INFECTION PREVENTIONIST

Sweetwater Care; Fowler (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Sweetwater Care seeks an Infection Preventionist to lead the facility's program for preventing and controlling infections, protecting residents, staff and visitors in Fowler, CA.

Responsibilities include establishing facility-wide prevention systems, developing policies, overseeing antibiotic stewardship, and educating staff. Participation in QA and annual risk assessments is required.

Qualifications

• A professionally trained nurse with a nursing certificate, diploma, or degree.
• Must meet state licensure requirements and have no disciplinary actions against license.
• Education, training, or certification in infection control and prevention.
• Completed specialized infection prevention training through accredited continuing education.

Responsibilities

• Develops and implements an ongoing infection prevention and control program to prevent, recognize, and control infections and create a safe environment.
• Establishes facility-wide systems for prevention, reporting, investigation, and control of infections and communicable diseases.
• Develops and implements written policies and procedures for infection prevention and control.
• Oversees the facility’s antibiotic stewardship program.
• Oversees resident care activities that increase risk of infection (catheters, wounds, incontinence, skin care, point-of-care testing, injections).
• Leads the Infection and Prevention Control Committee and develops improvement action plans.
• Participates on the facility’s QAA Committee and performs duties as assigned.
• Implements annual infection control risk assessment and facility assessment review processes.
• Reviews and revises infection prevention program and policies annually or as needed for compliance.
• Provides education on infection prevention principles to staff, residents, and families.
• Ensures public health is notified of reportable diseases.
• Collaborates with departments on occupational health and safety requirements.
• Maintains documentation of infection prevention activities.

Skills

Infection control

Nursing license

Education

Nursing degree/certificate

Infection prevention certification

Job description

Required Qualifications

Minimum requirements include one of the following:

• A PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED NURSE THAT HAS EARNED A CERTIFICATE/DIPLOMA OR DEGREE IN NURSING

Must also meet state requirements for relevant licensures or certifications and have no disciplinary action in effect against professional license.

Education, training, experience, or certification in infection control and prevention.

Completed specialized training in infection prevention and control through accredited continuing education.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Develops and implements an ongoing infection prevention and control program to prevent, recognize, and control the onset and spread of infections in order to provide a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment.

Establishes facility-wide systems for the prevention, identification, reporting, investigation, and control of infections and communicable diseases of residents, staff, and visitors.

Develops and implements written policies and procedures in accordance with current standards of practice and recognized guidelines for infection prevention and control.

Oversees the facility’s antibiotic stewardship program.

Oversees resident care activities that increase risk of infection (i.e., use and care of urinary catheters, wound care, incontinence care, skin care, point-of-care blood testing, and medication injections).

Leads the facility’s Infection and Prevention Control Committee.Develops action plans to address opportunities for improvement.

Participates on the facility’s QAA Committee.Performs duties as assigned.

Implements an annual infection control risk assessment process and participates in the facility’s annual facility assessment review process.

Reviews and/or revises the facility’s infection prevention and control program, its standards, policies, and procedures annually and as needed for changes to the facility assessment to ensure they are effective and in accordance with current standards of practice for preventing and controlling infections.

Provides education related to infection prevention and control principles, policies, and procedures to staff, residents, and families (where appropriate).

Ensures public health is notified of reportable diseases.

Collaborates with other departments in fulfilling requirements related to occupational health and safety. (I.e. employee health).

Maintains documentation of infection prevention and control program activities.