Infection Prevention Nurse

Harboroaks; Columbia Township (MO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Harboroaks is seeking a professional to coordinate the facility’s infection prevention and control program, with clinical authority to prevent and contain outbreaks. You will develop surveillance policies, audit compliance, and collaborate with antibiotic stewardship while prioritizing patient safety.

Responsibilities include reporting infections, training staff, maintaining records, and communicating with health authorities.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited school of nursing, medical technology, microbiology, or epidemiology required.
• One or more years’ experience in infection control preferred.
• Knowledge of agents causing disease, reservoirs, transmission, colonization, and control approaches required.
• Knowledge of basic epidemiology and infectious disease processes required.
• Current professional license as required by state for nurses in the role; certification in infection control preferred.
• CPR and de-escalation/restraint certification required; first aid may be required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement infection surveillance, prevention and control policies aligned with guidelines.
• Prevent and control health care–associated infections, including auditing adherence to policies by staff.
• Communicate and collaborate with antibiotic stewardship program.
• Develop an infection control plan with annual updates based on risk assessment.
• Gather and interpret data and maintain records of infections.
• Compile and present infection reports to committees at intervals.
• Inspect environment to detect infection hazards and observe practices.
• Monitor compliance with facility policies and update supervisors.

Skills

Infection prevention

Surveillance

Policy development

Data analysis

Staff training

Auditing

Communication

Collaboration

Patient safety

Education

Graduation from accredited school of nursing, medical technology, microbiology, or epidemiology

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Job description

Overview

PURPOSE STATEMENT:

Coordinate and lead the facility’s infection prevention and control program. Has the clinical authority and responsibility for determining, preventing and containing infectious outbreaks within the facility. Perform duties with a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude. Recognize that patient safety is a top priority.

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Develop and implement facility wide infection surveillance, prevention and control policies and procedures that adhere to nationally recognized guidelines.
• Prevent and control health care associated infections, including auditing of adherence to infection prevention and control policies and procedures by facility staff, including medical staff.
• Communicate and collaborate with the antibiotic stewardship program.
• Develop an infection control plan with prioritized goals at least annually and when changes occur based on the prior program evaluation and current risk assessment.
• Gather and interpret data and keep accurate records of all infections.

• Compile and present Infection Reports to the Safety/Infection Control Committee and the Performance Improvement Council at assigned intervals.
• Inspect environment and observe personnel activities for the purpose of detecting infection hazards.
• Monitor and evaluate compliance with standards set by facility policy and industry.
• Monitor and update all facility department supervisors on all area-specific policies and procedures important to infection prevention principles. Investigate all 'exposure incidents,' oversee post-exposure evaluation and follow-up process in order to recommend appropriate actions to be taken.
• Notify designated medical, administrative staff and appropriate health department authorities all reportable communicable disease.

• Develop and provide in-service and orientation programs concerning prevention and control of infection, standard precautions, isolation techniques and education on current infectious disease.
• Responsibilities may also include gathering, analyzing and presenting data, facts and trends on infection prevention to facility or corporate leadership.
• Train facility staff and medical staff on infection prevention and control protocols.
• Assess and re-enforce infection prevention practices.
• Communicate therapeutically and professionally with patients, visitors, coworkers and others in an effective manner.

OTHER FUNCTIONS:

• Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

• Graduation from an accredited school of nursing, medical technology, microbiology, or epidemiology required. Bachelor's degree preferred.
• One or more years’ experience in infection control preferred.
• Working knowledge of agents which cause disease, reservoir, knowledge of spectrum of disease, disease carriers, modes of transportation, host factors that enhance susceptibility, colonization of infection and approach to control infection required.
• Knowledge of the basic principles of epidemiology and the infectious disease process required.

LICENSES/DESIGNATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS:

• Current professional license as required by state for nurses in the role.
• Certification by the Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology preferred.
• CPR and de-escalation/restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).

• First aid may be required based on state or facility.

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CPHC