Infections Control and Education Nurse

Mount Joseph at Waterville is seeking a passionate, detail-oriented RN to fill the role of infection control and staff development. If you feel this is the right position, we look forward to meeting you.

$10,000 Sign-on Bonus

Pay-in-lieu of benefits

Work/life balance

Mission

As an employee of Mount Joseph at Waterville, you are called to care for the residents/patients with utmost respect and compassion, and to interact with your co-workers with professionalism, creating an atmosphere of harmony and unity of purpose.

Purpose of Your Job Position

The primary purpose of your job position is to plan, organize, develop, coordinate, and direct the infection control program, workers comp program, and in-service training program in accordance with current federal, state and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern such programs, and as may be directed by the administrator to ensure that an effective infection control program is maintained at all times.

Delegation of Authority

As the Infection Control Coordinator, you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties. Your immediate supervisor is the director of nursing services.

Job Functions

Every effort has been made to make your job description as complete as possible. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is a logical assignment to the position.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, coordinate, and direct the infection control program in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern such requirements in the long-term care facility.

• Develop, maintain, and periodically update infection control precautions and aseptic technique that successfully correct problem areas.

• 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.

• Provide the director of nursing services with a report of pertinent findings and recommendations pertaining to nosocomial infection.

• Maintain a written record of all residents and employees who have nosocomial infections.

• Monitor infection control policies and procedures to ensure that all personnel are implementing our standard operating procedures for tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids.

• Ensure that laboratory support is available, including microbiological and serological services.

• Ensure that all personnel follow established procedures for the disposal and removal of infective and contaminated materials from the facility.

• Assist the directors of housekeeping and laundry services in developing infection control procedures for the handling of clean and soiled laundry/linen, equipment cleaning, etc., and monitor compliance.

• Assist the director of housekeeping services in developing infection control procedures for the routine and terminal cleaning of isolation rooms and areas, equipment cleaning, etc.

• Interpret infection control policies and procedures as necessary.

• Prepare summaries of special investigations on the occurrence of nosocomial and community-acquired infections.

• Collect monthly summaries of all resident infections, corrective action taken, and the results of the corrective action. Submit reports to the administrator and director of nursing services quarterly at CQI.

• Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc., as necessary.

• Maintain a reference library of written infection control material that will assist the facility in meeting the day-to-day needs of the isolated resident.

• Participate in surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies.

• Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the administrator, as necessary/required, concerning the infection control program of the facility.

• Report all reportable diseases to the county and state health departments.

• Participate in surveys of possible carriers among residents and personnel and in tracing possible sources of infection within the facility.

• Assist all department in evaluating and classifying routine and job-related functions to ensure that tasks involving exposure to body fluids are properly identified.

• Perform administrative requirements for training documentation, such as attendance, topics, etc.

• Make written and/or oral recommendations to department directors concerning in-service training.

• Establish a priority system of in-service training needs, and develop a training program to meet those needs.

• Assume the authority, responsibility and accountability of maintaining the in-service training program.

Committee Functions

• Attend Department Head meetings.

• Assist the Total Quality Management Team in evaluating and revising the infection control practices and aseptic technique to ensure continues sanitation practices are maintained throughout the facility.

• Represent Infection Control functions as required.

• Serve on, participate in, and attend Safety Committee meetings.

Personnel Functions

• Develop and implement a practical system of reporting, detecting, evaluating, and recording of infections which originate with facility personnel.

• Orient new employees to the importance of infection control policies and procedures, personal hygiene, hand washing techniques, etc., as well as the employee's responsibility in following the established procedures for tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids.

• Develop and maintain a good working rapport with all department directors and personnel to assure that infection control services and activities can be properly maintained to meet the needs of the residents.

• Maintain an excellent working relationship with the medical profession and other health related facilities and organizations.

• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the facility.

• Review complaints and grievances made or filed by department personnel regarding sanitation or health issues.

• Make appropriate reports to the administrator and/or director of nursing services as necessary.

• Obtain culture samples in accordance with established procedures.

• Reassure, and encourage injured staff members. Review any complaints about the medical care injured workers receive and attempt to resolve.

Nursing Care and Consultation Functions

• Ensure that residents with known communicable or infectious diseases are placed in isolation or on infection control precautions to include Universal Precautions.

• Assure that all nursing service personnel follow established isolation precautions and aseptic technique to include Universal Precautions.

• Interview residents or family members and explain isolation and Universal Precautions as necessary.

• Review nurses' notes of those residents in/on isolation precautions to ensure that they are informative and descriptive of the nursing care being provided and that they reflect the resident's response to the care.

• Monitor medication passes and treatments to assure that appropriate hand washing techniques are being followed in the handling and administering of drugs, medications and treatments.

• Provide direct nursing care as necessary.

• Assist nursing service personnel in performing nursing care procedures as necessary.

Staff Development

• Develop and participate in the planning, conducting, and scheduling of timely in-service training classes and educational programs that provide instruction on "how to do the job" for all facility personnel.

• Develop, implement, and maintain an effective orientation program that orients new employees to the infection control program.

• Provide leadership training that includes the administrative and supervisory principles essential for charge/staff nurses.

• Assist support services in developing, implementing, and conducting in-service training programs relative to infection control.

• Attend and participate in continuing educational programs designed to keep you abreast of changes in your profession, as well as to maintaining your license in a current status.

• Develop a training program for all personnel required to perform tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids.

• Help orient newly assigned personnel and promote professional upgrading of all personnel

Equipment and Supply Functions

• Recommend to the director of nursing services the equipment and supply needs for maintaining an effective infection control program.

• Assure that a stock level of medical supplies, equipment, etc., is maintained on premises at all times to adequately meet the needs of the residents.

• Assist the maintenance engineer 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.

Budget and Planning Functions

• Assist the director of nursing services in preparing the budget for the department in relation to its infection control program and activities.

• Keep abreast of economic conditions/situations, and recommend to the director of nursing services adjustments that ensure the continued ability to prevent and control infectious diseases.

• Recommend to the director of nursing services the equipment and supply needs for the infection control program and its activities.

Resident Rights

• Provide annual in-service training to staff members concerning resident rights.

• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information.

• Monitor nursing care to assure that all residents are treated fairly, and with kindness, dignity and respect.

• Ensure that all nursing care is provided in privacy and that nursing services personnel knock before entering the resident's room.

• Ensure that all nursing service personnel are knowledgeable of the resident's rights and responsibilities.

Safety and Sanitation

• Develop policies and procedures for the handling and disposal of needles and other sharp instruments.

• Assist the director of housekeeping to develop waste disposal policies and procedures for infectious waste, supplies, etc.

• Make sure that appropriate protective clothing/devices are on hand to handle infectious waste and/or blood/body fluids. Maintain appropriate stocks in house.

• Assist department directors to develop policies and procedures to prevent control the spread of infectious diseases.

• Identify policies and assist department heads to write and implement.

Miscellaneous

• Assure that the facility is in compliance with current CDC, OSHA, and local regulations concerning infection control and Universal Precautions.

• Assess and/or evaluate new or improved resident care products or procedures.

• Provide counseling for testing mandate required for HIV exposure and maintain in confidential manner.

• Maintain exposure reports in a confidential manner.

• Provide personnel with information concerning the facility's policies governing hepatitis B vaccinations.

Working Conditions

• Works in office area(s) as well as throughout the nursing service area (i.e., medication rooms, nurses' stations, resident rooms, etc.)

• Sits, stands, bends, lifts and moves intermittently during work hours.

• Is subject to frequent interruptions.

• Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel etc., under all conditions and circumstances.

• Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, personnel and visitors.

• Communicates with the medical staff, nursing personnel, and other department supervisors.

• Works beyond normal working hours and on weekends and holidays when necessary.

• Is involved in community/civic health matters/projects as appropriate.

• Attends and participates in continuing educational programs.

• Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.

Education

• Must possess, as a minimum, a nursing degree from an accredited school of nursing.

Experience

• Must have, as a minimum, two (2) years clinical experience in a hospital or long-term care facility, or other related health care facility.

• Must possess a working knowledge of epidemiology, microbiology, infectious diseases, and aseptic technique to include Universal Precautions.

• Certification in infection control preferred, but not necessary.

Specific Requirements

• Must possess a current unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state.

• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action in a timely fashion.

• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public.

• Must be knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices and procedures, as well as laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to long-term care and infection control to include Universal Precautions.

• Must possess leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with professional and nonprofessional personnel.

• Must possess the ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies and procedures, etc., that are necessary for preventing and controlling infections, to include the establishing of Universal Precautions.

• Must have a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult residents and staff.

• Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices.

• Must be able to relate information concerning a resident's condition.