Infection Prevention Nurse

OVERVIEW:   The Infection Control Nurse provides administrative, surveillance and consultative work in planning, developing, coordinating and administering an Infection Control Program.  Work involves planning, organizing, implementing, and evaluating the infection control program to ensure the program is carried out properly, effectively and efficiently and educating stakeholders regarding infection control practices.

ESSENTIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides surveillance of healthcare or industry practices to identify problem areas and determines any necessary interventions; gathers related data (i.e. reviews lab reports and patient charts, communicates with facilities and units), inputs data into various report documents for analysis; provides education and training to program areas requiring changes; evaluates and reports on data.
• Reviews needs for education and training; develops, organizes, and delivers infection control education to staff, patients, and the community through either formal presentations or one on one counselling. Delivers formal presentations to staff during orientation or community group activities and evaluates training requirements.
• Provides consultation and expertise to a variety of stakeholders on infection control practices based on an in-depth knowledge of infection control and best practice research.
• Investigates infection control outbreaks, conducts literature and internet research related to epidemiological studies and best practices; reviews and monitors statistical data, calculates infection rates, critically appraises significance of findings, and makes recommendations to address outcomes of outbreaks and/or changes in practice(s).
• Coordinates infection prevention and control (IP&C) activities; communicates with managers/administrators regarding suspicious outbreaks of infection; evaluates and provides advice and guidance.
• Participates and provides nursing services to immunization clinics including administering vaccinations and collecting data.
• Provides patients and their families with education literature and counselling on infection control topics.
• Attends and participates in department and committee meetings (i.e. waste management, infection control, quality assurance etc.), and where applicable, provides input into policy and procedures.
• Evaluates the use of newly developed infection prevention technology or products for safety and cost-effectiveness; and meets with sales representatives or attends in-services on products (i.e. wound care, swab collection kits, etc.).
• Assists Director of Nursing and Licensed Nurses in the execution of their duties as related to infection control.
• Directly observes patients with IV lines, catheters and all other internally placed tubing for infection surveillance on a daily basis.
• Participates in wound rounds, and evaluates all suspicious or potential skin and wound infections.
• Documents findings in electronic medical records.
• Communicates with medical professionals both internally and externally to comprehensively develop clinically appropriate approaches to patient care and infection prevention strategies.
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Facilitation skills.
• Problem solving abilities
• Analytical and critical thinking.
• Proficiency in the use of various computer software packages to analyze statistics and write reports
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team as well as independently
• Observes infection control practices and adherence to established policies and procedures throughout the facility, across all shifts. 

KNOWLEDGE:

• Infection prevention and control regulations and guidelines.
• Sterilization/decontamination, microbiology and infectious processes.
• Environmental health services best practices.
• Epidemiological principles, statistics, microbiology, and infectious diseases.
• Policies, procedures, standards of practice, and guidelines.
• Current knowledge of trends, and developments within nursing and infection prevention programs.
• Research and evidence based practice.
• Health and infection control promotion among staff, visitors, and patients.
• Infection Prevention Program development.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Must be a Licensed Vocational Nurse or Registered Nurse in the State of California.
• Must hold an Infection Control Certification from a program approved by the California Department of Public Health, for infection control practices in skilled nursing facilities.
• BLS certification  
• Minimum: 2 years as a Vocational or Registered Nurse.

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