Infection Prevention Nurse LVN Full-Time

Garden City Healthcare Center in; Modesto (CA); On-site; USD 44,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Life insurance

Paid time off

Continuing education and professional‑

Job summary

Garden City Health Care Center in Modesto, CA seeks an Infection Prevention Nurse to lead the facility's infection prevention program, coordinate surveillance, and ensure compliance with infection control standards.

You will collaborate with the Director of Nursing, physicians, and other departments to review cases, monitor hand hygiene, and educate staff. This role includes participating in quality assurance activities and outbreak response planning.

Qualifications

• Formal infection prevention education, training, or certification preferred.
• Knowledge of infection prevention practices and aseptic technique.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Director of Nursing and interdisciplinary team on infection prevention.
• Assist with care plans for residents on isolation or infection control precautions.
• Review nursing documentation for infection-related care and resident responses.

Skills

Infection prevention experience

Epidemiology knowledge

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Education

Graduate of an accredited LVN program

California LVN license

CPR certification

Job description

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Infection Prevention and Surveillance Plan, organize, implement, monitor, and evaluate the facility’s infection prevention and control program.
• Promote compliance with applicable CDC, OSHA, public health, and facility requirements.
• Conduct routine surveillance to identify, investigate, document, and report resident and employee infections.
• Maintain accurate infection logs, exposure records, line listings, and surveillance data.
• Review laboratory reports, clinical documentation, and resident conditions for signs of infection.
• Analyze infection patterns and prepare monthly reports, summaries, and recommendations for the Administrator and Director of Nursing.
• Investigate healthcare-associated and community-acquired infections and recommend corrective action.
• Report communicable diseases to appropriate public health agencies as required.
• Monitor isolation precautions, hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, and aseptic practices.
• Make regular rounds throughout the facility to evaluate infection prevention, environmental sanitation, and isolation practices.
• Ensure contaminated materials, sharps, infectious waste, laundry, and equipment are handled and disposed of safely.
• Assist with outbreak investigations, exposure management, contact tracing, and response planning.
• Maintain current infection prevention policies, procedures, reference materials, and educational resources.

Clinical and Interdisciplinary Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Director of Nursing, physicians, laboratory providers, and the interdisciplinary team.
• Assist with developing and updating care plans for residents on isolation or infection control precautions.
• Review nursing documentation to ensure infection-related care and resident responses are recorded accurately.
• Explain isolation and infection prevention precautions to residents and families.
• Monitor medication passes and treatments for appropriate hand-hygiene and infection prevention practices.
• Obtain culture samples and provide direct nursing care when necessary and within the LVN scope of practice.
• Assist with admission and discharge planning for residents with infectious or communicable conditions.
• Collaborate with Environmental Services, Laundry, Maintenance, Dietary, Rehabilitation, and other departments to maintain effective infection prevention procedures.
• Participate in quality assurance, performance improvement, safety, and survey-readiness activities.

Employee Health and Staff Education

• Assist with employee health surveillance, exposure reporting, and required testing.
• Coordinate or support TB screening, vaccination education, and bloodborne-pathogen programs.
• Provide confidential counseling and follow-up related to employee exposures.
• Educate new employees regarding hand hygiene, standard precautions, personal protective equipment, bloodborne pathogens, and infection prevention responsibilities.
• Develop and conduct ongoing infection prevention in-services and competency training.
• Assist with annual OSHA, TB, hazard communication, and bloodborne-pathogen education.
• Identify performance concerns and work with department leaders to implement corrective education.
• Maintain accurate employee training and infection prevention records.

Committee and Administrative Functions

• Participate in and provide reports to the Infection Prevention and Quality Assurance committees.
• Recommend policy, practice, equipment, and supply improvements.
• Assist with facility surveys and plans of correction when applicable.
• Maintain confidentiality of all resident, employee, exposure, and health information.
• Prepare reports, evaluations, studies, and other required documentation.
• Perform additional infection prevention and nursing duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited vocational nursing program required.
• Current California Licensed Vocational Nurse license in good standing required.
• Current CPR certification required.
• Two or more years of nursing experience preferred, ideally in skilled nursing or long-term care.
• Infection prevention experience in a healthcare environment strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of epidemiology, microbiology, infectious diseases, surveillance, isolation precautions, and aseptic technique.
• Formal infection prevention education, training, or certification preferred.
• Knowledge of employee health, TB management, bloodborne pathogens, and exposure-control practices.
• Experience with PointClickCare or another electronic health-record system preferred.
• Strong assessment, documentation, communication, and analytical skills.
• Ability to educate employees and communicate effectively with residents, families, physicians, and facility leadership.
• Ability to organize surveillance data, recognize trends, and recommend corrective action.
• Must maintain all continuing-education and licensure requirements.

Supervisory Responsibilities

The Infection Prevention Nurse is delegated the authority and accountability necessary to administer the facility’s infection prevention program. This position reports to the Director of Nursing and provides education and direction to employees regarding infection prevention practices.

Physical Requirements

This position requires the ability to move throughout the facility, perform clinical rounds, communicate effectively, and respond to resident and employee health concerns. The employee must be able to push, pull, move, or lift at least 25 pounds and may be exposed to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals. The employee may assist during emergency evacuations when necessary.

Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Why Join Garden City Health Care Center?

• Competitive pay of $32.00–$34.00 per hour
• Full-time employment
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Continuing education and professional-development opportunities
• Supportive facility and regional leadership
• Collaborative interdisciplinary team
• Opportunity to lead initiatives that directly protect residents and employees

Benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and facility policy.

Garden City Health Care Center is an equal opportunity employer.

We are an equal opportunity employer.

Garden City Health Care Center is an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status.