Infection Prevention Nurse

Job Description:

Currently we seek an Infection Prevention Nurse.  Under the direction of the Director of Infection Control & Employee Health, the full-time Infection Prevention Nurse performs duties as assigned based on the needs and resources of the department:

Key Responsibilities:

At the direction of and prioritization by the Director of Infection Control & Employee Health, performs and/or assists with the following department activities:

1. Obtains and maintains access credentials to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)
2. Conducts surveillance for healthcare-associated infections in accordance with current NHSN criteria, and reporting of events via NHSN including gathering and entering required denominator data within required timeframes
3. Surveillance for and reporting of reportable diseases and conditions, as required by the county department of public health
4. Rounding throughout the facility to ensure compliance with infection prevention policies and efforts, including but not limited to appropriate isolation, hand hygiene, cleaning, products, procedures and helping to ensure a safe environment of care
5. Performs audits to help ensure best practices for the prevention of healthcare-associated infections, including but not limited to device audits for indwelling catheters and central lines; audits may include observations both in patient care areas such as at the bedside, as well as within electronic or paper records
6. Assists in preparation for meetings including development of graphs and slides based on data collected by the department and its other gathered information and efforts
7. Assists in the provision of staff education in support of the Infection Prevention Department’s policies, campaigns and activities, including new-hire orientation, staff meetings and huddles.
8. The position requires ongoing learning, growth and development related to the overall activities of the department, as well as to new developments in regulations, requirements, technology and best practices in infection prevention, toward a goal of being increasingly able to assume any particular department function either as division of responsibilities shift, or in the absence of the department director.  In furtherance of this goal, participation in the Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), as well as keeping apprised of public health updates and educational events are expected.
9. Cross-trains for the Employee Health Nurse role and provides backup and support as-needed

Qualifications:

1. Current California nursing license
2. BLS (basic life support), obtained from a hospital-approved provider
3. Excellent written/verbal communication skills
4. Computer skilled with experience using Microsoft Office software at an intermediate level