RN Educator

Job Description:

Must have 1 year + of infection control and nurse educator experience shown clearly on the profile

Must be comfortable in a fast paced acute psych hospital setting

Must be able to start 5/6

PURPOSE STATEMENT:

The Infection Prevention Nurse coordinates and leads the facility s infection prevention and control program which includes planning, developing, directing, implementing and evaluating infection prevention and control activities within the hospital. Provides surveillance of hospital inpatient population for evidence of infection. Assists nursing staff in proper care of patients with infections. Establishes and maintains a program of infection prevention training for hospital staff. Prevents and contains infectious outbreaks within the facility.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Conducts ongoing surveillance of infections in hospital patients and hospital staff, compiles and interprets the surveillance data with assistance of Medical Director and Infection Control Committee. Gathers and interprets data and keeps accurate records of all infections.

Collaborates with all disciplines and departments in the medical care facility to incorporate infection prevention/control principles in policies and procedures in order to provide a safe environment for hospital patients and staff.

Monitors patient care activities to identify methods, techniques, equipment, supplies, products, procedures, and policies which could constitute a risk of originating or transmitting infection. Assesses and re-enforces infection prevention practices.

Performs intervention/follow-up for incidents relating to potential exposure to infectious diseases by employees and patients.

Provides in-services and training/education to all hospital staff regarding Infection Prevention/Control, OSHA, standard precautions, isolation techniques, education on current infectious disease. and employee health/wellness.

Administers and monitors/follows-up on TB testing, Hepatitis B vaccination, flu vaccines and other vaccines per hospital policy and State Health Departments.

Reports all infectious diseases as are required by local, state and federal laws to appropriate agencies including the Health Departments.

Compiles and presents Infection Reports to appropriate committee or as requested.

Monitors and updates all facility department supervisors on all area-specific policies and procedures important to infection prevention principles. Investigates all exposure incidents, oversees post-exposure evaluation and follows-up process in order to recommend appropriate actions to be taken.

May maintains records for Employee Health and Infection Prevention.

Gathers, analyzes and presents data, facts and trends on infection prevention to facility or corporate leadership.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Complies with organizational policies, procedures, performance improvement initiatives and maintains regulatory and industry standards.

Maintains regular and reliable attendance.

Accepts responsibility for professional growth and development of self and attends all mandatory facility in-services and staff development activities as scheduled.

Maintains professionalism and confidentiality of facility employees and patients.

Performs other duties as assigned.

STANDARD EXPECTATIONS:

Honesty: Works with integrity and fairness.

Competence: Strives to be the best and hold selves accountable.

Perseverance: Meets challenges with the resolve to succeed.

Passion: Cares about what we do, each other and who we serve.

Respect: Honors the human dignity of everyone we work with.

Teamwork: Succeeds, and have fun, by pulling together.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

Graduation from an accredited school of nursing required. Bachelor's degree preferred.

One or more years experience in Infection Prevention/Control preferred.

Working knowledge of agents which cause disease, reservoir, knowledge of spectrum of disease, disease carriers, modes of transportation, host factors that enhance susceptibility, colonization of infection and approach to control infection required.

Knowledge of the basic principles of epidemiology and the infectious disease process required.

LICENSES/DESIGNATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS:

Valid current nursing license from the state or from a compact state, where applicable.

Certification from Association of Infection for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) preferred.

CIC Credential (Certification in Infection Prevention and Control) preferred.

Certification by the Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology preferred.

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

First aid may be required based on state or facility.

Unit: Psych