Infection Preventionist RN

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Tuscaloosa (AL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Nurse Infection Preventionist (RN) to lead infection surveillance, education, and program development. The role requires strong nursing credentials, licensure, and experience with regulatory compliance and data-driven infection control practices.

The position emphasizes collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to sustain patient safety, implement vaccination programs, and manage infection control data and policies

Qualifications

• RN license in good standing in the US.
• Graduate of ACEN/CCNE accredited nursing program.
• English proficiency as required by VA rules.
• Foreign nursing education must be evaluated for equivalence.
• State licensure obtained or in process; temporary appointment possible.
• Foreign education must be validated by recognized evaluating agencies.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and reduce infection risk among patients, staff, visitors.
• Contribute to annual Infection Control Risk Assessment and allocate resources.
• Provide infection control education and ongoing trainings.
• Foster a safe environment for professional development and evidence-based practice.
• Serve as an infection control and epidemiology resource for staff; promote quality nursing care.
• Collaborate with EOH to plan and implement Immunization programs.
• Support CCR oversight and reporting for HIV/AIDS and HCV.
• Develop and maintain SOPs, policies, outbreak investigations, and external documents.

Skills

Infection prevention

Nursing

Regulatory compliance

Education & trainings

Infection surveillance

Education

Nursing degree or diploma

State nursing license

ACEN/CCNE accreditation

Bridge program eligibility (MSN/BSN path)

Job description

Summary

The Nurse Infection Preventionist (IP) Registered Nurse (RN) executes position responsibilities to improve patient and organizational outcomes. The Nurse Infection Preventionist is a quick learner who can master large - complex programs and regulatory requirements independently while maintaining attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

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/13106790
• 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 a 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 additional 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: 5 years of RN experience - previous work as an infection preventionist
• experience conducting infection surveillance - outbreak investigations - analyzing infection trends
• participation in hospital control audits - familiarity with reporting healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) to National Healthcare Safety Network
• regulatory compliance
• Seeking an experienced Infection Preventionist who can independently assume program responsibilities immediately
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The position requires potentially long periods of combined walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable or working effectively in stressful situation - able to shift priorities based on needs of the organization
• The incumbent who provides off-site training may be required to travel occasionally
• This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments.

Duties

• Conducts monitoring to identify and reduce the risk of acquiring and transmitting infections among patients - employees - visitors - and students
• Contributes to the annual Infection Control Risk Assessment - determining appropriate resources needed to accomplish the proposed plan - communicating any variance to administration and revises plan as needed
• Provides education on infection control issues - as well as annual and ongoing trainings to staff
• Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals
• Serves as an education resource for all employees on infection control - epidemiology - and provides knowledge and guidance
• Supports colleagues through knowledge sharing - while questioning clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidencebased practices - to provide safe - quality nursing care
• Collaborates with Employee Occupational Health (EOH) and other members of the interdisciplinary team to plan and implement the Immunization Program - i.e. - influenza
• Assists the Infection Control Provider in managing the Clinical Case Registry (CCR) for Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and Hepatitis C - including providing reports and alerts to clinicians
• Implements and maintains a system for analyzing - trending - and reporting data
• Assists in developing and maintaining mandatory documents such as standards operating procedures - policies - outbreak and exposure investigations - and external agency required documents
• Other assigned duties 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: Full time - Monday to Friday 7:30am to 4:00pm
• Work Schedule is subject to change based on agency need
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized