Job description
Infection Preventionist
Work Shift: First Shift
Work Week: Full Time (40 Hours)
The Infection Preventionist is responsible for utilizing expertise to develop, implement, and manage an effective Day Kimball Healthcare's Infection Prevention program.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Responsible for the identification, investigation, reporting, prevention and control of healthcare acquired infections among patients and employees and analyzes this data with the assistance of the Infection Prevention Committee Chairperson. Prepares a monthly healthcare acquired infection report for the Infection Prevention Committee.
- Develops Day Kimball Healthcare, Inc., policies and procedures to incorporate change when necessary and informs others regarding this information. Develops policies and procedures addressing surveillance, prevention and control of infection cooperatively with all appropriate departments and services. Updates Infection Prevention policies and procedures every two years or as the need arises. Updates OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan and TB Infection Control Plan annually.
- Coordinates and manages the daily multi-disciplinary activity related to the prevention and control of infections and infectious diseases. Disseminates information to medical staff, nurses and support staff, as appropriate.
- Plans, presents and documents all educational programs, with the assistance of the Education Department and Department Directors, which relate to reducing the risk of infection between and among patients and employees.
- Utilizes expertise to advise others regarding transmission of infections or infectious diseases in the workplace.
- Monitors compliance of standard Infection Prevention practices and investigates deviation from the standard.
- Monitors intervention strategies on infection rates; i.e., changes in procedures, use of new patient care equipment, introduction of new technology.
- Conducts special studies when a cluster of infections is above the usual baseline levels. Investigates single cases of unusual or epidemiologically significant healthcare acquired infections.
- Consults with Employee Health on matters pertaining to exposures, infectious diseases and immunizations status of employees.
- Assists Employee Health with counseling and follow-up for employees who have an occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious body fluids.
- Complies with CMS data collection requirements through NHSN. Collaborates with IT and Medical Records to assist in identifying cases to be manually abstracted and entered into NHSN data base.
- Collaborates with Director of Pharmacy, Infectious Disease physician and medical staff in Antimicrobial Stewardship Program.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Analyzes and interprets appropriate reports, government requirements, statistics, and related materials using language and mathematical skills.
- Identifies problems and makes decisions based on experience and judgment, and knowledge of CDC guidelines, JOINT COMMISSION and OSHA standards and other federal and state regulations.
- Communicates professionally and effectively with all healthcare workers, patients and visitors.
- Speaks and writes clearly and effectively to influence people’s actions to be sure that plans will be understood and followed.
- Changes activities frequently.
- Maintains discretion in handling the confidential nature of the information available.
- Keeps up to date on current trends and developments in the field of Infection Prevention and other relevant issues.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
- Requires walking, sitting and standing to a significant degree.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
- Normal hospital environment where there is limited physical discomfort due to temperature, dust, noise and the like.
REASONING, MATHEMATICAL, AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT:
- Apply principles of logical thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
- Add, subtract, multiply and divide all units of measure. Perform the four operations with like common and decimal fractions. Compute ratio, rate, and percent. Develops and interpret bar graphs.
- Read medical and technical journals, abstracts and statistical reports. Conversant in the theory, principles and methods of effective and persuasive speaking, voice and diction, phonetics, and discussion and debate.
RELATIONSHIPS TO DATA, PEOPLE AND THINGS:
- Examines and evaluates data. Presents alternative actions in relation to the evaluation of that data.
- Communicates with people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving assignments and/or directions to other staff.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Graduate of an accredited school of nursing
- Bachelor's degree required; certification in infection Prevention upon eligibility is preferred
- Requires clinical specialization
- Regulatory experience is required
- Current Connecticut State R.N. Licensure is required
- Minimum of five years medical/surgical nursing required
- Membership in The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) preferred
- Background in Infection Prevention preferred
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