Health and Safety Registered Nurse .75 FTE 1st shift

Infection Prevention Nurse

FTE/Scheduled Weekly Hours: 0.75 / 30 / 1st Shift (United States of America) Monday- Friday

Primary Functions

Guides, coordinates, and conducts activities to ensure a robust infection prevention program for the organization. Also assists in the provision of the Employee and Occupational Health programs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Environment of Care and Safety:

• Maintains knowledge of environment of care and safety practices and standards according to the following (including but not limited to):
• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
• The Joint Commission (JC)
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Inc. (CDC)
• Maintains and revises as-needed Waverly Health Center's (WHC's) environment of care, safety and employee health policies and procedures.
• Responsible for the coordination and evaluation of employee health activities across all departments to ensure a safe work environment for employees, patients, and visitors.
• Conducts surveillance within WHC departments and clinics to determine potential/actual environmental and safety risks and implement plans of action.
• Participates in organizational committees as a clinical resource as needed.
• Conducts staff education in relation to the environment of care, safety and employee health as needed using various methods.

Employee Health:

• Assists with the post-offer employee health assessment process.
• Assists with routine employee health assessments, as well as relevant follow-up, for all employees and WHC volunteers.
• Assists with investigation and follow-up of employee exposures, injuries, and near misses as needed.

Employee Safety:

• Assists with appropriate follow-up, including event investigation, in response to employee work-related injuries as needed.
• Enters all blood borne pathogen events as required into the facility's Occupational Safety & Health Act (OSHA) 300 log as needed.
• Maintains WHC's sharps log.
• Assists with staff education in relation to employee safety as needed using various methods.

Occupational Health:

• Conducts/assists with tuberculosis skin testing and hepatitis B vaccinations.

Data Management:

• Collects, evaluates, and maintains employee health data to identify and foster improvement opportunities.
• Maintains electronic databases for monthly, quarterly, and annual infection prevention reports.

Data Reporting:

• Assists with submission of employee health data to external destinations as directed.

Safety Culture:

• Assists with, and guides activities as needed, to support and foster an environment that ensures the safety of all employees and patients within the organization.

Minimum Requirements

Education, Experience, and Training

• Must be a graduate of an accredited school of nursing and currently licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state of Iowa.
• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing preferred.
• Minimum of 1-2 years previous experience as a Registered Nurse preferred.
• Documentation of education or experience specifically related to environmental safety and employee health preferred.
• Demonstrated organizational and leadership abilities preferred.
• Ability to learn and navigate computer systems including the online training modules, the employee timesheet and the performance appraisal system. Job specific systems are also required.
• Must be able to read, speak, and write fluent English.

Physical Requirements

• Sitting Approximately 50% of shift.
• Standing Approximately 25% of shift.
• Walking Approximately 25% of shift.
• Lifting Approximately 35 pounds. Must use, and require staff to use, when in hospital and pre-hospital settings, proper body mechanics and ergonomics and, as applicable, lifting/moving devices.
• Twisting Infrequent.
• Bending Moderate.
• Squat/Kneel Approximately 25% of shift.

Work Environment

• May come in contact with hazardous chemicals or treatment modalities.
• The possibility exists of exposure to communicable disease due to working in a healthcare environment.
• Involvement in patient care may result in unavoidable work-related illnesses.