What are the responsibilities and job description for the RN, Infection Preventionist Coordinator position at Adventist Health?
Adventist Health Ukiah Valley has been deeply connected to the community we serve since 1956. We are comprised of a 50-bed acute care medical center, level IV trauma center, level II intensive care nursery services, extensive physical rehabilitation program, outpatient surgery and diagnostic center and advanced wound care center. Ukiah is a unique small town that charms you with its rich character, arts, vineyards and natural surroundings. Ukiah beckons you to explore all that the valley has to offer amidst our 300 days of sunshine each year. We are also conveniently located just two hours north of San Francisco and 45 minutes from the Pacific Coast.
Job Summary:
Performs surveillance, analysis, interpretation and reporting of Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) and infection prevention education. Writes and updates infection prevention policies and procedures to insure compliance with regulatory standards of The Joint Commission (TJC) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Centers for Medicaid/Medicare Services (CMS,) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other nationally organized agencies recommendations and requirements. Is proficient in hospital epidemiology principles. Coordinates small program(s) with limited budget/impact. Applies substantial knowledge and experience to perform a wide range of advanced activities and/or determines how to use resources to meet schedules and goals; serves as working supervisor for team or work group.
Job Requirements:
Education and Work Experience:
- Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN): Preferred
- Two years' experience in acute care setting.: Preferred
Licenses/Certifications:
- Registered Nurse (RN) licensure in the state of practice: Required
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) or Basic Life Support (BLS OR HS-BLS OR RQIBLS) certification: Preferred
- Infection Control Certification: Preferred
- Public Health Nursing Credential: Preferred
Essential Functions:
- Conducts ongoing surveillance investigation and follow up of infections through review of admission diagnoses, microbiology culture results, isolation orders, patient records, consultation requests, post-discharge surveillance, and autopsy findings. Conducts environmental rounds in all inpatient and outpatient care areas. Analyzes trends and risk factors, and designs and evaluates prevention and control strategies. Participates in investigation and reporting of unusual hospital infection outbreaks.
- Compiles and interprets surveillance reports for committees and specialty areas on a regular basis. Collects data in support of epidemiological studies. Determines the source of problems and makes recommendations for correction and improvement.
- Assists in the organization of regularly scheduled infection control-related meetings and dissemination of recommendations hospital-wide. Participates in quality/performance improvement activities by assessing, monitoring, and measuring nosocomial infections and evaluating outcomes on a continuous basis.
- Plans, organizes, develops and implements new employee orientation and educational programs for employees (including administrative and ancillary services) to convey specialized knowledge and skills of awareness of existence of infections. Includes techniques for avoidance and preventive measures to ensure an infection-free environment for hospital employees, patients and visitors.
- Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
Organizational Requirements:
Adventist Health is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our associates and patients. Therefore, we require that all associates receive all required vaccinations, including, but not limited to, measles, mumps, flu (based on the seasonal availability of the flu vaccine typically during October-March each year), COVID-19 vaccine (required in CA, HI and OR) etc., as a condition of employment, and annually thereafter. Medical and religious exemptions may apply.
