Infection Prevention Specialist

Trinity Health; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Trinity Health in Des Moines, IA, seeks an Infection Prevention Specialist to support evidence-based practices reducing healthcare-associated infections. You will supervise surveillance, educate frontline clinicians, and coach for quality improvement initiatives to protect patients and staff.

The role requires collaboration with Infection Prevention leadership, ongoing data analysis, and participation in governance committees to drive prevention strategies across departments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing or healthcare related field.
• Minimum of three years of experience in a healthcare setting.
• Infection prevention knowledge and experience with surveillance and data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Support surveillance of infections and collab orate with Employee Health.
• Keep accurate records of healthcare-associated infections and analyze surveillance data.
• Prepare and present infection control data to the Infection Control Committee and stakeholders.
• Identify variations in disease levels and implement prevention recommendations.
• Collaborate with departments to develop and update infection control policies and procedures.
• Participate in committees and education programs related to infection prevention.

Skills

Infection prevention

Surveillance

Education and training

Quality improvement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in nursing or healthcare related field

Tools

NHSN

NDNQI

Job description

Employment Type:Full timeShift:Day ShiftDescription:

The purpose of the Infection Prevention Specialist is to support the implementation of evidence-based practices to reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections. Primary r esponsibilities include surveillance, collaboration with front-line clinicians to provide education, consultation, and coaching for the facilitation of quality improvement work. This individualhas a reporting relationshipto the Infection Prevention Coordinator and/or Manager of Quality and Safety as applicable .

• Knows, understands, incorporates,anddemonstratestheMercyOne(TrinityHealth)Mission,Vision,CoreValues, Actions and Promise inbehaviors,practices,anddecisions.
• Assistswith ongoing targeted surveillance of infections in patients and collaborates with Employee Health forinfection risks among colleagues.
• Keepsaccuraterecord of healthcare-associated infections. Compiles,analyzesand interprets surveillance data todetermine:a.)the prevalence of pathogens and trends in infections per unit,b.)if standards/thresholds are met, andc.)to isolate causes of patterns whenidentified.Thespecialistis responsible forcollaborating withleadership tofacilitatecorrective action strategies for infection prevention.
• Prepares and presents infection control data and reports to the Infection Control Committee and other stakeholders.
• Identifiesand promptly reports epidemiological variations in levels of disease to the Infection Prevention Coordinatorand chairperson of the Infection ControlCommittee,andimplements recommendations for prevention and control.
• Monitorsenvironmentthrough rounding andobservesassociate activities for the purpose of detectingpossible infectionhazards and to evaluate compliance with standards set by the Infection Control Committee.
• Monitors and evaluates isolation precautions, aseptic and patient care techniques to provideoptimalcare to patients.
• Collaborates with all departments to develop and update area‑specific policies and procedures pertinent to infection controlpractices.
• Prepares andmaintainsappropriate documentationof activities for regulatory, performance improvement andinternal purposes, includingrequired reports toNationalHealth Safety Network,NationalDatabase for Nursing Quality.
• Disseminates informationrelativeto infection prevention and control and implements measures recommended by the Infection Control Committee.
• Influences change through input on productspertaining toinfection prevention and control, safety concerns, andconductseducation programs.
• Maintains communication with department directors/managers/supervisors to verify information relevant to infection prevention and control.
• Serves on the Infection Control,Safetyand other hospital committees.
• Maintains an effective working relationship with medical staff and hospital associates.
• Serves as information resource and advises on infection prevention and control issues.
• Serves asliaisontoHealthDepartment(s) andsubmitsreports toappropriate agenciesconcerning healthcare associated and communityacquiredinfections and reportable diseases.
• Serves as resource/liaison/consultant to other health care facilities, communityagenciesand businesses upon requestand at the direction of thecoordinator.
• Recommends placement of patients in isolation precautions (according to established policy) and provides advice concerning bed placement. Recommendsdiscontinuingof isolation when consideredappropriate.
• Collects infection control information delineating the frequency and nature of infections occurring in the hospital by a) regular review of bacteriology reports, b) surveillance of patients with infections originating following admission, c) rounding to confer with hospitalcolleagues, d) monitoring isolation precaution cases, e) reviewing patient records, to include autopsy reports, and f) receiving reports fromcolleagues, case managers and medical records associates relating to healthcare associated infections and reportable diseases.
• In cooperation withappropriate resources, conducts investigation of all significant clusters of infections above expected levels; collects,compilesand analyzes data for special infection control studies and has authority to instituteappropriate controlmeasures whenindicated.
• Assistsin development and presentationofinfection control orientation programs andprepareseducation related materials concerning infection control upon request.
• Maintains workingrelationshipwith Employee Healthin order tolimit the likelihood of infection incolleagues. Assistsin directingthe follow-up ofcolleaguesexposed toandiagnosed or undiagnosed infection.
• Remains current and up to date on developments in Infection Prevention and Control and incorporates advances into professional activities whenpracticable.
• Participates in nursingmeetings as appropriate.
• Participates in MedicalStaffmeetings asappropriate.
• Participates/leads regionalinfection prevention workgroup.
• Collaboratively works with the owned critical access hospitalsat the direction of the coordinator/quality and safety managerasappropriate.
• Participates in newhire educationof hospital-acquired infections, hand hygieneand infectionprevention and controlpractices.
• Participates in quality and safety meetingsasappropriate.
• Supports/leads and/orparticipatesin root causeanalysesrelated to infection prevention and control.
• Participates inrisk mitigation for construction projects with re-inspections.
• Participates inenvironmentof care rounds and follow up with education.
• Owns/reviews applicable policies andproceduresrelated to infection controland in compliance with regulations and standards.
• Works collaboratively with quality and safety excellence nurses and risk management in improvements in areas of quality and safety applicable to infection control.
• Inputs data into regulatoryand applicabledatabases (i.e., NHSN, NDNQI, etc.) as appropriate.
• Attends nursinggovernance councils asappropriate.
• Supportsemergency medical servicesexposure reconciliationas applicable.
• Participates in supportingenvironmental servicesin insect management (i.e.bed bugs)
• Participates in antimicrobialstewardshipmeetings.
• Performs other duties consistent withpurposeofjobas directed.

General Requirements

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree , or higher in nursing or healthcare related field required .

Experience:

• Requires a minimum of three ( 3 ) years of experience in healthcare setting .

Our Commitment

Rooted in our Mission and Core Values, we honor the dignity of every person and recognize the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents each colleague brings. By finding common ground and embracing our differences, we grow stronger together and deliver more compassionate, person-centered care. We are 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, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.