Nurse Consultant - HAI/AR Prevention & Response Infection Preventionist

JOB
Disease Control & Public Health Response - HAI/AR Program, Communicable Disease BranchYou must be a resident of the State of Colorado to be eligible to applyThis is a term-limited position and funding cannot be guaranteed beyond July 31, 2027. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities. Be BOLD.... Make a REAL difference . . . and join us in serving our communities in advancing Colorado's health and protecting the places we live, work, learn, and play, to create a healthy and sustainable Colorado where current and future generations thrive.In addition to free parking, access to RTD bus lines, Cherry Creek bike path and flexible working arrangements, click the link below to review additional benefits and perks!!!! CareersSome positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to: Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
The Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response (DCPHR) is the department’s lead surveillance, planning and response arm for public events including communicable disease outbreaks and epidemics, pandemics, bioterrorism, and other public health and mass casualty events and disasters. The division includes the Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response; State Public Health Laboratory; Health Equity Branch, Communicable Disease Branch; Immunization Branch; Public Health Informatics, Reporting, Technology Branch; Refugee Branch; and Operations Branch. The Division exists to ensure that the Department has the ability to effectively prepare for, monitor, detect, diagnose, investigate, and nimbly respond to all types of conditions, events and disasters that impact the public’s health. The Unit: The Communicable Disease Branch monitors, investigates, and controls epidemic and communicable diseases affecting the public health in Colorado, as required under Colorado statute, including enteric diseases, invasive bacterial diseases, respiratory disease, vaccine preventable disease, zoonotic diseases, foodborne and waterborne disease, and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI/AR) Program exists to prevent healthcare-associated infections and prevent the spread of emerging antimicrobial resistance threats in all healthcare settings in Colorado through surveillance, containment and response, infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship.About the Position: This position exists to provide infection prevention guidance and perform infection control assessments of targeted facilities; provide expertise to mitigate gaps detected during infection control assessments; and provide expertise during HAI outbreaks and on other infection prevention projects. 3 Revised 3/11/2025 This position possesses a specialized and unique level of knowledge and expertise in the infection prevention field and supports the overall goal and mission of the CDPHE Communicable Disease Branch to prevent and respond to communicable disease cases, clusters, and outbreaks. It includes a thorough understanding of healthcare infection prevention guidelines and practices, often including board certification in infection control and related specialties in addition to training and experience in healthcare epidemiology and public health. Position is held by a nurse with a specialized and unique level of knowledge and expertise which is that of a professional infection preventionist in a hospital, nursing home, and outpatient clinical settings, including knowledge of preventable surgical site and device associated infections, standard and transmission-based precautions and disinfection of the healthcare environment, the ability to audit infection prevention practices and provide feedback to clinical providers, and the ability to train less experienced infection preventionists in clinical settings on the latest infection prevention practices. Position provides essential consultation to healthcare facilities, healthcare providers, and local public health agencies around HAI/ AR response activities, and relays key information and professional opinions and assessments back to HAI/ AR leadership to guide the direction of the public health response activities. What you will be doing: Provides infection prevention (IP) expertise and performs infection prevention andcontrol assessments (IPC) of targeted facilities, assessing staff practices to identifygaps for mitigation. Provides feedback to facilities verbally and in writing, summarizing the gapsidentified during an assessment and the corresponding evidence-basedrecommendations (CDC, APIC, etc.) needed for mitigation.Assessing which practices may have led to transmission, or an outbreak in the facility,in order to guide targeted mitigation efforts to break the chain of infection.Assessing healthcare personnel performing their roles to ensure compliance with bestpractices.Assessing healthcare facility compliance with standard precautions and transmissionbased precautions, including that performed during direct patient care.Performs the majority of assessments for the HAI/AR program. Performs phone consultations and on-site assessments to review each facility’sinfection prevention practices and policies in targeted areas. Maintains a matrix that is used to guide prioritization of identified facilities for IPCassessments Conducts outreach to facilities that have been selected for participation inassessments Works with influential facilities (Long-term acute care hospitals) to conduct annualproactive assessmentsProvides nursing/infection prevention expertise during healthcare-associated infection(HAI) outbreak and exposure event (drug diversions, injection safety, etc.)investigations. Consultation with other CDPHE outbreak team members, facility consultation, orparticipation in outbreak investigation site visits. Determine if possible adverse events might have occurred. Raise awareness and educates external partners on HAI/AR prevention and responseactivities. Provides statewide onsite assistance for HAI/AR prevention and response activities,including infection control assessments using CDC created tools and other resources.These efforts are statewide, and may include outlying communities with fewerresources, in collaboration with the Field Infection Preventionist. Makes infection prevention-related decisions and takes action with healthcarefacilities and partners to implement mitigation actions during HAI/ AR investigations.Responsible for developing and guiding implementation of infectionprevention strategies and guidelines around detecting and responding to HAI/ ARpathogens and used by internal and external partners Collaborates with other infection prevention team members at CDPHE to provideinfection prevention expertise and perform proactive infection prevention assessmentsand provide setting-specific expertise to mitigate gaps detected during infectioncontrol assessments. Provides expertise during HAI outbreaks and on other infection prevention projects.Performs other infection prevention projects as directed by the Prevention andResponse Unit Manager. Projects might include education for internal and external partners, surveys of healthcare facilities used to direct infection prevention assessments, developing the processto create a health care inventory list, and exploring options with outside partners toexpand oversight of infection control capacity through licensing, credentialing, andregulations.On assigned days, this position participates in the routine epi-call schedule byanswering e-mail questions and telephone calls from healthcare providers, patients,and the public on a variety of communicable disease issues. Issues include diagnosis,case management, prophylaxis, prevention and control strategies. This position bringscomplex calls to the attention of subject matter experts and senior staff for review andconsultation.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
A complete application packet must include: A complete application that documents your work history giving details of your qualifications, including how your experience aligns with the minimum and preferred qualifications when listing your work history.A copy of your transcripts if you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications. (unofficial copy acceptable)If you are a veteran, attach a copy of your DD214 to your application The Selection Process: Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position may be a structured application review, which involves a review of the information you submit in your application by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) against the preferred qualifications. A top group, up to six (6) candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager.E-Verify: CDPHE uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.ADAAA Accommodations: The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Dan McKenna, at daniel.mckenna@state.co.us or call 303-692-2060, option 5.~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~ CDPHE IS A TOBACCO FREE CAMPUS