Infection Preventionist

WVU Medicine; Morgantown (WV); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

WVUH West Virginia University Hospitals seeks an Infection Prevention and Control professional to coordinate hospital-wide infection prevention practices, educate staff, and support disease surveillance. The role emphasizes routine collaboration with departments and leadership to reduce transmission and enhance patient safety.

Responsibilities include coordinating IPC activities, performing outbreak investigations, and providing data-driven recommendations to leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in nursing, public health, epidemiology, or related field.
• RN license (state-issued or multi-state via eNLC).
• Infection Control/Epidemiology certification or be able to obtain within 3 years.
• State/Federal background checks as required.

Responsibilities

• Monitor healthcare-associated infections.
• Assess infection prevention and control problems and recommend corrective action.
• Participate in Infection Prevention and Control Committee.
• Oversee monitoring of infection prevention practices and personnel compliance.
• Assist department managers in developing infection prevention policies.
• Report communicable diseases to local and state health departments.

Skills

Infection control knowledge

Education and training

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Ability to work under pressure

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree in nursing or related field

RN license (state or eNLC)

Infection Control & Epidemiology certification

Background check clearance

Job description

Assists with plans and coordination of activities of Infection Prevention and Control under the guidelines established by the Infection Prevention and Control Committee. Responsible for studying, coordinating, and evaluating all infection prevention and control practices within all hospital departments and hospital clinics. Provides continuing education to all hospital personnel on current trends and changes to improve infection prevention and control standards. Assist, supervise and coordinate hospital activities related to disease transmission with emphasis on education, and patient care issues and associate safety.

Minimum Qualifications

Education, Certification, and/OR Licensure:

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing, public health, epidemiology, clinical laboratory science, medical technology, or related field.
• If Bachelors in Nursing, current Registered Nurse license issued by the state in which services will be provided or current multi-state Registered Nurse license through the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC).
• Certification in Infection Control and Epidemiology through the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. or obtain within three (3) years of hire date.
• State criminal background check and Federal (if applicable), as required for regulated areas

Preferred Qualifications

• Five (5) years’ experience as a Registered Nurse in an acute care setting
• Five (5) years’ experience in a public health setting
• Prior experience in infection prevention.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

• Monitor’s healthcare associated infections
• Assesses infection prevention and control problems and makes recommendations for corrective action
• Participates in the Infection Prevention and Control Committee, if applicable.
• Oversees monitoring of infection prevention and control practices and personnel compliance for all departments
• Provides assistance to department managers in development of infection prevention and control departmental policies
• Reports communicable diseases to the local health departments and state as required by law.
• Provides educational presentations for orientation and ongoing in-services related to current recommendations and mandates.
• Consults with department leadership and physicians as needed to improve care delivery.
• Serves as a resource for all departments and personnel.
• Participates in short and long-range planning for the infection prevention and control department.
• Provides consultation to the Associate Health Nurse Practitioner related to exposure determination, personnel infections, follow-up and current healthcare personnel vaccination recommendations.
• Participates in performance improvement activities and committees.
• Conducts outbreak investigations and initiates control measures.
• May assist with development, implementation, and monitoring of the TB management program.
• Reviews and assists with environmental sampling as necessary.
• Participates and provides oral and written infection prevention recommendations for all construction, renovation, remediation, repair, or demolition as part of a multidisciplinary team during preplanning, demolition, construction and commissioning.
• Collects, prepares, and analyzes healthcare-associated infection data; presents data to leadership and stakeholders
• Provides internal and external reporting of information and data as required by law, accreditation requirements and regulatory mandates.
• Assists with development, implementation, and evaluation of plans for an influx of infectious diseases.

Physical Requirements

• Frequent walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping and feeling are necessary body movements utilized in performing duties through the work shift.
• Sitting for extended periods of time.
• Visual acuity must be within normal range.
• Manual dexterity to operate keyboards, fax machines, telephones, and other business equipment.
• Able to perform light work: exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.
• Able to move freely through the facility to perform daily and special tasks

Working Environment

• Exposed to high levels of stress and anxiety.
• Experiences frequent interruption.

Skills and Abilities

• Able to handle confidential information.
• Able to work successfully under highly stressful conditions and must be capable of adapting to varying workloads and work assignments on a constant basis.
• Able to read and write legibly in English and possess comprehension skills.
• Able to comprehend and perform oral and written instructions and procedures.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Able to work weekends, holidays, and all shifts.
• Able to prioritize tasks and make independent decisions.
• Skilled in advanced math.
• Able to respond to emergency situations in a calm, professional manner.
• 10 Able to use computers to input and retrieve information.
• Able to perform concentrated and complex mental activity with frequent involvement in complex and highly technical situations.
• Able to make sound, independent judgments based on scientific principles, or sound business judgment and also be able to collaborate with other multi-disciplinary team members in an appropriate fashion.
• Able to analyze statistics and utilize stats for recommendation of changes.

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Shift

United States of America (Exempt)

Company

WVUH West Virginia University Hospitals

Cost Center

405 WVUH Quality Management

Address

1 Medical Center Drive

Morgantown

West Virginia

Equal Opportunity Employer

West Virginia University Health System and its subsidiaries (collectively "WVUHS") is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. WVUHS strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. All WVUHS employees, other workers, and representatives are prohibited from engaging in unlawful discrimination. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, training, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment.