Infection Preventionist

JOB DESCRIPTION

Infection Control Nurse

Nursing Department

FLSA STATUS:        Non-exempt

Reports to:         Director of Nursing (DON)

Overview of the Position:

The primary purpose of the Infection Control Nurse is to plan, organize, develop, coordinate, and direct our infection control program and its activities in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern such programs, and as may be directed by the Administrator and the Infection Control Committee to ensure that an effective infection control program is maintained at all times.

Essential Job Functions: 

• Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, coordinate, and direct our infection control program in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern such requirements in nursing care facilities

• Ensure that the facility is in compliance with current CDC, OSHA, and local regulations concerning infection control or standard/universal precautions

• Develop, maintain, and periodically update infection control precautions and aseptic technique that successfully correct problem areas

• Interpret infection control policies and procedures as necessary

• Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Administrator, as necessary/required, concerning the infection control program of this facility

• Assist all departments in evaluating and classifying routine and job-related functions to ensure that tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids are properly identified

• Monitor infection control practices and procedures to ensure that all personnel are implementing our standard operating procedures for tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids

• Make rounds to nursing units for the purpose of case findings, review of environmental sanitation procedures, and supervision of isolation precautions/practices

• Visit isolated residents as necessary to ensure that established isolation precautions and aseptic technique are followed

• Assist in developing and implementing guidelines for the decontamination and sterilization activities performed in the facility

• Monitor the designated shelf life of medical items wrapped and sterilized at the facility and reprocess as necessary

• Ensure that all personnel follow established procedures for the disposal and removal of infective and contaminated materials from the facility

• Prepare monthly summaries of all resident/personnel infections, corrective action taken, including the results of the corrective action, and submit copies to the Administrator and DON

• Prepare summaries of special investigations on the occurrence of nosocomial and community-acquired infections

• Provide the DON with a report of pertinent findings and recommendations pertaining to nosocomial infection

• Maintain a written record of all residents and employees who have nosocomial infections

• Participate in discovery of possible carriers among residents and personnel, and in tracing possible sources of infection within the facility

• Assist the supervisor of laundry services in developing infection control procedures for the handling of clean and soiled laundry/linen, equipment cleaning, etc.

• Assist the Director of Maintenance in developing infection control procedures for the routine and terminal cleaning of isolation rooms and areas, equipment cleaning, etc.

• Participate in facility surveys and/or inspections made by authorized government agencies as necessary or directed

• Assist in the discharge planning in developing and implementing discharge plans for a resident in isolation or on infection control precautions

• Assist in the development and implementation of a facility-wide TB management control program

• Advise in reporting all reportable diseases to the county and state health departments

• Serve on, participate in, and attend Infection Control Committee meetings

• Assist the Infection Control Committee in evaluating and revising our infection control practices and aseptic technique to ensure continued sanitation practices are maintained throughout the facility

• Provide the Infection Control Committee with written and oral reports concerning all nosocomial infections within the facility

• Ensure that major changes in our cleaning products or techniques are approved by the Infection Control Committee

• Assist in evaluating and implementing recommendations from the Infection Control Committee

• Provide information relative to TB assessment and make recommendations concerning the protocols to follow in isolating TB cases

• Develop and implement a practical system of detecting, evaluating, recording, and reporting infections that originate with facility personnel

• Provide employee counseling as outlined in our infection control and employee health program

• Provide personnel with information concerning the facility’s policies governing hepatitis B vaccinations

• Assist in establishing the TB Mantoux testing and recordkeeping protocols for all employees

• Orient new employees to the importance of infection control policies and procedures, personal hygiene, handwashing/hand hygiene techniques, etc., as well as the employee’s responsibility in following our established procedures for tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids

• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents

• Make appropriate reports to the Administrator and/or Director of Nursing Services as necessary

• Ensure that all nursing service personnel follow established isolation precautions and aseptic technique to include standard/universal precautions

• Ensure that residents with known communicable or infectious diseases are placed in isolation or on infection control precautions to include standard/universal precautions

• Interview residents or family members and explain isolation and standard/universal precautions as necessary

• Make rounds with physicians as necessary

• Monitor medication passes and treatments to ensure that appropriate handwashing/hand hygiene techniques are being followed in the handling and administering of drugs, medications, and treatments

• Review nurses’ notes of those residents in isolation precautions to ensure that they are informative and descriptive of the nursing care being provided and that they reflect the resident’s response to the care

• Assist nursing service personnel in performing nursing care procedures as necessary

• Obtain culture samples in accordance with our established procedures

• Provide direct nursing care as necessary

• Assist the Director of Staff Development in developing annual OSHA and CDC in-service training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and bloodborne pathogens standard

• Recommend to the Director of Nursing Services the equipment and supply needs for maintaining an effective infection control program

• Ensure that established policies governing the labeling or tagging of contaminated equipment are followed when such equipment must be sent for repair or decontamination

• Monitor nursing care to ensure that all residents are treated fairly, and with kindness, dignity, and respect while in isolation or on standard/universal precautions

Job Functions: 

• Demonstrate knowledge of, and respect for, the rights, dignity and individuality of each resident in all interactions

• Appreciates the importance of maintaining confidentiality of resident and facility information

• Demonstrate honesty and integrity at all times in the care and use of resident and facility property

• Ability to read, speak and understand English, follow directions and complete the assigned responsibilities of the department

• Support facility administration, the facility's philosophy of care, and the policies and procedures of the facility

• Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, personnel, support agencies, and outside agencies.

• Must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age-related needs of the residents served.

• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.

• Must be knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices and procedures, as well as laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to nursing care facilities and infection control practices, to include standard/universal precautions.

• Must possess leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other personnel.

• Must possess the ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies and procedures, etc that are necessary for preventing and controlling infections, to include the establishing of standard/ universal precautions.

• Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult residents and staff.

• Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices.

• Must be able to relate information concerning a resident’s condition.

• Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace

• Must be able to key information into computer systems

• Capable of generating enthusiasm, and developing a cooperative relationship with staff members

• Demonstrate ability to instruct and supervise direct nursing care to improve standards of nursing

• Maintain a neat, clean, well-groomed, professional appearance

• Dependability

• Other duties as assigned by the Administrator and/or Director of Nursing 

Qualifications/Requirements: 

Education:         AA Degree from an accredited school of nursing required; Bachelor’s Degree preferred

License:         Current, active RN or LVN license

Work Experience:    2 years of full-time experience as a licensed nurse in providing direct nursing care in a long term care facility

            Must have, as a minimum, six (6) months training experience in rehabilitative and restorative

            nursing practices

            Must possess a working knowledge of epidemiology, microbiology, infectious diseases, and aseptic 

            technique to include standard/universal precautions

            APIC Certification in infection control preferred, but not required

Language Skills:

• Must be able to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical information, and to be easily understood through verbal communication in the English language.  

Mathematical Skills:

• Must be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

• Ability to perform these operations using units of weight measurement, and volume.

Communication Skills:

• Must have exceptional communication and customer service skills, and be empathetic.  

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, families, responsible parties, staff and outside resources and agencies.  

Physical Capacities:      (With or Without the Aid of Mechanical Devices)

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.

• Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to ensure that the requirements of this position can be fully met.

• Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility which includes an annual TB screening and physical examination.  

• Must be able to stand for and walk for extended periods of time. 

• Must be able to lift and carry up to 25 pounds to a minimum height of 5 feet  

• Requires infrequent lifting of weight up to 100 pounds with assistance.  

• Occasional pushing, pulling, bending and twisting. 

• Must be willing to perform tasks that may involve exposure to the resident’s blood/body fluids.

• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.

Environmental Conditions: 

Inside work, normal temperatures, some noise, occasional fumes/odors, chemical exposure and exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

This job cannot be performed without exposure to the stresses associated with an intimate, 24 hour skilled care environment that delivers care and services primarily to disabled and cognitively impaired residents in an aging population.  Examples of these stresses include, but are not limited to: emergency health or safety response, weekend and holiday duty, unusual or impaired behavior by residents, family reactions to having a loved one in a nursing home, death and dying, oversight of state surveyors, ombudsmen and federal officials, presence of consultants and attorneys, and variable involvement of medical staff.