Staff Development/Infection Preventionist RN, Lakelands NRC Abbeville

Required Qualifications

• Minimum requirements include the following:
• A nursing degree from an accredited college or university, or be a graduate of an approved RN program.
• Two years of experience as a RN.
• Eligible to participate in federally funded health care programs.
• Must also meet state requirements for relevant licensures or certifications and have no disciplinary action in effect against professional license.
• Extensive knowledge of current standards of practice and the rules, regulations, and laws related to the long-term care industry. Ability to teach this knowledge to others.
• Education, training, experience, or certification in infection control and prevention.
• Completed specialized training in infection prevention and control through accredited continuing education.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Participates in the completion of the facility assessment at least annually for determining the knowledge and skills required among staff to meet residents’ needs.

Identifies and prioritize the facility’s educational needs through the completion of an educational needs assessment, based on the facility assessment.

Works closely with the facility’s Administrator and other leaders in developing a training plan that addresses all regulatory requirements and any other topics identified in the facility assessment and/or needs assessment.  Develop educational calendars in accordance with the plan.

Plans, schedules, conducts, and oversees orientation programs for all personnel.

Develops, schedules, and directs refresher training, as necessary, for all personnel.  Tracks attendance/completion of training to ensure that all required training is received by all personnel in a timely manner.

Reviews educational content to ensure the information reflects current standards of practice and facility policies and procedures.  Develops or revises content as needed.  Utilizes outside resources for content development, such as consultants, content experts, or electronic learning systems.

Collaborates with department managers for developing competencies required for meeting residents’ needs.  Assists with evaluating competencies, depending on the knowledge-based, technical, or behavioral nature of the competency.

Cooperates with the Administrator during routine evaluation of the training program’s effectiveness.

Schedules trainings with flexibility to ensure limited disruption of resident care, and ample opportunity for staff to attend.  Posts notices of trainings in advance.

Maintains all training records, reports, instructional materials, and speaker qualifications related to each educational program.

Provides opportunities for staff to obtain continuing education credits for maintaining certifications/licensure.  Maintains all documentation related to continuing education.

Maintains attendance records and individual training records in accordance with facility policy.

Develops and implements an ongoing infection prevention and control program to prevent, recognize, and control the onset and spread of infections in order to provide a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment.

Establishes facility-wide systems for the prevention, identification, reporting, investigation, and control of infections and communicable diseases of residents, staff, and visitors.

Develops and implements written policies and procedures in accordance with current standards of practice and recognized guidelines for infection prevention and control.

Oversees the facility’s antibiotic stewardship program.

Oversees resident care activities that increase risk of infection (i.e., use and care of urinary catheters, wound care, incontinence care, skin care, point-of-care blood testing, and medication injections).

Leads the facility’s Infection and Prevention Control Committee.  Develops action plans to address opportunities for improvement.

Participates on the facility’s QAA Committee.  Performs duties as assigned.

Implements an annual infection control risk assessment process and participates in the facility’s annual facility assessment review process.

Reviews and/or revises the facility’s infection prevention and control program, its standards, policies, and procedures annually and as needed for changes to the facility assessment to ensure they are effective and in accordance with current standards of practice for preventing and controlling infections.

Provides education related to infection prevention and control principles, policies, and procedures to staff, residents, and families (where appropriate).

Ensures public health is notified of reportable diseases.

Collaborates with other departments in fulfilling requirements related to occupational health and safety. (I.e. employee health).

Maintains documentation of infection prevention and control program activities.