Infection Control Preventionist RN

Job Overview Summary:

The Infection Control Preventionist is a dedicated nurse who is trained and responsible for preventing, identifying, reporting, investigating and controlling infections and communicable diseases for all residents, staff, volunteers, visitors, and contractors. The primary purpose of the position is to plan, organize, coordinate, and direct the Infection Control Program and its activities in accordance with current Federal, State, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern such programs.

Infection control Preventionist leads the Infection Control Strategies of the team, in collaboration with each nursing facility department director and the PPE coaches. Infection control Preventionist supports prevention of spread of infections by education provided to residents, staff, volunteers, visitors and contractors regarding infection-prevention strategies, in collaboration with health care team and the PPE Coaches.

Note: The following duties are illustrative and not exhaustive. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Depending on assigned area of responsibility, incumbents in the position may perform some or all of the activities described below.

Functions:

• Implement the policies and procedures around infection control developed by Next Step Healthcare while reporting to Director of Nursing.
• Ensure auditing systems are in place and completed
• Create and implement training programs in conjunction with the Director of Clinical Education, for all staff and residents on infection control procedures.
• Act as a consultant and resource to all staff and residents for problem solving, education, and interpretation and implementation of policies and procedures.
• Remain knowledgeable of CDC, DPH and Local Board of Health regulations and reporting requirements as they apply to the infection control program.
• Develop and implement an Infection Control quality assurance and improvement plan. Member of QAPI Committee.
• Complete annual assessment based on facility assessment, with annual review of policies and procedures and infection control program.
• Annual review of Antibiotic Stewardship program.
• Monitor and interpret trends in infection control and communicable diseases as they relate to the facility.
• Oversee infection control practices in all departments.
• Ensure water management program is in place.
• Onboarding and education of infection control practices for new employees.
• Provide training and oversight to PPE coaches.
• In collaboration with the medical director, plan and implement epidemiologic investigations and evaluate for efficacy, such as contact tracing.
• Coordinate and collaborate with other departments and positions to plan delivery of services, such as cohorting.
• Consult inform Director of Clinical Quality and Outcomes on Infection Control status and program development.
• Ensure all residents, staff, volunteers, visitors and contractors understand Infection Control Measures.
• Accountable for staff and resident immunizations to ensure that staff and residents have been vaccinated to prevent the spread of diseases.
• Responsible for outbreak management
• Responsible for testing requirements per DPH, CMS
• Maintain a line listing of all residents with infections placed in isolation or on infection control precautions, as well as those residents and employees who have nosocomial infections.
• Monitor infection control practices and procedures through rounding to ensure that all personnel are implementing our Infection Control practices
• Ensure that laboratory support is available
• Interpret infection control policies and procedure, as necessary.
• Report all reportable disease to the County and State Health Department.
• Report all cases utilizing the internal Company reporting form for all residents
• Report all cases for staff to the VP of Administration/Compliance Officer and Director of Administration

Work Environment:

• Works in office area(s) as well as throughout the nursing service area (i.e., drug rooms, nurses' stations, resident rooms,etc.).
• Moves intermittently during working hours.
• Is subject to frequent interruptions.
• Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.
• Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, personnel, and visitors.
• Communicates with the medical staff, nursing personnel, and other department supervisors.
• Works beyond normal working hours, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
• Is subject to call-back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post-disaster, etc.).
• Attends and participates in continuing educational programs.
• Is subject to injury from falls, burns, odors, etc., throughout the workday, and reactions from dust, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other air contaminants.
• Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including TB and the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.
• May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals.

Qualifications:

• Must possess, as a minimum, a Nursing Degree from an accredited college or university
• Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as an RN in Massachusetts.
• Infection Control experience- has or in process of attaining an Infection Control Preventionist Certification
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public.
• Must be knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices and procedures, as well as laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to long-term care.
• Must possess leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other personnel.
• Must possess the ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret programs, goals, objectives, policies and procedures, etc.,
• Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult resident
• Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices.
• Must be able to relate information concerning a resident's condition. Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Customer Service Oriented
• Ability to be patient while interacting with challenged or struggling residents
• Knowledge of activity programs developed to engage adult and geriatric residents
• Demonstrates organizational and critical thinking skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently, problem solve and make decisions as necessary
• Ability to create a resident-centered environment
• Knowledge of policies and procedures and state and federal regulations

Required Responsibilities:

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
• Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner.
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
• Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses of function adequately to ensure that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
• Must function independently, and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with patients/residents, personnel, and support agencies.
• Must be in good general health and demonstrate emotional stability.
• Must be able to relate to and work with the ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and, at times, hostile people within the facility/unit.
• Must be able to assist in the evacuation of patients/residents during emergency situations.

Required Responsibilities:

Successful demonstration of work standards, quality work product, productivity, and job knowledge are standard expectations for all company employees.

Core Competencies:

• Caring/Compassion
• Accountability
• Dependability
• Adaptability/Flexibility
• Effective Communication
• Confidentiality
• Team Player
• Dedication

Physical Demands

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Amount of Time

This job requires that force be exerted by weight being lifted, carried, pushed, or pulled. Show how much and how often by checking the appropriate boxes below.

This job has special vision requirements.

• Close Vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less)
• Distance Vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more)
• Color Vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors)
• Peripheral Vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point)
• Depth Perception (three-dimensional vision; ability to judge distances and spatial relationships)
• Ability to Adjust Focus (ability to adjust eye to bring an object into sharp focus)
• No Special Vision Requirements

This job has special hearing requirements.

• Ability to hear alarms on equipment
• Ability to hear client call
• Ability to hear instructions from physician/department staff