Infection Control Preventionist / Staff Development Coordinator

Infection Control Preventionist / Staffing And Development Coordinator

The Infection Control Preventionist / Staffing And Development Coordinator is a dual position. The ICP is responsible for the facility infection control program, which is designed to provide a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment and to help prevent the development and transmission of communicable diseases and infections. SDC is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and evaluating educational programs for nursing service and other departments, performing clinical tasks and assisting in other departments.

Note: All employees of Cascadia Healthcare are required to submit and be cleared to work in the facility per each state's specific background check requirements prior to contact with patients/residents.

Essential Functions

• Tracks and trends infections occurring in the facility and among facility personnel
• Conducts outbreak investigations
• Serves as liaison between the facility and state and local agencies for communication regarding reportable infections, infection trends and outbreaks.
• Maintains documentation in accordance with company policy and procedure, and state and federal regulations.
• Ensures appropriate infection control measures are implemented and maintained to contain significant infections, infection trends and infection outbreaks.
• Observes staff adherence to hand hygiene, Standard Precautions, and other infection control practices necessary to protect resident and employee health.
• Provides required routine infection control education as well as education pertaining to developing infection trends or outbreaks.
• Reports analysis of infection rates and trends to QAPI Meeting/Committee.
• Collaborate with facility leadership to develop, implement, and evaluate the annual infection prevention goals and action plan.
• Serves as a member of the facility Safety Committee
• Ensures that clinical employees receive compliance training and education necessary to perform their job responsibilities.
• Oversees the process for competency evaluation of new clinical department personnel.
• Plans, organizes, and implements ongoing education and training programs for licensed nurses, nursing assistants, unit clerks, and other ancillary personnel to promote the knowledge and skills necessary for the provision of quality care consistent with services provided by the center.
• In coordination with the Chief Nursing Officer and the Chief Executive Officer, periodically reviews the competencies required for clinical personnel.
• Provides and/or assists employees to identify available resources to achieve continuing education requirements if applicable.
• Ensures the educational curriculum in the center meets or exceeds state, federal and accreditation requirements.
• Working with the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) ensures clinical competency of nursing staff through observed skills evaluation and ensures completion of annual competency assessments for clinical personnel.
• Provides supplemental training and education as applicable for identified performance concerns and makes recommendations for additional training and follow up to the Department Manager.
• Collaborates with other staff, within the nursing service and other departments, to provide educational programs and experiences. Utilizes both internal and community resources in meeting staff development needs.
• Utilizes and disseminates current nursing literature and educational materials. Ensures staff awareness of current policies and procedures and professional standards of practice.
• Ensures staff education and skills validation regarding patient care procedures and equipment.
• Ensures that documentation for all training and education is completed and maintained in accordance with state, federal and company requirements.
• Tracking of employee illness for identification of developing infection trends and enforcement of applicable work restrictions.
• Coordination of annual Influenza campaign
• Provision of TB screening and Hepatitis B vaccination
• Ensures proper retention of employee health records in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Participates in Worker's Compensation/Blood Borne Pathogen programs as assigned with oversight of documentation requirements.
• Serves as a member of the facility Safety Committee and ensures education is provided to personnel in response to identified trends and immediate safety concerns.
• Communicates effectively, actively listens & functions effectively as part of a team.
• Reads professional literature and participates in educational experiences that assist in maintaining and improving personal, clinical and teaching competencies.
• Recommends staff development program and resource needs to administration for budgets and contains expenditures to current budget.
• Punctuality and regular attendance for assigned shifts.

Other Functions

• Adheres to professional code of ethics.
• Conducts job responsibilities in accordance with the standards set out in the Company's Code of Conduct, its policies and procedures, applicable federal and state laws, and applicable professional standards.
• Performs other tasks as assigned.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Ability to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
• Ability to work in a team environment.
• Ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action and deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public.
• Ability and willingness to work harmoniously with other personnel.
• Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult residents.
• Willing to seek out new methods and principles and open to incorporate them into existing nursing practices.

Requirements

Education

• Graduate of an accredited RN school of nursing; BSN degree preferred. Will consider experienced LPN

Licenses/Certification

• License as a RN in state employed. Will consider an experienced LPN
• Current CPR certification.
• Certified Infection Control Nurse preferred.
• Current with state Continuing Education (CE) requirements.

Experience

• Three (3) years of nursing experience, of which one (1) year was in a long-term care environment.
• One (1) year acute care experience preferred.

Hours

30 hours per week

4 days/week

More hours available for back-up RN/LPN for staff vacations, staff sick time, etc.