prevention education, orientation, and training programs to the staff in accordance with statutory and regulatory requirements (e.g. new employee orientation,) and hospital policy.

4.Performs surveillance related to compliance with hand hygiene, device utilization, and precautions. Tallies, documents and reports data as required

5.Assesses and collaborates with other members of the healthcare team and coordinates the collection of post discharge data for patients with infectious and/or communicable disease

6.Collects, tallies and documents post-discharge surgical surveillance data

7.Reviews microbiology results to differentiate results that need reporting or further review as a potential Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI)

8. Serves on and actively participates in designated interdisciplinary committees and task forces for accomplishing hospital wide goals when needed.

9.Collaborates with all members of the interdisciplinary team to achieve productive movement of the best practices within the organization.

10.Maintains active involvement in nursing and hospital committees as necessary.

11.Performs Environmental Infection Prevention rounds within all departments and hospital areas on a regular schedule, shares findings via a standardized report with department directors and at the Infection Prevention Committee meetings.

• Develops and implements standards of patient care, policies and procedures for the unit consistent with the division of Nursing.
• Observes and evaluates nursing care provided by making frequent patient rounds, conferences with medical staff, and regular review of nursing documentation.
• Serves as a role model and a resource to staff for complex patient care problems.

Nurse Educator:

A. Serves on assigned Divisional, Administrative and Patient Care Committees.

B. Conducts ongoing quality assurance programs for assigned area.

• Collaborates with management and administration in identification of program and staff education needs.
• Plans, develops, and conducts in-service and continuing education programs for nursing and other hospital staff.
• Documents and maintains appropriate educational records of orientees and nursing personnel, and other areas of assigned responsibility.
• Serves as a consultant and educational support to nurse manager, staff personnel and other ancillary departments as needed; assists in problem solving in the clinical area.
• Assists in development of orientation standards and in development of continuing education and in-service programs for clinical departments, unit secretary staff and patient care tech staff.
• Coordinates BLS/ACLS and CPI classes.
• Performs other related duties as assigned and as judgment and necessity dictate.
• Reports to Infection Prevention & Control Practitioner.
• Follows and advises staff of all COVID 19 guidelines and updates.

SUPERVISION:

Reports to the Director of Nursing, Director of Operations/ CEO. Supervises staff nurses, LPN’s, Nursing Assistants, Patient Care Techs, Undergraduate Nurse Externs, Unit Secretaries and other support personnel assigned to the area.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

1.MINIMUM EDUCATION: Certification in Infection Control practices required; Active license as a Registered Nurse in the State of Michigan preferred. Bachelor of Science in Nursing preferred. Master’s degree in Hospital Epidemiology or Public Health preferred.

2. MINIMUM WORK EXPERIENCE: Two (2) years clinical field experience or two (2) years Hospital Infection Control experience required. Working knowledge of The Joint Commission, CMS, OSHA and CDC standards required.

3.CONTACT WITH OTHERS: Acts as a resource person within the Hospital for Infectious Diseases for physicians and staff. Discusses with and provides information to patients with communicable diseases, at the request of the physician, information about their disease. Assesses needs, prepares programs and presents programs on matters pertaining to Infection Control and Communicable Diseases for Hospital employees and Community Groups when requested. Actively participates in educational programs prompted by local, state and national Infection Control Organizations.

4.OTHER: Completion of the Center for Disease Control’s training course for Hospital Epidemiology required within the first year of employment.

5.CERTIFICATION, LICENSURE: Current certification by the Association of Practitioners of Infection control as Certified Infection Control preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

1. PHYSICAL EFFORT: Long periods of standing and walking.

2. WORK ENVIRONMENT: Works in a well-lighted, well-ventilated environment.

3. EQUIPMENT USED: Syringes, scales PC fax machine, copier and other medical and office equipment necessary to perform specific duties/tasks

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $80,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Choose your own hours
• Day shift

Experience:

• Infection control: 2 years (Required)

License/Certification:

• RN (Required)

Work Location: In person