Nurse Educator/Infection Preventionist

Geisinger; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization is seeking an Infection Preventionist to develop educational programs and coordinate infection control initiatives. This role supports clinical staff in enhancing patient care through evidence-based practices and aligns educational activities with healthcare standards. Ideal candidates will possess a Master’s in Nursing and significant RN experience, particularly in behavioral health and infection control.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience as a registered nurse strongly preferred.
• Experience in infection control and behavioral health preferred.
• Certification as an NPD Practitioner is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and lead infection prevention and control programs.
• Facilitate orientation and educational training for nursing staff.
• Monitor compliance with infection control standards.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Master’s degree in nursing, Healthcare Administration, Education

Bachelor’s degree in nursing

Job description

Overview

Acadia Healthcare is a leading provider of behavioral healthcare services across the United States. Acadia operates a growing network of 250 plus behavioral healthcare facilities with approximately 11,100 beds in 39 states and Puerto Rico. With more than 23,000 employees serving approximately 75,000 patients daily, Acadia is the largest stand-alone behavioral health company in the U.S.

Acadia Healthcare’s purpose is to Lead Care With Light and our mission is to be a world-class organization that sets the standard for excellence in the treatment of mental health and addiction concerns. We strive to maintain our standing as a thought leader in the behavioral healthcare industry, providing treatment that is synonymous with compassion and innovation.

Opening in Fall 2025, Capitol Park Mental Health Hospital, 144-bed, located at the former site of Bethesda Hospital, will offer inpatient, intensive outpatient and "partial hospitalization" mental health treatment.

PURPOSE STATEMENT:

Plan, develop and coordinate continuing nursing in-service education programs within the facility for all clinical and non-clinical nursing staff in a positive, empathetic, and professional manner at all times. This position is responsible for enhancing professional practice and the provision of quality patient care by providing evidence-based, quality educational programs and activities that promote professional competency for nursing, inter-professional, and non-licensed clinical staff at an assigned facility. Coordinate and lead the facility’s infection prevention and control program. Responsible for determining, preventing and containing infectious outbreaks within the facility. Performs duties with a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude. Recognizes that patient safety is a top priority.

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

· Facilitates orientation/onboarding program to promote employee retention.

· Conducts orientation in a manner that fosters a positive learning environment.

· Role models organizational and personal commitment to new employee success.

· Participates in designing and identifying educational activities to address practice gaps for identified target audiences, which may include licensed and non-licensed healthcare personnel.

· Identifies learning needs of staff and/or facility

· Role models competent practice through demonstration or simulation activities

· Assess practice gaps/Crosswalk competencies to practice

· Collaborates with Corporate Nursing Director /Educator to review outcomes data to evaluate and refine competency management activities

· Assist with development and/or instruction of didactic content and clinical skills for designated competencies

· Develops education plan according to gap assessment or quality data/safety outcomes

· Aligns educational programs with facility and/or organization policies and procedures

· Implement and deliver educational curricula as required by regulatory agencies such as Joint Commission, CARF, CMS and State agencies.

· Creates engaging, evidence-based educational content to meet the specific needs of the intended audience

· Demonstrates exceptional instructional skills while maintaining learner engagement

· Act a general resource for nursing staff.

· Collaborate with medical practitioners and CNO/DON to incorporate nursing processes into the plan of care for patients.

· Provide educational leadership to patients and care providers to enhance specialized patient care within established clinical protocol.

· Promotes safe, quality, and compassionate patient care

· Assist patient and caregivers with education needs, problem solution and health management across the continuum of care.

· Educate direct patient care staff in the use of equipment, supplies, and coordinates in-service training for appropriate staff.

· Supports new ideas and innovation in educational design

· Provides staff with resources and “just-in-time” education to implement immediate changes

· Communicate therapeutically and professionally with patients, visitors, coworkers and others in an effective manner

· May provide direct care as needed.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

· Conduct ongoing surveillance of infections.

· Gather and interpret data and keep accurate records of all infections.

· Compile and present Infection Reports to the Safety/Infection Control Committee and the Performance Improvement Council at assigned intervals.

· Inspect environment and observe personnel activities for the purpose of detecting infection hazards.

· Monitor and evaluate compliance with standards set by facility policy and industry.

· Monitor and update all facility department supervisors on all area-specific policies and procedures important to infection prevention principles. Investigate all 'exposure incidents,' oversee post-exposure evaluation and follow-up process in order to recommend appropriate actions to be taken.

· Notify designated medical, administrative staff and appropriate health department authorities all reportable communicable disease.

· Develop and provide in-service and orientation programs concerning prevention and control of infection, standard precautions, isolation techniques and education on current infectious disease.

· Responsibilities may also include gathering, analyzing and presenting data, facts and trends on infection prevention to facility or corporate leadership.

· Train staff on infection prevention and control protocols.

· Assess and re-enforce infection prevention practices.

OTHER FUNCTIONS:

· Provides expertise in identifying professional development needs of individual staff

· Assists staff to identify areas for individual growth in current role

· Identifies and provides opportunities for skill enhancement and mastery

· Utilizes novice to expert continuum when developing staff

· Promotes certification in areas of nursing specialty

· Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

· Master’s degree in nursing, Healthcare Administration, Education or other clinical field or equivalent combination of education and/or experience preferred.

· Bachelor’s degree in nursing or commensurate experience required

· 5+ years of experience as a registered nurse strongly preferred.

· Three years of registered nurse experience required.

· Inpatient psychiatry experience as an RN strongly preferred

· Two years of behavioral health experience as an RN required.

· One or more years’ experience in infection control preferred.

· 1+ years experience in Clinical Education/Training and Development (Preferred)

· Certification as an NPD Practitioner and/or clinical certification as recognized by American Nurse Credentialing Center. (Preferred)

LICENSES/DESIGNATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS:

· Current state license is required for this position.

· Certification by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology preferred

· CPR and de-escalation/restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).

· First aid may be required based on state or facility.

ADDITIONAL REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS:

For Joint Commission facilities: The infection preventionist is appointed by the governing body to be responsible for the infection prevention and control program. The appointment is based on recommendations of medical staff leadership and nursing leadership.

We are committed toprovidingequalemploymentopportunitiestoall applicantsforemploymentregardlessofanindividual’scharacteristicsprotected byapplicable state,federalandlocallaws

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