RN/Infection Preventionist

Enhanced Benefits Now Available. Qualifications: I. Must have primary professional training in nursing, medical technology, microbiology, epidemiology, or other related field. II. Must be qualified by education, training, experience or certification. III. Must work at least part-time at the facility. IV. Must complete specialized training in infection prevention and control. V. Evidence of good health, grooming, maturity, and emotional stability. VI. Have genuine interest and concern for the long-term resident with emphasis on infection control and prevention. VII. Desire and interest to continue study, learn, and grow as a professional person. VIII. Ability to communicate well and establish good interpersonal relationships. Job Relationship: Indirect supervision of staff in all departments. Instructor to staff in all departments, residents, their families and visitors. Collaboration with medical director, pharmacy, laboratory, and director of nursing related to antibiotic stewardship. Participates as a member of the Quality Assessment and Assurance (QA&A) Committee. Job Description: The Infection Preventionist is responsible for the supervision and training of all staff in all departments in relation to infection prevention and control in the facility. Collects, tracks, trends, reports, analyzes, and provides infection data to the nursing leadership, medical director, and QA&A Committee. Reports data of information related to compliance with established infection prevention and control policies and procedures, State and Federal regulation or guidelines. Coordinates surveillance and monitoring of infection prevention and control policies and procedures. Knowledgeable of changes in infection prevention and control policy and protocols and communicates these changes to healthcare staff. Provides education and training to facility staff. Maintains harmonious relationships with ancillary personnel and the residents. Attends educational classes to enhance knowledge and skills related to infection prevention and control and leadership. Actively participates on the QA&A Committee to gain knowledge and share information which may facilitate improvement in the provision of quality care and aid in decreasing infection in the facility. Actively participates in care planning for all residents by attending all care plan conferences. Duties and Responsibilities: 1. Conducts surveillance of all infections in the facility and maintains an Infection Surveillance Log documenting these infections. Ensures Infection Initial Reports are completed by nursing staff for each resident with an infection. Completes Infection Follow Up Reports when antibiotic therapy is complete for residents with an infection. 2. Conducts regular audits of procedures/activities performed by staff in all departments to monitor compliance with infection prevention and control policies and protocols within the facility. Performs medication and treatment cart/med room audits on each hall monthly to monitor compliance of infection control regulations. 3. Develops and implements an infection prevention and control plan for the facility. 4. Tracks the PPD administration/TB risk assessments of all residents and ensures they are completed and documented in the medical record. 5. Tracks influenza and pneumococcal vaccination status of all residents, ensures they are given as indicated and documented in the medical records. Provides education to residents/representatives about these immunizations and ensures proper consents/declinations are obtained and placed in the medical record. 6. Tracks influenza vaccination status of all employees annually, provides education to employees on the flu vaccine, and ensures proper consents/declinations are obtained and records are placed in employees' files. 7. Tracks Hepatitis B vaccination status of all employees upon hire and as indicated, provides education to employees on the Hepatitis B vaccination, and ensures proper consents/declinations are obtained and records are placed in employees' files. 8. Maintains an on-hand list of reportable communicable diseases and a contact list for reporting communicable disease. In the event a resident or staff member has a reportable communicable disease, reports the disease to the proper entity per State regulation. 9. Evaluates annually, updates, develops, and implements facility policies and procedures related to infection prevention and control, and other care areas as indicated. 10. Participates in the completion of the annual Facility Assessment. Develops action plans according to this assessment. 11. Participates as a member of the QA&A committee. Attends QA&A committee meetings quarterly and as indicated. Reports surveillance data/analysis and compliance monitoring results to QA&A committee and participates in the implementation of facility policies and procedures. 12. Actively participates in the facility QAPI plan. Conducts QAPI activities such as Performance Improvement Projects and participating in interdisciplinary team meetings to determine areas of care that need improvement. 13. Participates as a member of the Antibiotic Stewardship Program Team. Collects and reviews data, communicates with pharmacy and laboratory related to antibiotic use in the facility, and reports findings to the QA&A Committee quarterly. 14. Actively participates in resident care planning by attending and leading all resident care plan conferences. Ensures all care plans for residents who have an infection are updated and implemented accordingly. 15. Travels to healthcare facilities in the area to perform assessments for potential admissions to determine if their needs can be met in the facility when the admissions coordinator or director of nursing requests. 16. Provides education and training to facility staff. Provides education to residents, families and visitors. Notifies staff of new or updated policies or protocols. Ensures that in-service education requirements on infection prevention and control practices are adhered to. 17. Sets a positive example for the rest of the staff. 18. Is neat, clean, courteous and professional at all times.