Registered Nurse - Infection Preventionist

Summary This is an open continuous announcement. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available. The Infection Prevention and Control Nurse is a professional registered nurse who is accountable for the multiple facets of the Puget Sound VA Healthcare System Infection Prevention Program. Qualifications English Language Proficiency In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) – no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) Individuals attending a master’s level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have an opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program Upon achievement of a State license – the individual may be appointed on a temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program (Reference VA Handbook 5005 – Appendix G6) Preference for graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing – possession of a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree or entry‑level Nursing education program Credit for foreign nursing education higher than associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD) Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States – or the District of Columbia Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements – but do not possess the required licensure – may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120‑day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case‑by‑case basis). NOTE: Grandfathering Provision – All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification Grade Determinations: The following Scope – Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates – and if appropriate – the level within a grade The Dimension requirements (Practice – Veteran/Patient Driven Care – Leadership – Professional Development and Evidence‑Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I – Level I delivers fundamental knowledge‑based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing – with no additional professional nursing required Nurse I – Level II demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts – cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I – Level 1; or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required Nurse I – Level III demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning Self‑directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I – Level 2 OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I – Level 2 OR a Master’s degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience OR a Master’s degree in a related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience Nurse II demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I – Level 3 OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I – Level 3 OR a Master’s degree in a related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I – Level 3 OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience OR a Doctoral degree in a related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience Nurse III executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership – experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience – one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III OR a Master’s degree in a related field with a BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience – one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III OR a Doctoral degree in a related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees Reference: For more information on this qualification standard – please visit Duties Reviews and analyzes existing regulations, standards, and/or guidelines of applicable professional organizations and government agencies and ensures medical center programs comply with regulatory agency requirements as related to Infection Prevention and Control Applies epidemiological principles and statistical methods – including risk stratification – to identify target populations, analyze trends and risk factors – and design and evaluate prevention and control strategies Uses a systematic approach to surveillance to monitor the effectiveness of prevention and control strategies that are consistent with the organization’s goals and objectives Identifies and implements infection prevention and control strategies according to specific topics such as hand hygiene, cleaning, disinfection & sterilization, direct and indirect patient care settings, therapeutic and diagnostic procedures and devices, use of isolation precautions, patient placement, environmental hazards, use of patient care products and medical equipment, construction & renovation, and influxes of patients with communicable diseases Uses standardized definitions for the identification and classification of events, indicators, or outcomes Performs medical record reviews, data abstraction, and data collection to identify Hospital‑Acquired Infections (HAI) and determine if HAI prevention measures were adhered to Performs routine audits of professional practices related to infection control Identifies barriers to compliance with procedures and involves HCWs within the organization Uses appropriate techniques to describe data, calculate rates and critically evaluate the significance of findings as compared to internal and external benchmarks Utilizes findings to implement and evaluate infection prevention strategies Reviews and analyzes current scientific literature and publications and recommends new or revised practices or procedures based on currently accepted evidence‑based infection prevention and control strategies Uses data from surveillance findings to identify the need for change and propose intervention/improvement projects Provides consultation to administration, committees, staff, and managers on issues regarding infection prevention and control Serves as an educational resource for all employees and clinical staff on infection prevention & control related topics developed by the Infection Prevention Team Participates in the organization’s multidisciplinary performance improvement strategies Understands adult education principles – can design educational programs – and has effective presentation skills Routinely assesses the educational needs of the organization and develops educational objectives and strategies to meet those needs and continuously evaluates the effectiveness of educational programs and learner outcomes Monitors labs and can help identify positive multi‑drug resistant organisms (MDROs) for immediate review/investigation and isolation precautions as needed Works with Infection Prevention Team to identify clusters of hospital‑associated infections (or other unusual events) through contacts with clinical units and laboratories – through alerts – or through systematic analysis of microbiological laboratory testing Collaborates with local and state health departments as needed Reports – as directed – to appropriate committees, governmental agencies – and integrates relevant public health issues into practice Participates in review update of policies to improve infection prevention processes and procedures Serves on medical center committees to communicate, educate, and consult about infection prevention Acquires and maintains current knowledge and skills in infection prevention and control and epidemiology Preferred Experience: Certified in Infection Control (CIC); previous experience as an Infection Prevention and Control Nurse Bachelor of Science in Nursing or bachelor’s degree in related field such as Microbiology MSN degree highly preferred 3 years RN experience in an inpatient hospital setting Benefits VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary – regular salary increases – potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave – 13 days of sick leave – 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long‑term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any U.S. State or territory Work Schedule: Mon‑Fri–8:00 am–4:30 pm Telework: Ad‑hoc only – at the discretion of the hiring manager Virtual: This is not a virtual position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized #J-18808-Ljbffr