RN - Infection Prevention

Infection Preventionist

The Infection Preventionist (IP) is responsible for identifying, investigating, monitoring, and reporting healthcare-associated infections. The IP collaborates with various teams and individuals to develop infection prevention strategies, provide ongoing feedback, and sustain these strategies effectively.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Support and promote the mission and values of the organization.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate the organizational infection prevention program.
• Design an annual surveillance plan based on the population served, services provided, and analysis of surveillance data.
• Conduct an annual risk assessment, developing goals and priorities from previous activities.
• Evaluate and modify the surveillance plan as necessary.
• Establish and implement organization-wide infection surveillance, prevention, and control policies and procedures that adhere to nationally recognized guidelines within required timeframes.
• Interpret and assist in implementing infection prevention and control policies and protocols.
• Assess financial, safety implications, and clinical outcomes when recommending practices or technologies and formulating policies.
• Communicate infection prevention and control data to various committees and healthcare personnel as assigned.
• Utilize epidemiologic principles for conducting surveillance and investigations.
• Apply performance improvement methodologies to enact changes.
• Use NHSN criteria to identify hospital-acquired infections.
• Perform audits to ensure adherence to infection prevention and control policies and procedures.
• Inform providers and clinicians of patients exposed to infections/communicable diseases during hospitalization.
• Participate in the Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) process regarding construction and renovation projects, ensuring compliance with standards.
• Join environmental rounds and ensure compliance with national and professional standards.
• Collaborate with physicians and nurses to develop infection prevention practice standards based on current healthcare trends.
• Work alongside education personnel to create competency-based training and education programs for hospital staff on infection control guidelines.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure changes are vetted by all stakeholders.
• Cooperate with quality team members to integrate infection prevention issues within the organization's quality assurance and performance improvement programs.
• Engage with the antibiotic stewardship program leader and team.
• Partner with the Safety Manager to facilitate effective Environment of Care/DNV rounds.
• Serve as the organization's expert for Infection Prevention and Control standards.
• Plan, coordinate, and facilitate the Infection Prevention and Control Committee.
• Enforce policies ensuring compliance with OSHA, CDC, CMS, and other regulatory agencies.
• Comply with regulatory and mandatory reporting requirements at local, state, and federal levels.
• Consult and collaborate with local, state, and federal public health officials and community health organizations as necessary.

Job Requirements

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent collaboration and communication abilities, both oral and written.
• Capacity to implement evidence-based guidelines.
• Conflict resolution skills and experience in program and project management.
• Expertise in data collection, analysis, report writing, and data presentation.
• Leadership experience and familiarity with software technologies.

Education and Experience

• Baccalaureate degree in nursing, public health, epidemiology, clinical laboratory science, medical technology, or a related field preferred.
• Certification in Infection Control and Epidemiology (CIC) is preferred or must be attained within two years of hire.

Location: City, State

Join a dedicated team to enhance the safety and quality of healthcare through effective infection prevention measures!