Infection Prevention Nurse

Infection Prevention Nurse - Infection Prevention * Days - 40hrs/wk

Shift: Days

General Summary:

Under limited direction, the Infection Prevention Nurse is responsible for the surveillance, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of hospital associated infections (HAIs); educating employees and patients about infection prevention; and the development of policies and procedures to ensure infection control standards meet regulatory and other nationally recognized recommendations and requirements.

Requirements:

1. Registered Nurse, licensed in the State of Michigan.
2. Baccalaureate degree required. Master’s Degree preferred
3. Three (3) years of relevant experience in an acute care hospital or similar required.
4. Certification in Infection Control preferred or willing/able to obtain certification within 3 years of hire into this role.
5. Capable of building strong relationships with providers, staff and delivering solutions.
6. Effective communicator, capable of determining how best to reach different audiences and executing communications based on that understanding.
7. Working knowledge of patient care practices, microbiology, asepsis, disinfection and sterilization practices, adult education principles, infectious disease, disease transmission, surveillance techniques, performance measurement and improvement principles, and regulation standards.
8. A good decision-maker, with proven success at making timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
9. Adept at planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.
10. Able to work effectively in a complex, and quickly changing environment. Action oriented and eager to embrace new opportunities and challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
11. Flexible in your approach and demeanor to align with circumstances.
12. Knowledge of applied biostatistics and written and graphical presentation skills.
13. Adept at learning quickly, applying insights from past efforts to new situations.
14. Current Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) certification required.
15. Active member of Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

1. Performs, coordinates, and directs the process of surveillance to identify Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) and other adverse outcomes to ensure safe patient care.
2. Uses the electronic medical record and surveillance system, to review clinical and laboratory findings in assigned areas to identify infectious conditions that may require reporting or further action such as the implementation of precautions or prevent organism transmission.
3. Serves as the content expert in all infection prevention matters in support of clinical staff, performance improvement teams and hospital committees.
4. Demonstrates knowledge and application of current regulatory and professional society guidelines.
5. Performs literature reviews to support performance improvement and critically evaluate research and evidence-based practices to incorporate into routine practice.
6. Performs routine environmental rounds and demonstrates the ability to assess a situation from an infection prevention perspective and recommends appropriate action within scope of responsibility to ensure safe and quality patient care.
7. Rounds in assigned inpatient units, outpatient areas, perioperative areas, ancillary department, and ambulatory sites regularly and on an as needed basis for evaluation compliance with infection prevention practices, policies, and regulatory agency requirements.
8. Recognizes a need, develops, and provides educational programs on infection prevention for all levels of personnel to improve their infection prevention knowledge base and practice.
9. Assists in assembling agenda, graphs and materials presented and distributed to the Infection Prevention Committee and other committees or teams as requested.
10. Acquires and maintains current knowledge of infection prevention professional society guidelines, best practices and regulatory requirements as demonstrated by attending infection prevention conferences and workshops, reviewing current infection prevention literature, guidelines and national standard and networking with Health Systems and external Infection Prevention Specialists.
11. Signs off and monitors construction to ensure compliance with Infection Prevention standards.
12. Develops, implements, and evaluates plans of action in response to potential and actual infection prevention issues affecting patients and/or staff.
13. Participates in the development and implementation of policy, procedure, protocols, or nursing standards as they relate to infection prevention.
14. Considers the financial implications and clinical outcomes when making recommendations, evaluating technology and products, and developing policies and procedures.
15. Performs other duties as assigned. These may include but are not limited to: Maintaining a current knowledge base of department processes, protocols and procedures, pursuing self-directed learning and continuing education opportunities, and participating on committees, task forces, and work groups as determined by management.

Requisition #: req11297