Registered Nurse- INFECTION CONTROL PREVENTIONIST- Part-time- Dayshift

RN - INFECTION CNTL PREVENTIONIST - 3130

SUMMARY

To perform surveillance activities related to infection prevention, control, and patient safety. To make daily rounds to monitor compliance to infection prevention and control policies/procedures. To provide continuing education programs related to identification and reduction of healthcare associated infection risks. To act as a consultant for infection risk assessment, prevention and control strategies. To provide input in product/procedure evaluation. To provide data to regulatory and licensing agencies related to infection prevention and control practice and patient safety. To apply epidemiologic principles to improve patient outcomes. To provide services in a cost effective manner. To enter infection and patient safety data into applicable computer databases.

JOB DUTIES

Maintains upward communications with managers of Infection Prevention and Control, Patient Safety, and the Infectious Disease Physician.

Maintains ongoing communication with patients, staff, and environmental problems as related to the infection prevention and control and safety programs.

Maintains ongoing communication with all regulatory agencies by means of written or verbal reporting methods.

Maintains by observation that staff adhere to infection prevention and control measures.

Communicates and reviews HAI's with patients, families and staff when HAI's are identified. Delivers disclosure letter to patient.

Conducts surveillance and reporting activities to identify important healthcare associated and community infections in our patient and employee population.

Conducts timely interventions of HAI's by utilizing monitoring programs such as PA-NEDSS.

Investigates and analyzes infection data.

Identifies and controls epidemic & endemic levels of disease through outbreak investigation.

Promotes accreditation compliance with regulatory agencies.

Maintains infection prevention and control with employee health by working with Occupational Medicine Department to comply with federal, state, OSHA and other regulatory agencies.

Promotes compliance with safety programs with regulatory environment requirements, waste management and food safety.

Provides education or consultation to patients, staff, community and other agencies on infection prevention and control issues.

Monitors and reports communicable diseases to the Department of Health and Center for Disease Control & Epidemiology through PA-NEDSS.

Reports antibiotic usage and resistant trends to the Pharmacy & Therapeutics and Infection Control Committee.

Communicates reports received from microbiology to staff and physicians.

Participates in quality processes including task forces and PIT teams related to infection prevention and control issues.

Actively participates in quality Pay- for- Performance initiatives as evidenced by improvement in quality indicators.

Performs computer data entry of infection and patient safety information as evidenced by reporting to NHSN, compliance to Act 52, PHC4, DOH, and PA Patient Safety Authority.

Actively participates in emergency preparedness related to infection prevention and control.

Demonstrates professionalism when interacting with patients, families, agencies, reviewers, and regulatory agencies.

Sets priorities and meets deadlines.

Demonstrates appropriate use of equipment and cost effective use of supplies.

AGE/DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

Participates in in-services and educational opportunities appropriate to the position.

Attends classes in pursuit of Certification in Infection Prevention, Control and Epidemiology.

Membership in Professional Association (APIC).

Regular attendance at unit meetings and APIC chapter meetings.

Proficient skills with PC & Meditech AICE, NHSN, QC Pathfinder, PA-NEDSS, and electronic interface applications.

Demonstrates the ability to conduct surveillance by reviewing recored based on age specific criteria.

Uses appropriate communication skills for specific ages when evaluating and managing cases.

SPECIFIC JOB DEMANDS

Strength: Medium Work - Lifting, Carrying, Pushing, Pulling 20 - 50 Lbs. occasionally, 10 - 25 Lbs. frequently or up to 10 Lbs. constantly.

Stooping: Occasionally - Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist, requiring full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.

Reaching: Frequently - Extending hand(s) or arm(s) in any direction.

Handling: Frequently - Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with hand or hands. Fingers are involved only to the extent that they are an extension of the hand, such as to turn a switch or shift automobile gears.

Fingering: Frequently - Picking, pinching, or otherwise working primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm as in handling.

Feeling: Frequently - Noting attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature, or texture, by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.

Talking: Frequently - Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word to impart oral information to clients or to the public and to convey detailed spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

Hearing: Frequently - Perceiving the nature of sounds by ear.

Near Acuity: Frequently - Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less.

Accommodation: Occasionally - Adjustment of lens of eye to bring an object into sharp focus. This factor is required when doing near point work at varying distances from the eye.

Color Vision: Frequently - Ability to identify and distinguish colors.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

Undergraduate degree preferred in nursing, business, hospital administration, public health, epidemiology and/or biostatistics.

CIC certified preferred

Knowledge of Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

Knowledge of National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)

BLS preferred.

 WORKING CONDITIONS

Normal patient care environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, and temperature changes. Subject to certain patient care activities and exposure to communicable diseases. May be exposed to potential hazards such as chemical wastes, body wastes, fluids and other possible infectious material.

DISCLOSURE

MMC commits to review, under the intent of this standard, and in coordination with medical professional opinion’s and physical demands job analysis performed by certified professionals, an individual’s ability to be reasonably accommodated within the role they are responsible and qualified to perform.

MMC is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and providing equal opportunity employment for qualified persons with disabilities. All employment practices and activities are conducted on a nondiscriminatory basis. Meadville Medical Center will follow any state or local law that provides individuals with disabilities greater protection that the ADA.

Every effort has been made to make your job description as complete as possible. However, this in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific tasks does not exclude them from the position if the task is similar, related, or is a logical assignment to the position, or is imperative for patient care and to meet emergency situations.