Infection Control Nurse

We are looking for an Infection Control Nurse to join our team, your primary responsibility is to develop, implement, and manage our infection control program, ensuring compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations.

• Essential Duties and Responsibilities Administrative Functions
• Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, coordinate, and direct our infection control program in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern such requirements in nursing care facilities.
• Ensure that the facility follows current CDC, OSHA, and local regulations concerning infection control or standard/universal precautions.
• Develop, maintain, and periodically update infection control precautions and aseptic technique that successfully correct problem areas.
• Interpret infection control policies and procedures as necessary.
• Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Administrator, as necessary/required, concerning the infection control program of this facility.
• Monitor infection control practices and procedures to ensure that all personnel are implementing our standard operating procedures for tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids.
• Review and analyze infectious disease laboratory reports and consult with the Director of Nursing Services in developing the care plan for assuring that aseptic techniques are implemented.
• Assist in developing and implementing guidelines for the decontamination and sterilization activities performed in the facility.
• Perform periodic testing of our prepared sterile packs, bundles, and supplies, including sterilization equipment.
• Ensure that all personnel follow established procedures for the disposal and removal of infective and contaminated materials from the facility.
• Prepare monthly summaries of all resident/personnel infections, corrective action taken, and the results of the corrective action. Submit copies to the Administrator and Director of Nursing Services.
• Provide the Director of Nursing Services with a report of pertinent findings and recommendations pertaining to nosocomial infection.
• Assist the Director of Laundry Services in developing infection control procedures for the handling of clean and soiled laundry/linen, equipment cleaning, etc.
• Assist the Director of Environmental Services in developing infection control procedures for the routine and terminal cleaning of isolation rooms and areas, equipment cleaning, etc.
• Assist the Discharge Planning Coordinator in developing and implementing discharge plans for the resident in isolation or on infection control precautions.
• Report all reportable diseases to the county and state health departments.
• Serve on, participate in, and attend Infection Control Committee meetings.
• Represent the Infection Control Committee as required.
• Assist the Infection Control Committee in establishing the criteria for classifying all routine and reasonably anticipated job-related tasks to ensure that tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids are properly identified and recorded.
• Provide the Infection Control Committee with written and oral reports concerning all nosocomial infections within the facility.
• Ensure that major changes in our cleaning products or techniques are approved by the Infection Control Committee.
• Assist in evaluating and implementing recommendations from the Infection Control Committee.
• Provide information relative to TB assessment and make recommendations concerning the protocols to follow in isolating TB cases.
• Personnel Functions
• Develop and implement a practical system of detecting, evaluating, recording, and reporting infections that originate with facility personnel.
• Provide employee counseling as outlined in our infection control and employee health program.
• Assist in establishing the TB Mantoux testing and recordkeeping protocols for all employees.
• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility's policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents.
• Maintain an excellent working relationship with the medical profession and other health related facilities and organizations.
• Review complaints and grievances made or filed by department personnel.
• Make appropriate reports to the Administrator and/or Director of Nursing Services as necessary.
• Participate in the interviewing and selection of residents for admission to the facility.
• Ensure that all nursing service personnel follow established isolation precautions and aseptic technique to include standard/universal precautions.
• Interview residents or family members and explain isolation and standard/universal precautions as necessary.
• Monitor medication passes and treatments to ensure that appropriate handwashing/hand hygiene techniques are being followed in the handling and administering of drugs, medications, and treatments.
• Assist nursing service personnel in performing nursing care procedures as necessary.
• Obtain culture samples in accordance with our established procedures.
• Develop, implement, and maintain an effective orientation program that orients the new employee to our infection control and employee health program.
• Assist support services in developing, implementing, and conducting in-service training programs relative to infection control.
• Assist the In-service Director/Educator in developing annual OSHA and CDC in-service training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and bloodborne pathogens standard.
• Develop a training program for all personnel required to perform tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids.
• Assist the maintenance director in developing a preventive maintenance program for maintaining the nursing department's equipment and supplies in a safe and operable manner.
• Develop and implement procedures that ensure nursing service supplies are used in an efficient manner to avoid waste.
• Ensure that established policies governing the labeling or tagging of contaminated equipment are followed when such equipment must be sent for repair or decontamination.
• Care Plan Functions
• Assist in the development, implementation, and maintenance of a written plan of care (preliminary and comprehensive) for each resident in isolation or on infection control precautions that identifies the problems/needs of the resident, indicates the care to be given, goals to be accomplished, and which professional service is responsible for each element of care.
• Insofar as practical, encourage the resident to participate in the development and review of his/her plan of care and explain to the resident the need to follow infection control practices and standard/universal precautions.
• Assist in the scheduling of care plans to be presented and discussed at each committee meeting in relation to prevention and control of infectious diseases.
• Ensure that all personnel involved in providing care to the resident are aware of the care plan.
• Ensure that the care plan is reviewed prior to administering daily care to the isolated resident or prior to performing nursing care procedures involving exposure to blood/body fluids.
• Review nurses' notes to determine if the care plan is being followed.
• Review and revise care plans as necessary, but at least quarterly.
• Budget and Planning Functions
• Recommend to the Director of Nursing Services the equipment and supply needs for the Infection Control Program and its activities.
• Report suspected or known incidence of fraud relative to false billings, cost reports, kickbacks, etc.
• Identify, evaluate, and classify routine and job-related functions to ensure that tasks in which there is potential exposure to blood/body fluids are properly identified and recorded.
• Assist department directors in developing policies and procedures to prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases.
• Ensure that all personnel performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/body fluids participate in appropriate in-service training programs prior to performing such tasks.
• Assist in developing policies and procedures in the handling and disposal of needles and other sharp instruments.
• Assist the maintenance engineer in developing and implementing waste disposal policies and procedures for infectious waste, supplies, etc.
• Miscellaneous
• Assess and/or evaluate new or improved resident care products or procedures.
• Provide counseling for employee testing mandate required for HBV and TB exposure and maintain in confidential manner.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to solve practical problems. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• The essential functions of this position require the following physical abilities:
• Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to ensure that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
• Must meet the general health requirements set forth the policies of this facility, which include a medical and physical examination.
• Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a minimum of 25 pounds to a minimum height of 5 feet and be able to push, pull, move, and/or carry such weight a minimum distance of 50 feet.

Education & Experience:Nursing Degree from an accredited college or university.2 years or more experience preferably in a long-term care facility.Must possess a working knowledge of epidemiology, microbiology, infectious diseases, and aseptic technique to include standard/universal precautions.Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as a Registered Nurse in this state. Current CPR certification. APIC Certification in infection control preferred, but not necessary. Knowledge and experience with PCC preferred.​Must maintain all required continuing education for licensing. Must remain in good standing with the State Board of Nursing at all times.