Administrative Nurse

Legacy Nursing and Rehabilitation•Pineville, LA

About The Position

The Infection Preventionist minimizes the risk and spread of infection throughout the facility. The role oversees the Infection Prevention and Control Program (IPCP), establishes and maintains systems for preventing, identifying, reporting, investigating, and controlling infections, and ensures compliance with applicable standards, facility policies, and regulations. The Infection Preventionist trains residents, staff, and visitors on infection prevention practices and provides staff guidance consistent with current CDC guidelines. The position works as a member of the Interdisciplinary Team and participates in facility meetings, training, and education programs. It coordinates resident and employee immunization and tuberculosis testing needs, clinics, documentation, infection tracking and reporting, outbreak investigations, and antibiotic stewardship. The role collaborates with facility leadership, the medical director, physicians, and public agencies to develop and evaluate annual infection prevention goals and action plans. The Infection Preventionist is expected to communicate professionally, maintain confidentiality and HIPAA compliance, follow safety and OSHA requirements, attend required training, and comply with Legacy's Compliance Program, Code of Conduct, and Dress Code. Duties may be adjusted according to facility needs.

Requirements

Freedom from illegal use of drugs.
Freedom from the use and effects of drugs and alcohol in the workplace.
Must not have been found guilty by a court of law of abusing, neglecting, or mistreating individuals in a health-care-related setting.
Primary training in nursing, medical technology, microbiology, epidemiology, or another related field.
Current license to practice as a nurse.
Enrolled in or completed Infection Preventionist certification.

Nice To Haves

Long-term care experience preferred.
Current CPR certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Oversee the facility's Infection Prevention and Control Program, including systems for preventing, identifying, reporting, investigating, and controlling infections and communicable diseases.
Develop, maintain, and review written infection control standards, policies, and procedures, including surveillance, reporting, precautions, isolation, recordkeeping, and corrective actions.
Participate in facility meetings, including QA meetings, Safety Committee meetings, Resident Council Meetings when requested, Care Plan Meetings, High Risk meetings, trainings, and other meetings called by Legacy or licensing entities.
Serve as a member of the Interdisciplinary Team.
Obtain consents or declinations for influenza, pneumonia, and COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters, and tuberculosis testing for residents and staff; track needs and host clinics.
Ensure consent and declination paperwork is scanned and administration record data is entered into PointClickCare.
Use PointClickCare to track and trend infections and run reports as needed.
Conduct infection control training and competencies upon hire and annually, covering topics such as hand hygiene, isolation, PPE, sanitation, immunization programs, and resident care equipment and products.
Guide facility staff on isolation, visitation, group meals and activities, outings, employee isolation, masking, COVID-19 testing, and vaccination and booster administration, consistent with current CDC guidelines.
Report infection control concerns to the Director of Nursing and/or Administrator and present viable solutions.
Ensure the resident hydration program is effective and train staff on hydration's role in reducing infection and illness.
Enforce facility infection control policies and regulatory requirements, including hand hygiene and restrictions on staff with communicable diseases or infected skin lesions.
Maintain current and properly placed signage regarding isolation, PPE, hand hygiene, visitation, testing, and infection prevention practices.
Collaborate with facility leadership and the medical director to develop, implement, and evaluate annual infection prevention goals and action plans.
Partner with facility leaders, physicians, and local, state, and national agencies on infection prevention activities.
Conduct outbreak investigations and maintain required reporting systems for possible communicable disease incidents.
Oversee the antibiotic stewardship program, monitor resident antibiotic use, and train nurses on assessment skills and tools to use before contacting a doctor about antibiotics.
Monitor healthcare-acquired and community-acquired infections among residents, staff, volunteers, and visitors.
Keep facility leaders informed about relevant regulatory matters and comply with infection control, safety, and OSHA procedures and regulations.
Represent the facility professionally and communicate courteously and effectively with residents, families, coworkers, and vendors.
Maintain confidentiality of department, resident, employee, communication, and documentation information and comply with HIPAA.
Attend required in-service training, clock in and out for all working and training hours, and comply with Legacy's Compliance Program, Code of Conduct, and Dress Code.