RN Infection Prevention Coordinator

Trinity Health; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Trinity Health in Des Moines is seeking an Infection Prevention Coordinator to lead the organization’s Infection Prevention and Control Program across hospital and clinic settings. The role develops and implements strategies to protect patients and staff, oversees surveillance, regulatory compliance, and quality improvement, and delivers expert education to physicians and leaders.

The coordinator will collaborate with infectious disease physicians and stakeholders, report to Quality & Safety

Qualifications

• Minimum five (5) years of experience in a healthcare setting.
• Minimum of two (2) years of direct Infection Prevention, Infection Control, Epidemiology, Quality, Patient Safety, or related infection prevention experience.
• CIC certification preferred; CIC certification required within two years of eligibility.
• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Public Health, Microbiology, Epidemiology, Healthcare Administration, or related healthcare field required.
• Master’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the organization’s Infection Prevention and Control Program.
• Develop and implement infection prevention strategies that align with organizational objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for infection prevention and control practices.
• Provide consultation and guidance to physicians, leaders, clinical staff, and operational teams.
• Oversee infection prevention activities within assigned hospitals and outpatient settings.
• Monitor, investigate, and track healthcare-associated infections and communicable diseases.
• Analyze infection surveillance data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Report infection prevention data to regulatory agencies, governing bodies, leadership teams, and quality committees.
• Identify and utilize internal and external benchmarks to support best practices.
• Ensure compliance with CDC, CMS, Joint Commission, state, and local regulatory requirements.
• Develop, review, implement, and maintain infection prevention policies and procedures.
• Coordinate submission of required infection prevention and quality reporting measures.
• Support accreditation and regulatory surveys.
• Lead and support performance improvement projects focused on infection prevention and patient safety.
• Participate in Root Cause Analyses (RCA) related to healthcare-associated infections.
• Collaborate with quality, risk management, nursing, and medical staff on improvement initiatives.
• Educate colleagues on evidence-based infection prevention practices, disease prevention, hand hygiene, and safe work practices.
• Participate in new hire orientation and ongoing staff education.
• Attend department meetings, huddles, and committees to provide infection prevention guidance.
• Promote accountability and engagement in infection prevention practices throughout the organization.
• Participate in Environment of Care rounds and infection prevention risk assessments related to construction and renovation.
• Collaborate with facilities and contractors to ensure compliance with infection prevention standards.

Skills

Infection prevention leadership

Data surveillance & analysis

Regulatory compliance

Education & consultation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Public Health, Microbiology, Epidemiology, Healthcare Administration, or related healthcare field

Master’s degree preferred

Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC) preferred

CIC certification required within 2 years of eligibility

Job description

Employment Type:

Full time

Shift:

Day Shift

Description:

Join a mission-driven organization committed to excellence in patient safety, quality care, and infection prevention. The Infection Prevention Coordinator serves as a key leader in protecting patients, colleagues, and communities through evidence-based practice and continuous quality improvement.

The Infection Prevention Coordinator leads and oversees the Infection Prevention and Control Program in collaboration with the Infectious Disease Physician and key organizational stakeholders. This role is responsible for developing, implementing, monitoring, and continuously improving infection prevention strategies across hospital and clinic settings.

The coordinator conducts surveillance, analyzes infection trends, implements evidence-based prevention measures, ensures regulatory compliance, and provides expert consultation and education to physicians, leaders, and colleagues. This position plays a critical role in promoting patient safety, quality outcomes, and a culture of infection prevention excellence throughout the organization.

This position provides oversight, consultation, and direction to Infection Prevention staff and reports directly to the Manager of Quality & Safety.

Essential Responsibilities

Leadership & Program Oversight

• Lead and coordinate the organization’s Infection Prevention and Control Program.
• Develop and implement infection prevention strategies that align with organizational objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for infection prevention and control practices.
• Provide consultation and guidance to physicians, leaders, clinical staff, and operational teams.
• Oversee infection prevention activities within assigned hospitals and outpatient settings.

Surveillance & Data Management

• Monitor, investigate, and track healthcare-associated infections and communicable diseases.
• Analyze infection surveillance data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Report infection prevention data to regulatory agencies, governing bodies, leadership teams, and quality committees.
• Identify and utilize internal and external benchmarks to support best practices.

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with CDC, CMS, Joint Commission, state, and local regulatory requirements.
• Develop, review, implement, and maintain infection prevention policies and procedures.
• Coordinate submission of required infection prevention and quality reporting measures.
• Support accreditation and regulatory surveys.

Quality Improvement

• Lead and support performance improvement projects focused on infection prevention and patient safety.
• Participate in and facilitate Root Cause Analyses (RCA) related to healthcare-associated infections.
• Identify opportunities to improve infection prevention practices and clinical outcomes.
• Collaborate with quality, risk management, nursing, and medical staff on improvement initiatives.

Education & Consultation

• Educate colleagues on evidence-based infection prevention practices, disease prevention, hand hygiene, and safe work practices.
• Participate in new hire orientation and ongoing staff education.
• Attend department meetings, huddles, and committees to provide infection prevention guidance.
• Promote accountability and engagement in infection prevention practices throughout the organization.

Environmental & Construction Safety

• Participate in Environment of Care rounds.
• Conduct infection prevention risk assessments related to construction and renovation activities.
• Collaborate with facilities and contractors to ensure compliance with infection prevention standards.
• Monitor mitigation plans and conduct follow-up inspections as needed.

Collaboration & Patient Safety

• Participate in interdisciplinary rounding and patient safety initiatives.
• Support investigations involving infection risks, outbreaks, or unexpected infectious events.
• Partner with Employee Health on exposure management, disease prevention, and workplace safety efforts.
• Collaborate with leaders across the continuum of care to reduce infection risk and improve patient outcomes.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Public Health, Microbiology, Epidemiology, Healthcare Administration, or a related healthcare field required.

Master’s degree preferred.

Certification

• Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC) preferred.
• CIC certification required within two (2) years of eligibility.

Experience

Required:

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in a healthcare setting.
• Minimum of two (2) years of direct Infection Prevention, Infection Control, Epidemiology, Quality, Patient Safety, or related infection prevention experience required.
• Experience with infection surveillance, regulatory compliance, and performance improvement initiatives.

Preferred:

• Experience leading infection prevention programs in acute care or hospital settings.
• Experience with NHSN reporting, Joint Commission standards, CDC guidelines, and CMS regulations.

Our Commitment

Rooted in our Mission and Core Values, we honor the dignity of every person and recognize the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents each colleague brings. By finding common ground and embracing our differences, we grow stronger together and deliver more compassionate, person-centered care. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.