Infection Preventionist nurse in skilled nursing

Birchwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center; Cranford (NJ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Birchwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center is seeking a qualified Infection Prevention Nurse to oversee infection control and employee health services at Cranford, NJ. The role requires coordinating surveillance, program development, policy creation, and cross-department collaboration to ensure resident safety and regulatory compliance.

The position emphasizes establishing evidence-based care standards, maintaining health records, and ensuring CMS/DOH compliance, with opportunities to

Qualifications

• Minimum of three (3) years' experience in healthcare.
• Current nursing license (RN or LPN) for state (NJ) is required.
• Bachelor's degree (BSN) highly desirable but not required.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word).

Responsibilities

• Establish standard care methods using evidence-based practices.
• Develop and implement infection control and employee health programs with department directors.
• Maintain policies and procedures for infection control and employee health.
• Maintain employee health records and assist with databases.
• Ensure compliance with state/federal regulations, accreditation, and internal policies.
• Coordinate with Safety, HR, Quality, and other departments on health initiatives.
• Develop and implement employee health policies with HR for onboarding and pre-employment.
• Oversee infection control surveillance, data analysis, and reporting.
• Apply epidemiological methods to design and evaluate infection prevention strategies.
• Provide consultation and education to staff, physicians, and community leaders.
• Coordinate Infection Prevention Committee activities and annual plan evaluation.

Skills

Infection prevention certification

Education

RN or LPN license (NJ)

BSN desirable

Job description

Must have certificaiton in Infection Prevention

Summary/Objective

This individual has oversight over all infection control and prevention related activities within the organization. This individual will also be responsible for all functions of the employee health program and for providing clinical employee health services at Cranford Rehab & Nursing Center. The infection Control and Prevention Nurse provides supervision of staff and will safeguard the health, and welfare of all Residents/residents under their care by following applicable laws, regulations, and established nursing policies and procedures.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be Inade to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• I . Will be required to establish standard methods of care, utilizing evidence-based practice and best practice standards,
• 2.Will be required to establish and implement infection control and employee health orientation programs, alongside the departmental directors, throughout the facility.
• 3.Responsible for policies and procedures within the organization related to infection control and employee health.
• 4.Supports administration with employee health databases, maintains complete and accurate employee health records.
• 5.Ensures compliance with state and federal requirements, accreditation bodies and CRNC policies and clinical responsibilities.
• 6.Participates as an integral team member, collaborating with various departments and colleagues, including Safety Officer, Human Resources, Quality Officer and others as needed to advocate for employee health and safety.
• 7.Coordinates the development and implementation of all employee health initiatives and programs,
• 8.Will develop, alongside Human Resources, policies and procedures for pre-employment and onboarding processes for employees.
• 9.Responsible for coordinating the infection control program which includes surveillance; analysis of data; developing reports, policies and procedures.
• 10.Use epidemiological principles and statistical methods to design, implement and evaluate infection prevention and control strategies,
• I l . Provides consultation and education to staf.f. physicians and community leaders in respect to Infection Prevention & Control.
• 12 r Coordinate with the Infection Prevention and ControE Committee to determine the direction of surveillance activities and actively evaluate effectiveness of the infection Prevention and Control Plan annually.
• 13.Conduct risk assessments at least annually and as needed with consideration of served populations, regional vulnerabilities, relevant statistical data, and new and emerging infectious diseases.
• 14.Notify the County and/or State Health Department of any reportable diseases, adhering to all internal county and state procedures.
• 15.Develop and implement continuously improved patient care procedures and control mechanisms relating to quality, compliance and infectious diseases.
• 16.Participate in infection prevent and control education of all employees during orientation and annually thereafter, including classes in infection prevention and control practices and employee health.
• 17.Ensure the infection prevention and control procedures meet CMS, DOH, county and state, and CDC regulations, standards or guidelines.
• 18.Organize Infection Prevention and Control Committee meetings and maintain all meeting minutes
• 19.Reports ali hazardous conditions, damaged equipment. and supply issues to appropriate persons. 20, Maintains the eon)fort, privacy and dignity of Residents/residents and interacts with then) in a Inanner that displays warmth, respect and promotes a caring environment.
• 21 . Communicates and interacts effectively and tactfüily with Residents/residents, visitors, families, peers and supervisors.
• 22.Attend and participate in depaftment•al Ineetings and in-services as directed.

Work Environment

This job operates in a health care setting. This role requires regular walking to various locations around the facility while pulling or pushing carts. This position works mostly in the Resident care areas as well as in occasional outside weather conditions. This role may also coine into contact with patients who may ha.ve contagious illnesses.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, and stooping on a regular basis. The employee must frequently lift and/or niove objects and patients weighing over 35 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision- depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This position is part of a health care facility that is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Rotating shifts as well as holiday and work duping inclement weather will be required.

Travel

No travel is expected for this position.

Required Education and Experience

Minimum of three (3) years' experience in healthcare required.

Current nursing license (RN or LPN) for state (NJ) is required.

• Bachelor's degree (BSN) highly desirable but not required.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Must be proficient and have a strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word,

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

Knowledge of DOH regulations.