What are the responsibilities and job description for the RN, Infection Preventionist II - Clinical Quality Improvement Department position at Erlanger Health System?
Job Summary:
Supports and assists the Infection Prevention Director with all daily operations of the Health System's Infection Prevention and Control program and assumes responsibility for Infection Prevention departmental functions in the absence of the IP Director.
Education:
Required: Graduate of an accredited school of Nursing with BSN, BS, or Masters of Public Health degree.
Preferred:
Experience:
Required:
3 years of experience in accredited healthcare organization or public health
Computer and internet skills to include Microsoft Office
Preferred:
5 years of experience in infection prevention.
Recent clinical expertise with critical care experience.
Previous experience in information analysis, computer knowledge, quality improvement desired, however department will train.
Position Requirement(s): License/Certification/Registration:
Required:
Current licensure to practice nursing in the State of Tennessee or Masters Public Health
Certification in Infection Control (CIC)
Current incumbents hired prior to January 11, 2020 who have not met the requirements listed above will be grandfathered into the position.
Department Position Summary:
Maintain certification in infection control (CIC)
Plan, organize and assist with directing the entity specific day to day operations related to monitoring, prevention and control of infection
Serves as a consultant on infection prevention issues and assists in providing a safe environment
Meets with other staff members to discuss performance improvement activities and develop future courses of action
Coordinates activities to identify and reduce the risks of acquiring and transmitting infections in assigned focus area(s). These activities include problem identification and management, data and information collection, analysis and management, improvement processes, policy/procedure management, outcome evaluation and education
Communicates with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state and county health departments, other health agencies, medical facilities and practitioners for reporting and/or investigation of infectious disease cases/clusters, required agent and disease case reports.
Participates as a principle member of the Infection Committees and workgroups and serves on other ongoing and ad hoc committees or task groups throughout the organization
Coordinates the development and periodic review of Infection Control related standards, policies, procedures, practices and guidelines for assigned focus area(s) including infection surveillance, isolation/precautions, prevention and control in accordance with state, federal, and organizational guidelines
Institutes disease/agent transmission control measures as necessary
Communicates with all personnel and medical staff regarding the interpretation and enforcement of and compliance with infection prevention program policies, practices, and procedures
Analyzes data to recognize potentially important relationships or patterns of infection and to detect significant variations in processes or outcomes
May coordinate, support or assist in the design and execution of special studies and projects
Attends educational in-services, webinars and conferences as appropriate
Participates in professional activities and organizations to maintain knowledge of current trends, practices, and developments
Collects patient, laboratory, process and performance data and information. Ensures confidentiality, security and integrity of data and information are maintained
Prepares, reports and presents infection control activities and improvement processes to meet organization needs and comply with applicable regulations in assigned focus area(s)
Recommends changes in information systems hardware and software to improve internal and external reporting and data storage capabilities
Reviews and makes recommendations regarding selection of products related to infection prevention and control and current professional, industry and community standards and practices
Routinely assesses and investigates clinical infection and infection risks in concert with department objectives and assigned focus area(s)
Conducts patient care practice and environmental rounds and recommends corrective action to administrative and management staff
Collaborates with employee health to identify and reduce the risks of acquiring and transmitting infections among all staff
Serves as the department liaison to individuals, programs, committees, functions, facilities, schools, industry, agencies and associations
Plans, conducts and documents formal and informal educational activities pertaining to infection control
Updates infection prevention materials used in the orientation of Nursing staff
Reviews, recommends and maintains infection prevention educational material in EOLs
Reviews construction projects pre-construction to assess risk; and conducts rounds during construction to identify and address safety issues as they might arise.
Serves as key contact with public health and other outside authorities and as liaison with Employee Heath and Safety on Emergency Preparedness issues such as management of biosafety issues or highly infectious patients, pandemic influenza, etc.
This position will provide 20% of it's efforts devoted to administrative duties. The remaining 80% will be to support infection prevention activities.
