Infection Control RN at South County Hospital – Wakefield, Rhode Island

South County Health is an independent, non-profit healthcare system offering a comprehensive range of advanced inpatient, outpatient and home health services. Accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC), SCH is made up of South County Hospital, South County Home Health, and South County Medical Group. South County Health has received numerous distinctions for patient care and safety over the years, which have included a 5-star rating on HCAHPS scores, a 5-star rating by CMS for overall hospital quality, and A’s for hospital quality and patient safety by The Leapfrog Group. Having celebrated over 100 years of service to southern Rhode Island, South County Health offers an exceptional opportunity to provide our patients with the best care possible while enjoying a healthy work-life balance. We offer competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package which includes, health, dental, vision, tuition reimbursement, 403b, PTO, and a broad range of career development benefits and opportunities.

Job Summary

Supports the Infection Prevention and Control Program and Employee Health Services through surveillance, data analysis, education, and regulatory compliance activities. Assists with outbreak investigations, exposure management, immunization programs, and return-to-work processes. Serves as a resource to staff on infection prevention and occupational health practices and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to promote a safe environment for patients and employees.

Core Duties:

• Conduct surveillance of healthcare-associated infections, communicable diseases,
• Analyze, trend, and interpret data to identify risks and opportunities for prevention.
• Investigate suspected outbreaks, clusters, and exposure events; implement mitigation strategies and monitor effectiveness.
• Prepare and submit required internal, local, state, and federal reports and data.
• Support implementation and evaluation of the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) program.
• Develop, review, and update infection prevention policies and procedures consistent with evidence-based guidelines and accreditation standards.
• Respond to facility events to assess infection risk and recommend control measures.
• Support Employee Health services, including new hire clearance (immunization review, screening requirements, TB testing, OSHA Medical Respirator Clearance)
• Assess occupational exposure risks and manage post-exposure evaluation and follow-up.
• Assist with immunization and screening programs for employees.
• Facilitate fit testing program per OSHA regulation
• Maintain knowledge of and facilitate compliance with applicable regulatory, accreditation, and reporting requirements.
• Apply quality improvement methodology to reduce infection risk and improve outcomes.
• Monitor process and outcome measures to evaluate program effectiveness and sustainability.
• Participate in performance improvement committees and interdisciplinary initiatives.
• Communicate infection prevention data, trends, and recommendations to staff and committees.
• Provide education and guidance to healthcare personnel regarding infection prevention, including but not limited to general new staff orientation, RN and PCT Orientation and staff meetings or committee meetings as requested.
• Utilize infection prevention software and electronic systems for surveillance and reporting.
• Collaborate with IT to develop meaningful electronic reports to support infection prevention initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Has a minimum of 5 years in hospital nursing experience as a registered nurse.
• Current RI State Nursing License.
• Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC) or certification A-IPC within 1-3 years of position.