Nurse Educator - Infection Preventionist

Acadia Healthcare Company; Norcross (GA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Greenleaf Behavioral Health is seeking a passionate Nurse Educator/Infection Prevention Specialist for its facility in Valdosta, GA. This full-time role involves conducting orientation programs, overseeing infection control, and providing educational leadership to enhance patient care. Ideal candidates will have a Master's degree in nursing and substantial RN experience, particularly in behavioral health and infection control.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in nursing or related field preferred.
• 5+ years of RN experience preferred.
• Infection control and clinical education experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Facilitates orientation/onboarding programs to promote employee retention.
• Conducts ongoing infection surveillance and monitors compliance with standards.
• Develops educational plans based on gap assessments.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Infection Control

Clinical Education

Education

Master’s degree in nursing, Healthcare Administration, Education, or related field

Bachelor’s degree in nursing or equivalent

Job description

Greenleaf Behavioral Health is hiring a Nurse Educator!

Schedule: Full Time

Greenleaf Behavioral Health, Valdosta's leading Psychiatric Hospital and Treatment Center, is seeking a passionate Nurse Educator/Infection Prevention Specialist to work at our adolescent and adult facility in Valdosta, GA.

Greenleaf is a 113-bed facility that offers comprehensive training, dynamic leadership, and personalized support to help you achieve your greatest potential.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Facilitates orientation/onboarding programs to promote employee retention.
2. Conducts orientation in a manner that fosters a positive learning environment.
3. Role models organizational and personal commitment to new employee success.
4. Designs and identifies educational activities to address practice gaps for licensed and non-licensed healthcare personnel.
5. Identifies learning needs of staff and/or facility.
6. Demonstrates competent practice through activities like demonstrations or simulations.
7. Assesses practice gaps and crosswalks competencies to practice.
8. Collaborates with the Corporate Nursing Director/Educator to review outcomes data and refine competency activities.
9. Assists with development and instruction of didactic content and clinical skills for designated competencies.
10. Develops educational plans based on gap assessments or quality data/safety outcomes.
11. Aligns educational programs with facility and organization policies and procedures.
12. Implements and delivers curricula as required by regulatory agencies such as Joint Commission, CARF, CMS, and State agencies.
13. Creates engaging, evidence-based educational content tailored to the audience.
14. Maintains exceptional instructional skills to keep learners engaged.
15. Acts as a resource for nursing staff.
16. Collaborates with medical practitioners and CNO/DON to incorporate nursing processes into patient care plans.
17. Provides educational leadership to enhance patient care within clinical protocols.
18. Promotes safe, quality, and compassionate patient care.
19. Supports patient and caregiver education, problem-solving, and health management across the continuum of care.
20. Educates staff on equipment and supplies, coordinating in-service training.
21. Supports innovation in educational design.
22. Provides resources and just-in-time education for immediate changes.
23. Communicates effectively and professionally with patients, visitors, and staff.
24. May provide direct patient care as needed.

Infection Prevention Responsibilities:

1. Conducts ongoing infection surveillance.
2. Gathers, interprets data, and maintains accurate infection records.
3. Prepares and presents reports to relevant committees.
4. Inspects environment and observes personnel activities for infection hazards.
5. Monitors compliance with standards and updates policies accordingly.
6. Investigates exposure incidents and oversees follow-up actions.
7. Reports communicable diseases to appropriate authorities.
8. Develops and delivers in-service and orientation on infection prevention and control.
9. Analyzes infection data for leadership.
10. Trains staff on infection protocols and assesses compliance.

OTHER FUNCTIONS:

1. Identifies professional development needs of staff.
2. Supports staff growth and skill enhancement.
3. Promotes certification in nursing specialties.
4. Performs other tasks as assigned.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILLS:

• Master’s degree in nursing, Healthcare Administration, Education, or related field preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in nursing or equivalent required.
• 5+ years of RN experience preferred.
• Three years of RN experience required.
• Inpatient psychiatry RN experience preferred.
• Two years of behavioral health RN experience required.
• Infection control experience and clinical education experience preferred.

LICENSES/DESIGNATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS:

• Current state nursing license required.
• Infection Control Certification preferred.
• CPR and de-escalation/restraint certifications required (training provided).

ADDITIONAL REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS:

Appointed by the governing body to oversee the infection prevention and control program, based on leadership recommendations.

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants regardless of protected characteristics.