Registered Nurse - Infection Preventionist

Infection Preventionist

Helps. Follows procedures per established policies and guidelines. Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team. Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex infection control situations. The Registered Nurse-Infection Preventionist (IP) executes position responsibilities to improve patient and organizational outcomes. The IP is responsible for providing expert, evidence-based infection control practices. The IP establishes surveillance indicators and conducts monitoring to identify and reduce the risk of acquiring and transmitting infections among patients, employees, visitors, and students. Contributes to the annual Infection Control Risk Assessment, determining appropriate resources needed to accomplish the proposed plan, communicating any variance to administration and revises plan as needed. The IP provides education on infection control issues, as well as annual and ongoing trainings to staff. Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals. The IP serves as an education resource for all employees on infection control, epidemiology, and provides knowledge and guidance. Supports colleagues through knowledge sharing, while questioning clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence-based practices, to provide safe, quality nursing care. Collaborates with Employee Occupational Health (EOH) and other members of the interdisciplinary team to plan and implement the Immunization Program, i.e., influenza. The IP assists the Infection Control Provider in managing the Clinical Case Registry (CCR) for Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and Hepatitis C, including providing reports and alerts to clinicians. The IP has an important role in various programs and systems within the organization, i.e., Reusable Medical Equipment (RME), Construction and Water Safety committees. The IP participates in risk assessments for all construction projects and completes random walk-throughs of construction projects to inspect/review practices. The IP implements and maintains a system for analyzing, trending, and reporting data. The IP assists in developing and maintaining mandatory documents such as standards operating procedures, policies, outbreak and exposure investigations, and external agency required documents. The IP provides leadership in ensuring the Infection Control Program complies with all mandated Veteran Health Administration (VHA), The Joint Commission (TJC), Office of Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Office of Inspector General (OIG), applicable State regulations. The IP evaluates, reviews, and revising facility policies and procedures following national standard changes from Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), etc. The IP works collaboratively with other clinical and administrative departments and staff including, but not limited to, Industrial Hygiene, Patient Safety, Engineering, Risk Management, and EOH, in providing reports, consultative advice, and other data needed. The IP serves on facility committees to communicate, educate, and provide consultation. Functions as a liaison to Public Health officials regarding the reporting of communicable diseases and other epidemiological significant findings.