Infection Preventionist Nurse-Infection Control

JOB DESCRIPTION

This position requires working closely with clinical staff, departments, and administration to reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections among patients.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Participates in needs assessment for all departments around infection prevention and control issues.
• Facilitating integration of infection prevention and control activities within and across departments.
• Builds relationships with staff, peers, and colleagues to support interdisciplinary and interdepartmental planning, aimed at improving patient outcomes.
• Liaises with senior infection preventionist to provide clinical consultations to nurses, physicians, and allied health professionals related to infection prevention and control.
• Demonstrates knowledge of microbiological and epidemiological principles and isolation precautions when addressing the purchase of resources (e.g., personal protective equipment).
• Manages to update DOH with information regarding the reportable infectious diseases, and endemic and the epidemic situation in the community.
• Assists in surveillance and epidemiologic investigation:
• Provides support to the senior infection preventionist in performing outbreak investigations
• Prevents and controls the transmission of infectious agents:
• Provides infectious disease disaster plan education and training to the staff
• Demonstrates knowledge for early detection of an infectious disease disaster through active or passive surveillance
• Liaises with senior infection preventionist for recommending strategies for handling potentially contagious individuals and implementing environmental controls to prevent or limit the emergence or spread of communicable diseases
• Maintains knowledge of effective interventions that can be implemented when standard practices cannot be achieved during a disaster (when resources may be limited).
• Monitors pandemic alerts issued by DOH CDC, MOH, WHO, etc., if a pandemic is declared:
• Facilitates communication and implementation of necessary precautions applicable to the physical setting.
• Performs process and/or outcome surveillance activities to identify infections that cause or have the potential to cause an outbreak
• Participates in epidemiological investigation
• Implements routine practices and precautions to prevent the transmission of infection
• Maintains confidentiality and security of patient, family, and organization information in accordance with the confidentiality policy
• Liaises closely with medical and nursing staff in ensuring that all notifiable diseases are reported to DOH.
• Collaborates with the multidisciplinary team by providing effective communication and timely feedback in improving quality and patient safety.
• Assists in-patient and environmental risk documenting and documenting corrective action to improve patient outcomes as required.
• Participates in the implementation of evidence-based practice to promote clinical knowledge and a research-based clinical practice environment.
• Performs infection prevention and control audits and reviews as required to minimize risk and improve the safety of patients, visitors, or healthcare workers.
• Participates in risk assessment and management in the organization for TB, Blood borne pathogens, environmental, safety, and renovation/construction projects.
• Demonstrates knowledge of current infection prevention and control strategies and organizational policies.
• Participates in product evaluation and cost containment projects as indicated
• Engages in health promotion activities in the organization and community
• Participate in reviewing policies and procedures which promote consistent adherence to evidence-based infection control practices which minimize transmission of pandemic infection diseases
• Participates in ongoing educational and research programs within the organization.
• Monitor the use of antimicrobial prophylaxis for surgical site infection.
  
  

Accountabilities

• Collaborates with senior infection preventionist for providing advice to occupational health, laboratory staff, and the risk manager in the event of a blood-borne pathogen and body fluid exposure incident or any other Infection Prevention and Control issue.
• Monitors and continuous surveillance of identified healthcare-associated infection clinical indicators and participate in using this data to prioritize the infection prevention and control program.
• Assists in producing infection prevention and control reports and surveillance monitoring in a timely manner (i.e., monthly).
  
  

Required:

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing
• Degree in Nursing (minimum two (2) years course duration) and Registration as a Registered Nurse from Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia or Degree in Midwifery or equivalent
• Valid/current national license
• BLS
• Licensing: DOH license in Nursing
  
  

Desired:

• N.A.
  
  

Specialist Certifications: Required:

• N.A.
  
  

Desired:

• Certified in Infection Control (CIC) (i.e. Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology or equivalent) and maintain certification status
• Certified proof of yearly CME
• Continuous post-graduate courses
  
  

Experience:

Required:

• NLT 2 years clinical experience post qualification in an appropriate setting
• Skills in the use of Microsoft (e.g., word, excel, and PowerPoint)
  
  

Desired:

• N.A.