Senior Infection Preventionist

Southeast Health; Dothan (AL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Southeast Health in Alabama seeks a Senior Infection Preventionist to coordinate hospital-wide infection prevention efforts, administer NHSN data, and ensure regulatory compliance. The role collaborates with clinical and support teams to implement evidence-based practices and lead policy development.

The position focuses on surveillance, outbreak support, antibiotic stewardship, and staff education, with a day shift and full-time commitment in a healthcare setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing or Public Health with epidemiology focus or Microbiology.
• Current nursing license or equivalent degree.
• Certification in Infection Prevention and Control or plan to obtain within two years.

Responsibilities

• Monitor, analyze pathogen reports and infection statistics; recommend control measures.
• Apply NHSN definitions; collect, analyze NHSN data; submit required reports.
• Serve as NHSN administrator for the facility; report data to regulators as required.
• Lead annual infection prevention plan, report, and risk assessment.
• Promote continuous performance improvement and evidence-based practices.
• Conduct on-site infection control assessments; provide feedback reports.
• Guide cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization per guidelines.
• Consult on outbreaks; support units during outbreaks or clusters.
• Provide ongoing education; orient new staff; develop rounding tools.
• Support antibiotic stewardship; track infections and antibiotic use; report results.
• Ensure hand hygiene and isolation compliance; update policies with committees.

Skills

Communication

Report writing

Advanced computer skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Nursing

Public Health with Epidemiologist focus

Microbiology

Tools

NHSN

Job description

Southeast. Always the right career direction.Job Description SummaryThe Senior Infection Preventionist supports the Southeast Health mission through system-wide coordination of planned and reliable processes designed to prevent hospital acquired infections and enhance continuous infection prevention processes.The Senior Infection Preventionist is responsible for assisting in the administration and clinical operation of the Infection Control and Prevention Program for the organization. This involves professional responsibilities in patient care practices, epidemiology, statistics, infectious disease, education, communication, surveillance, mandatory reporting, product evaluation, disinfection, and sterilization.They collaborate with stakeholders including ancillary, nursing, and medical staff to identify trends, prioritize and recommend improvements, and ensure compliance with Federal and State regulatory standards.The Senior Infection Preventionist (SIP) is responsible for the surveillance, analysis, and reporting of hospital acquired infections; educating employees about infection control; and the development of organizational infection control standards that meet state and federal regulatory and accrediting bodies, CDC, and APIC guidelinesThe Senior Infection Preventionist will also investigate incident reports and other infection control and prevention issues as requested by the supervisor.Job DescriptionEssential FunctionsSupports the Director of Quality and Regulatory Programs by:Monitoring, analyzing, and interpreting pathogen reports and infection statistics, followed by recommending appropriate control measures to prevent dissemination of resistant microorganismsUtilizing CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) definitions and applying them consistently. This is performed by collecting, aggregating and analyzing NHSN data, providing the required reports and data submission to NHSN. Serves as National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) administrator for the facilityReporting required data to regulatory bodies, and local or federal authorities as required by lawLeads the development of the annual infection prevention and control plan, annual report and risk assessment, and utilizes them to promote the program to internal and external stakeholdersCreating a culture of continuous performance improvement and participating in the implementation of evidence-based practices designed to ensure safety, prevent infections, and support the attainment of outstanding clinical outcomesConducting on-site infection control assessment (ICRA) and creating feedback reports following the assessmentApply evidence-based guidelines in conjunction with manufacturers’ instructions for use to provide guidance for cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of equipment.Providing consultation to prevent, analyze, and predict emerging outbreaks. Providing support to units during outbreaks or cluster of infections investigationsParticipating in ongoing infection prevention continuing educational programs for employees as well as new employee orientationDevelop infection control rounding tools and coach new infection prevention staff on use of tools and follow up on the rounding processFollowing the principles and requirements of antibiotic stewardship, via tracking infections and antibiotic use. Communicates results and maintains records of investigations.Facilitating activities to ensure compliance with hand hygiene and isolation complianceReviewing, revising, and developing policies and procedures within the purview of the Infection Prevention and Antibiotic Stewardship Committees. Facilitates and participates in the Infection Prevention Committee, under the direction of the chair. Participates in the Antibiotic Stewardship committee as representative of the Infection Prevention program, under the direction of the chair.Performs other duties as requested by primary manager that do not compromise moral code of conduct or protocols set in place for patient or employee safetyDirect Reports (supervised positions)noneQualificationsMinimum Education RequiredBaccalaureate degree in:Nursing (current nursing license)orPublic Health with Epidemiologist focus or other health related fieldorMicrobiologistCertification in Infection Prevention and Control or obtain/maintain within two years of hire.Minimum Experience RequiredNursing: five years clinical nursing experience in acute care settingorNon-nursing: two years of acute care experience showing use of knowledge in basic surveillance and epidemiologyorTwo years of prior experience as an Infection Preventionist in an acute care settingRequired Skills/AbilitiesDemonstrates ability to communicate and organize concepts, ideas, verbally and in writing, with precise word usage, clear meaning, good presentation, vocabulary, grammar and correct spelling.Demonstrates ability to create and provide reports that synthesize infection prevention metric performanceAdvanced computer skills for creating statistical, qualitative, and quantitative analysesDemonstrates commitment to organizations five (5) priorities and Six Ground RulesPerson in this position is required to understand, agree upon and follow our Six Ground Rules:No excuses.We are a team.Bring up your ideas.Poor performance will be addressed.“That’s not my job” is not acceptableManage Up.ShiftDayShift DetailsFTE1TypeRegularJoin one of Forbes 500 best mid-sized employers in America.Equal Employment EmployerSoutheast Health is committed to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Southeast Health will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.