What are the responsibilities and job description for the Infection Prevention Nurse position at CenterPointe Hospital of Columbia?
(Part-time - 3 days/week; Full-time with shifts as staff nurse)
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Develop and implement facility wide infection surveillance, prevention and control policies and procedures that adhere to nationally recognized guidelines.
- Prevent and control health care associated infections, including auditing of adherence to infection prevention and control policies and procedures by facility staff, including medical staff.
- Communicate and collaborate with the antibiotic stewardship program.
- Develop an infection control plan with prioritized goals at least annually and when changes occur based on the prior program evaluation and current risk assessment.
- Gather and interpret data and keep accurate records of all infections.
- Compile and present Infection Reports to the Safety/Infection Control Committee and the Performance Improvement Council at assigned intervals.
- Inspect environment and observe personnel activities for the purpose of detecting infection hazards.
- Monitor and evaluate compliance with standards set by facility policy and industry.
- Monitor and update all facility department supervisors on all area-specific policies and procedures important to infection prevention principles. Investigate all 'exposure incidents,' oversee post-exposure evaluation and follow-up process in order to recommend appropriate actions to be taken.
- Notify designated medical, administrative staff and appropriate health department authorities all reportable communicable disease.
- Develop and provide in-service and orientation programs concerning prevention and control of infection, standard precautions, isolation techniques and education on current infectious disease.
- Responsibilities may also include gathering, analyzing and presenting data, facts and trends on infection prevention to facility or corporate leadership.
- Train facility staff and medical staff on infection prevention and control protocols.
- Assess and re-enforce infection prevention practices.
- Communicate therapeutically and professionally with patients, visitors, coworkers and others in an effective manner.
- Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.
While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the requirements of the job, management reserves the right to add or remove duties from particular jobs when circumstances
(e.g. emergencies, changes in workload, rush jobs or technological developments) dictate.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
- Graduate from an accredited school of nursing, medical technology, microbiology, or epidemiology required. Bachelor's degree preferred.
- One or more years’ experience in infection control preferred.
- Working knowledge of agents which cause disease, reservoir, knowledge of spectrum of disease, disease carriers, modes of transportation, host factors that enhance susceptibility, colonization of infection and approach to control infection preferred.
- Knowledge of the basic principles of epidemiology and the infectious disease process required.
Education
Preferred- Bachelors or better
Skills
Preferred- Safety Minded
- Planning & Organizing
- Communication
- Attention to Detail
Behaviors
Preferred- Detail Oriented: Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well
Motivations
Preferred- Flexibility: Inspired to perform well when granted the ability to set your own schedule and goals