Infection Control & Employee Health Nurse at Shannon Health – Big Spring, Texas

Infection Control & Employee Health Nurse

Job Summary

The infection preventionist is responsible for the facility infection prevention and control program (IPCP), which is designed to provide a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment and to help prevent the development and transmission of communicable diseases and infections.

CMS definition: “Infection preventionist”: term used for the person(s) designated by the facility to be responsible for the infection prevention and control program.

Supervises the Following Positions

Positions: N/A

Physical Requirements

• The ability to perform the duties and responsibility of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations for disabilities.
• The ability to consistently lift, push or pull loads of up to fifty (50) pounds. (Unless nursing 50)
• Sufficient strength, mobility and stamina to make frequent location and position changes, assist with patient care, and perform other physical activities of average difficulty.
• Candidates whose disabilities make them unable to meet the requirements will still be considered fully qualified if they can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodations.
• May be exposed to infectious or contagious disease.
• May have to handle emergency situations.
• May be subject to irregular hours.
• May be required to wear protective equipment such as eye protection, face protection, masks, sterile/nonsterile gloves, isolation gowns.
• May be exposed to toxic/caustic/chemicals/detergents.
• Physical activities include continuous sitting, and occasional walking, standing, bending, squatting, climbing, kneeling and twisting.
• Activity Conditions (Occasionally, Frequently, Continuously):
  • Sitting- Frequently
  • Walking- Frequently
  • Standing- Frequently
  • Bending-Occasionally
  • Squatting- Occasionally
  • Climbing-Occasionally
  • Kneeling-Occasionally
  • Twisting-Occasionally

Visual and Hearing Requirements

• Must be able to see with corrective eye wear.
• Must be able to hear clearly with assistance

Working Conditions

Primarily Works in a well-lighted and air-conditioned environment with period of heavy workload and stress. This role may include working in less-than-ideal home conditions, which can include exposure to extreme temperatures and environments that may not meet typical cleanliness standards such as clutter, unkept surfaces, and homes with pets. Works in various conditions.

Performance: Essential Functions

Decision Making: Ability to make decisions and takes appropriate action based on the information they have. Recognizes own limitations and consults with the supervisor, manager, or team member when appropriate.

Time Management: Works efficiently and manages duties to ensure that tasks are completed with accuracy and within the scheduled shift or reasonable amount of time.

Quality & Quantity: Demonstrates accurate, knowledge and skill to carry out job duties. Follows departmental work policies and procedures. Speed and consistency of output and time utilization of job duties.

Computer Knowledge & Electronic Equipment Use: Demonstrates ability to consistently utilize electronic equipment and online computer programs to perform job duties, including electronic documentation, and order entry.

Resource Utilization: Consistently utilizes and maintains supplies and equipment to minimize lost charges and unnecessary equipment repair-replacement.

Confidentiality: Adheres to established policies on privacy and security requirements for compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), as applicable by Shannon Policy.

Performance: Position Specific Essential Functions

• Oversight of the IPCP, which includes, at a minimum, the following elements:
  • A system for preventing, identifying, reporting, investigating, and controlling infections and communicable diseases for all patients, team members, volunteers, visitors, and other individuals providing services under a contractual arrangement based upon the facility assessment.
• Written standards, policies, and procedures for the program, which must include, but are not limited to:
  • A system of surveillance designed to identify possible communicable diseases or infections before they can spread to other persons in the facility.
  • When and to whom possible incidents of communicable disease or infections should be reported.
• Standard and transmission-based precautions to be followed to prevent spread of infections.
• When and how isolation should be used for a patient; including but not limited to:
  • The type and duration of the isolation, depending upon the infectious agent or organism involved, and
  • A requirement that the isolation should be the least restrictive possible for the resident under the circumstances.
  • The circumstances under which the facility must prohibit team members with a communicable disease or infected skin lesions from direct contact with patients or their food, if direct contact will transmit the disease; and
  • The hand hygiene procedures to be followed by team members involved in direct patient contact.
  • A system for recording incidents identified under the facility’s IPCP and the corrective actions taken by the facility.
  • Personnel must handle, store, process, and transport linens to prevent the spread of infection.
  • The facility will conduct an annual review of its IPCP and update their program, as necessary.
• Collaborate with the facility leadership and the medical director to develop, implement, and evaluate the annual infection prevention goals and action plan.
• Partner with facility leaders, physicians, and local, state, and national agencies on activities related to infection prevention.
• Establish a facility-wide system for the prevention, identification, investigation, and control of infections of patients, team members, and visitors, including surveillance designed to identify possible communicable diseases or infections before they spread.
• Conduct outbreak investigations.
• Maintain a system for reporting possible incidents of communicable diseases to local, state, or national agencies as required.
• Participate the antibiotic stewardship program.
• Assess the need for, develop, and present IPCP in-service education for individual departments, general orientation, and annual review as needed; education includes but is not limited to:
  • Hand hygiene
  • Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization
  • Specific direct and indirect care settings
  • Therapeutic and diagnostic procedures and devices
  • Use of isolation/barrier precautions when indicated
  • Patient placement, transfer, and discharge
  • Environmental hazards
  • Use of patient care products and medical equipment
  • Immunization programs
• Assess the need for, develop, and implement written policies and procedures for infection control, including those for standard precautions and for transmission-based precautions, including when these should be used, the duration of use, and the type of precautions needed for a particular infection or organism.
• Enforce policies prohibiting team members with communicable diseases or infected skin lesions from direct contact with patients and their food and enforce hand hygiene policies consistent with accepted standards of practices.
• Serve as a member of various committees.
• Be accountable for surveillance of healthcare-acquired and community-acquired infections for patients, team members, and volunteers.
• Maintain current knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations and ensure that the facility leaders are informed of appropriate issues; understand and comply with infection control, safety, and OSHA procedures and regulations.
• Conduct analysis and formulate conclusions.
• Identify occurrences, reservoirs, incubation periods, periods of communicability, modes of transmission, signs and symptoms, and susceptibility associated with the infectious disease process.
• Interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests.
• Differentiate between colonization and infection.
• Differentiate between prophylactic, empiric, and therapeutic uses of antimicrobials.
• Foster effective working relationships and build consensus.
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Plan, organize, prioritize, work independently, and meet deadlines.
• Use judgment and make sound decisions.
• Work effectively with individuals at all levels of the organization.
• Speak, read, write, and understand English effectively at a level appropriate for the safe and effective performance of the job.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

• Required
  • High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent
  • Associate’s degree in Microbiology, Nursing, Medical Technology, Epidemiology or other related field
• Preferred
  • Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Nursing, Medical Technology, Epidemiology or other related field

Experience:

• Preferred
  • One to three years of experience as an Infection Preventionist or certification

Certification/Licensure:

• Required
  • Registered Nurse or Medical Technologist
• Preferred
  • Certified Infection Control