Employee Health - Infection Prevention RN

Under the general supervision of the Director of Infection Prevention/Employee Health, is responsible for the delivery of safe, effective and quality patient/family centered care in Employee Health and Infection Prevention.

Employee Health Nursing:

• Coordinates, schedules and perform basic pre-placement assessments including review of health and immunization history, pre-employment drug screenings
• Maintains system for syndromic surveillance of healthcare work illness
• Administers vaccine and health surveillance programs participates in annual healthcare worker influenza prevention, "flu shot", campaign
• Has knowledge of basic employee health/safety, ergonomics, workers compensation, and OSHA laws
• Assists with hospital orientation program as needed. Educates workforce regarding safe workplace practices and good hand hygiene practice
• Reviews clearance for return-to-work for all employees, meets with Human Resources and Department Head if employee has restrictions upon return to work
• Maintains Employee Health documentation and correspondence

Infection Prevention Nursing:

• Makes daily rounds reviewing temperature documentation, use of antibiotics, use of isolation precautions, laboratory rounds, reviewing any cultures which might indicate a developing infection as well as any infectious process present on admission
• Reviews cultures which indicate antibiotic resistance, and checks for any reportable diseases. Maintains log of those people who have been identified as having antibiotic resistance and places this information into the electronic record
• Makes timely reports of any suspected disease found on the Reportable Disease list to the NH Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health Services, Bureau of Infectious Disease Control
• Adheres to Infection Prevention standards, consistent in hand hygiene practice before and after each patient interaction. Adheres to infection prevention precautions. Holds team members to IP and hand hygiene standards and room/patient IP precaution measures to prevent infection or the spread of infection
• Attends committee meetings or departmental meetings as requested

Quality and Advocacy:

• Assures quality of care by adhering to clinical standards; measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and standards; making or recommending necessary adjustments

• Takes proactive steps to recognize and report suspected abuse/neglect, including, child abuse, elder abuse, sexual abuse, and spousal abuse. Reporting identified cases to supervisor and appropriate authorities are required by law
• Utilize appropriate resources for non-English speaking patients, hearing and sight impaired individuals, and/or healthcare illiteracy
• Participates in quality review, performance improvement, survey readiness and patient satisfaction initiatives within the department such as hourly rounding, collateral duties, chart audits and nursing policy review/revisions as assigned. Participates in quality review and performance improvement projects

Professionalism:

• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; and/or participating in professional societies

• Participates in the shared nursing governance model. Reviews and revises departmental policies and procedures as necessary or assigned
• Demonstrates flexibility in practice and collaborates to cross train in other departments to additional duties as needed to promote flexibility, sustainability and teamwork within the Critical Access Hospital setting
• Participates as a weekday House Supervisor, in the day shift rotation of Nursing House Supervisors. This affords additional opportunities for IP/ED rounding and staff education, just in time teaching regarding IP/EH related patient care issues as they are practiced in real time.
  

Organizational Expectations:

Attendance: Attendance is an essential job function; employee comes to work daily, on time, and completes scheduled shift

HIPAA: facilitates to maintain patient confidentiality

Internal communication: contributes to positive team performance and a culture of service excellence through effective communication, active listening, and respect

Interpersonal relationships: maintains appropriate interpersonal relationships with staff, patients, and visitors at all times. Works as a team member with other departments.

Safety: Practices workplace safety daily

Employee Engagement:

Actively participates in all hospital Service Excellence initiatives and trainings

Attends and participates in a minimum of 50% department staff meetings and signs off on review of 100% department staff meeting minutes

Completes all required annual education on or before the due date

Knowledge Skills and Abilities: Individuals must possess these knowledge, skills, and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that they can perform the primary functions of the job, with or without a reasonable accommodation, using some combination of skills and abilities and possess the necessary physical requirements, with or without a reasonable accommodation, to safely perform the essential functions of the job.

Minimal physical effort required with occasional light lifting to a maximum of 25 pounds; stooping; and pick, pinch, type, or otherwise work primarily with fingers

Ability to effectively manage considerable mental stress

Ability to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word

Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication

Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers and convey information in a clear, concise and accurate manner

Familiarity with computer and other business machines

Qualifications:

Experience: 3 years current clinical nursing experience; current experience in Employee Health/Occupational Health working with pre-employment screening, work place safety, vaccine administration preferred. Computer literate, proficient with electronic documentation systems

License and Certification: Current State RN License, BLS Certification, Certification in Occupational Health Nursing or Infection Prevention is desired

Qualifications

Licenses & Certifications

Required