Infection Control Coordinator - Gracedale Nursing Home

Northampton County, PA•Nazareth, PA

30d•Onsite

About The Position

The Infection Control Coordinator position oversees the infection control program at Gracedale Nursing Home. Work includes determining the presence and cause of infections, analyzing individual patient care, and facility patterns of care.

Requirements

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE - Graduation from an accredited school of nursing; AND
At least two (2) years of clinical nursing experience in a health care facility, preferably in long term care/infection control, including work experience with patient care regulatory requirements for documentation; AND
Possession of licensure as a Registered Nurse issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; AND
Must have or obtain Infection Control Certification within three (3) months; AND
Current Basic Life Support Certification.
All employees of Gracedale Nursing Home will be required to attend Feeding Program training.
Thorough knowledge of Federal and State infection control requirements.
Thorough knowledge of professional nursing principles, practices, and standards.
Knowledge of quality improvement process and data analysis.
Knowledge of methods and techniques used in medical care documentation.
Ability to identify the presence, track the course, and recommend corrective action to ameliorate the effect of infections on the facility.
Ability to monitor patients' records, maintain relevant documentation, and issue required reports and notifications.
Ability to assess extent of medical condition and/or need for medical care on the part of those with conflicting motivations.
Ability to operate a personal computer and secure information from established data processing, spreadsheet, word processing, database, and graphics programs.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with medical and nursing staff administrative personnel, associates, volunteers, representatives from community groups and other agencies, and patients and their family members.
Ability to work with teams and staff administration to ensure good clinical outcomes and best practices.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English to perform the duties of this position.

Responsibilities

Develops and revises policies and procedures for facility staff on issues such as universal precaution and isolation care. Uses and adapts Federal agency and other guidelines, ensuring goals and objectives are still met, and submits plan for review to higher level nursing and administrative staff, then implements.
Monitors resident records and conducts audits - i.e. making visits throughout the facility to observe activities, storage of materials, and how work is being carried out. Prepares notes and submits reports of findings.
Receives notices of any resident receiving antibiotics. Investigates each case, identifying the nature of infection, location, and other relevant facts. Determines any apparent systemic issue to be addressed. Prepares reports of these findings and conclusions.
Oversees residents with indwelling catheters, prepares reports, makes recommendations, and takes appropriate actions.
Receives culture reports and records the presence of any infections, tracing the source of the specimen to determine the source of the infection. Takes corrective measures or refers for medical or other action.
Coordinates facility response to major outbreaks of infections and arranges testing of all residents, visitors, employees, and others who may have been exposed. Advises applicable State agency of reportable situations, facility response, and results within scope of practice. Performs other duties in this regard such as conduct testing and reporting for both residents and staff with influenza, pneumonia, COVID-19, Tuberculosis, other unforeseen pandemic circumstances, or drug dependence.
Receives notice of any resident receiving antibiotics. Investigates each case, identifying the nature of infection, location, and other relevant facts. Receives culture reports and records the presence of any infections, tracing the source of the specimen to determine the source of the infection. Determines any apparent systemic issue to be addressed. Takes corrective measures or refers for medical or other action. Documents and reports findings of these conclusions, as well as any outbreaks in the facility, to the local Department of Health (DOH), National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS), and Pennsylvania Department of Health.
The Infection Control Coordinator is required to cover for the Clinic Coordinator as needed and supplement the nursing administration team.
Processes reports and presents data as needed.
Works with Staff Development on (re)education, orientation, and other infection control related items.
Processes forms and miscellaneous documents as necessary.