Sr Infection Preventionist

Phoenix Children's Hospital, Inc.; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Senior Infection Preventionist at Phoenix Children’s Hospital collaborates with leadership, quality, medical and nursing staff to reduce infection risk and improve key measures. Leads teams, demonstrates infection prevention expertise, and applies NHSN surveillance data to drive strategic programs.

The role mentors staff, develops education materials, and plans work with minimal direction to support organizational goals.

Qualifications

• Applies infection prevention core competencies: prevention, surveillance, and control.
• Uses NHSN to report HAIs and validate NHSN surveillance.
• Performs electronic surveillance and data mining for comprehensive reporting.

Responsibilities

• Develops strategies to reduce infection risk with leadership and care teams.
• Leads improvement initiatives across the organization.
• Presents data visually to stakeholders with graphic displays.

Skills

NHSN reporting

Data mining

Adult education

Infection prevention

Surveillance

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in nursing or related field with clinical background

Master’s degree in nursing or healthcare field

Tools

NHSN system

Job description

A Senior Infection Preventionist at Phoenix Children’s collaborates with the leadership team, quality, medical and nursing staff to develop strategies to reduce the risk of infections and achieve top decile performance for key infection prevention measures. Initiates and leads teams to address improvement efforts across the organization. Demonstrates expertise in infection prevention core competencies--prevention, surveillance, and control. Performs surveillance by utilizing available electronic tools to collect data, applying critical thinking to interpret the data, and submitting reliable data to the National Healthcare Surveillance Network (NHSN). Able to apply adult learning principles to educational strategies, materials, and presentations. The Senior Infection Preventionist must be self-directed and self-motivating, plans and conducts work with minimal direction. This role also serves as a mentor to the team and provides feedback and guidance for professional development.

Position Duties

• a. Applies standardized case finding methods to HAI (healthcare-associated infection) definitions, expanding surveillance principles to diverse populations.
• b. Skilled at using NHSN (National Healthcare Surveillance Network) to report HAIs and able to validate NHSN surveillance conducted by others.
• c. Independently performs electronic surveillance and applies data mining principles for comprehensive reporting.
• d. Applies principles of information management to emerging technology.
• e. Uses advanced statistical tools (SIR, P values and standard deviation).
• f. Provides reports to stakeholders in the form of graphic data displays.
• g. Understands rate comparison and benchmarking and can integrate analysis into strategic programs for Phoenix Children’s.
• h. Initiates collaborative efforts around process improvements identified from surveillance outcomes.
• i. Serves as a leader to coordinate and aggregate pertinent data that is focused, succinct and effective for use by leadership.
• j. Proactively assesses program, service, and functional effectiveness.

Additional Responsibilities

• a. Serves as an expert for internal projects and initiatives using evidence-based protocols and best practice from other national initiatives.
• b. Uses professional judgement and decision-making skills to prioritize work, initiatives, and streamline processes.
• c. Utilizes infection control electronic data-mining system to identify abnormal laboratory findings with infection prevention implications.
• d. Monitors and supports isolation activities.
• e. Possesses advanced knowledge of epidemiology and study design and conducts epidemiologic investigations.
• f. Uses literature review as a tool for learning best practices and can interpret research findings and identify study limitations and bias.
• g. Able to interpret research data and apply findings to current practice.
• h. Independently uses process improvement tools, utilizing approaches appropriate to stakeholder needs.
• i. Designs complex interventions, applying principles of change management and process improvement to daily operations and special projects.
• j. Writes Phoenix Children’s policies and procedures based on understanding of regulatory / accreditation requirements and participates in local, regional, national policy review.
• k. Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with staff and clinicians that enhance coordination, standardization, and continuity of infection prevention activities.
• l. Keeps abreast of public health issues that impact infection prevention activities.
• m. Collaborates with state and local public health agencies as needed.
• n. Leads and/or participates in goal planning activities and program assessment.
• o. Works collaboratively with Infection Prevention and Control Committee to develop and monitor appropriate standards of care, policies and procedures, related systems, and processes to ensure compliance with applicable standards, regulations, and laws.
• p. Works in a collaborative manner with all staff to create infection prevention projects, initiatives and work plan that address prevention as well as control of infections.
• q. Works professionally and collaboratively with medical staff and designated Infection Control Physicians.

Educational Responsibilities

• a. Effectively educates/presents to adult audiences using a variety of skills and techniques and has experience presenting to large audiences.
• b. Participates in mandatory infection prevention training of employees.
• c. Creates documents on infection related materials for patients and visitors.
• d. Develops educational materials, programs, training for RN staff, clinicians, and patients.
• e. Designs orientation and mandatory training for employees as it pertains to infection prevention and control practices.
• f. May design and manage the Infection Control webpage.
• g. Develops, implements, and evaluates the effectiveness of a variety of employee health and wellness, injury, infection, and exposure prevention education programs collaboratively with Occupational Health and Safety.

Miscellaneous Duties

• Performs miscellaneous job related duties as requested.

Phoenix Children’s Mission, Vision, & Values

Mission

To advance hope, healing and the best healthcare for children and their families

Vision

Phoenix Children’s will be the leading pediatric health system in the Southwest, nationally recognized for exceptional care, innovative research and advanced medical education.

We realize this vision by:

• Offering the most comprehensive care across ages, communities and specialties
• Investing in innovative research, including emerging treatments, tools and technologies
• Advancing education and training to shape the next generation of clinical leaders
• Advocating for the health and well-being of children and families

Values

• We place children and families at the center of all we do
• We deliver exceptional care, every day and in every way
• We collaborate with colleagues, partners and communities to amplify our impact
• We set the standards of pediatric healthcare today, and innovate for the future
• We are accountable for making the highest quality care accessible and affordable

Position Qualifications

Please review the following qualifications and specify whether you meet each of the requirements listed.

Education

Do you meet this requirement or have the ability to obtain it within the timeframe listed in the requirement? 1. Bachelor’s in nursing with five years nursing experience or bachelor’s in microbiology, Public Health Epidemiology, Biology, or related field with three years’ experience in infection prevention and control or epidemiology or MT (ASCP) certification as a Medical Technologist with five years’ experience in microbiology.
Required
Yes No 2. Master’s degree in nursing or other Healthcare field.
Preferred
Yes No

Experience

Do you meet this requirement or have the ability to obtain it within the timeframe listed in the requirement? 1. Three years’ experience in an acute care setting or health related field, such as direct patient care, clinical or laboratory research, epidemiology or infectious disease.
Required
Yes No 2. Experience and/or responsibility for Infection Prevention and Control in previous work environments.
Preferred
Yes No 3. Previous experience coordinating programs or supervising staff.
Preferred
Yes No

Additional Requirements

Do you meet this requirement or have the ability to obtain it within the timeframe listed in the requirement? 1. Certification in Infection Control (CIC).
Required
Yes No

Physical Requirements & Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential

1. Physical Requirement - Climbing -Occasionally

2. Physical Requirement - Feeling (sensing textures and temperatures) -Occasionally

3. Physical Requirement - Fine Motor Skills (pinching, gripping, etc) -Occasionally

4. Physical Requirement - Hearing -Constantly

5. Physical Requirement - Pushing/pulling -Occasionally

6. Physical Requirement - Reaching -Frequently

7. Physical Requirement - Sitting -Frequently

8. Physical Requirement - Standing -Frequently

9. Physical Requirement - Stooping/crouching/kneeling/crawling -Occasionally

10. Physical Requirement - Talking -Constantly

11. Physical Requirement - Tasting/smelling -Occasionally

12. Physical Requirement - Walking -Frequently

13. Physical Requirement - Near Vision -Frequently

14. Physical Requirement - Far Vision -Frequently

15. Physical Requirement - Color Discrimination -Occasionally

16. Physical Requirement - Use of keyboard, mouse and/or computer equipment -Constantly

17. Physical Requirement - Lift up to 35 pounds without assistance -Occasionally

18. Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Inside office environment -Applicable

19. Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Outdoor weather conditions -Applicable

20. Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Airborne communicable diseases -Applicable

21. Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Bloodborne pathogens or bodily fluid -Applicable

22. Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Fumes or airborne particles -Applicable

I have reviewed the qualifications, physical requirementsand occupational exposure/risk potential for this position and wish to apply I Agree