Infection Preventionist Registered Nurse

Diversity Group; West Palm Beach (FL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking an Infection Preventionist RN to lead surveillance, reporting, investigation and control of infections. You will ensure compliance with standards, educate staff and patients, and collaborate with teams to reduce risks and improve patient safety.

This role supports VA policies and provides guidance to maintain a safe and clean healthcare environment, with a focus on continuous improvement and regulatory readiness.

Qualifications

• Current RN license in the United States with full, active status.
• Graduate from an accredited nursing program (ACEN/CCNE preferred).
• Ability to apply infection prevention knowledge to clinical settings.

Responsibilities

• Conduct surveillance of healthcare-associated infections and report findings.
• Investigate infection events and coordinate containment actions.
• Develop and implement infection prevention policies and procedures.
• Educate staff and patients on infection prevention practices.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and participate in Infection Control Committee.

Skills

English language proficiency

Education

Nursing degree (RN)

Job description

Summary

The Infection Preventionist RN leads infection prevention efforts - including surveillance - reporting - investigation - and control of infections. Ensures compliance with standards - educates staff and patients - and collaborates with teams to reduce risks and improve patient safety. Supports policies and provides guidance to maintain a safe - clean healthcare environment.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program
• Upon achievement of a State license - the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program
• (Reference VA Handbook 5005 - Appendix G6)
• OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing - possession of a current - full - active - and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program
• Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)
• Current - full - active - and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State - Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) of the United States - or the District of Columbia
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements - but do not possess the required licensure - may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification
• Grade Determinations: The following Scope - Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates - and if appropriate - the level within a grade
• The Dimension requirements (Practice - Veteran/Patient Driven Care - Leadership - Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13075799
• Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I - Level I Delivers fundamental - knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies
• An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing - with no additional professional nursing required
• Nurse I - Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts - cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required
• Nurse I - Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning
• Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
• A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no professional nursing experience
• Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting
• MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
• Preferred Experience: Demonstrated experience applying evidence-based infection prevention and control practices in a healthcare setting
• This includes performing surveillance of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) - analyzing infection trend data - and participating in investigations of infectious disease outbreaks
• Experience collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to develop - implement - and evaluate infection prevention policies - procedures - and educational programs is preferred
• Ideal candidates will have experience with regulatory and accreditation standards (e.g. - The Joint Commission - CDC - CMS) - knowledge of disinfection and sterilization principles - and familiarity with personal protective equipment (PPE) and isolation precautions
• Certification in Infection Control (CIC) is strongly preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (up to 30 pounds) Prolonged periods of walking - standing - and bending throughout the medical facility - including offices - patient care units - and procedural areas Reaching - stooping - and pushing to perform audits - inspections - and surveillance activities in varied healthcare environments Visual acuity - with or without corrective lenses - in order to observe environmental cleanliness - review documentation - and analyze data Manual dexterity sufficient to use computer equipment and other office technology Occasional exposure to environmental hazards such as infectious materials - requiring adherence to appropriate infection prevention practices and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) Ability to communicate effectively in person - on the telephone - and in writing

Duties

• Major components of this function include surveillance - prevention and control activities
• reporting communicable illnesses
• infection control policy development
• administrative functions
• infection control education and training
• consultative services - and analysis of infection control data
• The Infection Preventionist (IP) has the authority to function in all services of the organization to coordinate - establish and monitor acceptable infection control practices and standards
• S/he serves as a principal member of the Infection Control Committee and recommends new or revised practices - based on currently accepted evidence-based infection prevention and control strategies
• The IP evaluates clinical parameters to determine the presence of infection - assess the severity of disease - identify specific risk factors - and determine source(s) for infection that can be improved
• The IP analyzes surveillance data monthly - quarterly - and annually to identify unusual occurrences - clusters of infection - infection due to unusual pathogens - and occurrence of healthcare-acquired infections that exceed the targets established for the organization - determining the need for intervention
• The IP uses standard definitions for the identification and classification of events - indicators - or outcomes and appropriate statistical techniques to describe the data - calculate rates and critically evaluate the significance of findings
• The IP analyzes data using comparative data when available and reports epidemiologically significant findings appropriately
• The IP evaluates infectiousness of patients and employees with communicable diseases - makes recommendations for isolation or work restrictions - and investigates exposures to these diseases
• The IP recognizes deviations from infection control standards and makes recommendations as necessary to maintain the same level of infection control prevention and control standards throughout all areas of the organization
• The IP evaluates the effectiveness of infection prevention and control measures in assigned areas of responsibility and identifies potential infection hazards and deviations from expected hospital target for infection and/or colonization of patients
• The IP facilitates implementation of infection control policies and procedures and makes recommendations for integration of infection control principles throughout the medical center
• The IP monitors implementation of infection control policies and procedures
• The IP identifies opportunities to integrate surveillance findings into the organization's plan for improvement and initiates and facilitates procedural changes to improve infection control practices through active participation and/or collaboration with appropriate committees or workgroups
• The IP takes remedial action and implements immediate infection control measures when a known breach is identified or there is reason to believe that there is danger of exposure to or spread of infection in patients or personnel
• The IP communicates and follows up with all services involved to ensure corrective action is implemented
• The IP formulates individual goals for specific areas of individual responsibility to accomplish the broader goals of the Infection Control Program
• The IP participates in Quality Improvement activities and contributes epidemiological skills and expert knowledge of infection prevention and control methods
• The IP uses knowledge of current scientific literature and existing regulations and guidelines to incorporate appropriate recommendations into written infection control policies and procedures and to ensure consistency with current standards of care
• The IP establishes and maintains effective oral and written communications with all services and community agencies as needed concerning prevention and control of infections in patients
• The IP ensures that findings - recommendations - and policies of the infection control program are disseminated to appropriate individuals
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary - regular salary increases - potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Ad-Hoc Only Virtual: This is not a virtual position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized