Registered Nurse- Infection Preventionist

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Minneapolis VA Health Care System seeks an Infection Preventionist RN to lead infection surveillance, investigations, and education to safeguard Veterans, staff, and visitors. The role emphasizes NHSN, VA standards, and evidence-based practices.

The IP RN will collaborate with nursing and clinical teams, conduct rounds, and contribute to reporting and quality improvement initiatives within a federal healthcare system.

Qualifications

• English language proficiency required for direct patient care.
• Graduate nursing degree from ACEN/CCNE-accredited program or foreign equivalent with validation.
• Current, active RN license in the United States.
• Bridge program candidates may qualify for RN licensure upon completion.

Responsibilities

• Lead HAI and infection-risk surveillance using NHSN and VA standards.
• Identify reportable organisms by daily review of microbiology/lab data.
• Conduct outbreak investigations with case definitions and line listings.
• Ensure timely patient isolation and appropriate precautions and PPE use.
• Perform daily clinical rounding with care teams to identify infection risks.
• Monitor and report infection-prevention data ensuring data integrity.
• Evaluate program effectiveness and identify improvement opportunities.
• Conduct environmental rounds and adherence audits to infection-control practices.
• Provide expert consultation on infection precautions and prevention procedures.

Skills

English proficiency

Infection prevention knowledge

Clinical nursing experience

Surveillance and data reporting

Education

Nursing degree (ASN/BSN)

State nursing license

ACEN/CCNE accreditation

Foreign education degree validation

Bridge program option for RN

Job description

Summary

The Infection Preventionist (IP) Registered Nurse (RN) is a professional nurse who brings specialized expertise in infection prevention and control - with an emphasis on identifying and advancing opportunities to improve patient safety and care outcomes - and to safeguard the health of Veterans - staff - and visitors across the Minneapolis VA Health Care System.

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/13085961
• 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 and 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 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of examination.

Duties

• Major duties include but are not limited to: Lead HAI and infection-risk surveillance using standardized methodologies and benchmarks such as NHSN - VACO - and the MDRO Program Office
• Identify and respond to reportable or actionable organisms by reviewing microbiology and laboratory reports daily - including MDROs - C
• difficile - and tuberculosis
• Conduct outbreak and infection-cluster investigations - including case definitions - line listings - epidemic curves - and coordinated response activities
• Ensure timely isolation and appropriate precautions for patients - including correct isolation categories - PPE - disinfection supplies - and transmission-based precautions
• Conduct daily clinical rounding with nursing and care teams to identify - prevent - and resolve infection risks at the point of care
• Monitor - validate - and submit infection-prevention data to IPEC and other required systems while resolving discrepancies and maintaining data integrity
• Evaluate infection-prevention program effectiveness across all clinical and nonclinical practice settings and identify opportunities for improvement
• Perform environmental rounds and compliance audits to assess adherence to infection-control practices and regulatory requirements
• Provide expert consultation and education on infection precautions - prevention procedures - and communicable-disease transmission - serving as a subject-matter resource to staff and departments and supporting safe - compliant patient care
• Apply evidence-based practices - published guidelines - and regulatory requirements-including CDC - NHSN - Joint Commission - APIC - AORN - AAMI - and OIG standards-to evaluate and improve MVAHCS infection-prevention practices - products - and procedures
• 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 - 0730-1600
• Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
• Telework: ADHOC-May be authorized (Employee who Telework on an occasional - episodic - or short-term - and have completed required telework training and telework agreement)
• This is not a virtual position
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Preferred experience: BSN or MSN preferred Experience in Public Health and/or infection prevention and control Certification in Infection Control (CIC) and or Public Health certification Coursework or academic background in epidemiology - biostatistics - or population health Experience with Healthcare Safety Network or other national surveillance reporting systems The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers
• This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest
• As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care - you will operate in a model with three core elements - seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran
• This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community
• This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.