INFECTION CONTROL NURSE

UHS•Liberty Hill, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Meridell Achievement Center is a 134-bed, seclusion free, psychiatric residential treatment facility located northwest of Austin. Our 60-acre campus is complete with mature oaks, rolling hills, and plenty of walking paths and outdoor spaces. We have 7 unique living units separated by gender, age, and development needs with a swimming pool, gymnasium, sports court and playing fields. We provide 24-hour psychiatric care to girls and boys ages 10 to 17 years old with customized therapeutic approaches and intensive behavioral programs to teach young patients to moderate their behavior, manage emotions and improve social functioning. As an Infection Control Nurse / Clinical Nurse Educator at Meridell Achievement Center, you'll be part of a dynamic and compassionate treatment team dedicated to providing exceptional care to children and adolescents with emotional, behavioral, and neurobehavioral challenges.

Requirements

Graduate of accredited school of nursing with minimum of Bachelor degree.
Leadership experience is required.
Licensed by a state participating in the Nurse Licensure Compact as a Registered Nurse.
CPR certification
Current driver license.
Excellent verbal, written skills, interpersonal interaction, and educating skills.
Excellent skills in organization, research, and mentoring.
Flexibility to teach when nurses are available to learn may be evenings/weekends.
Ability to maintain confidentiality of patient and employee information.

Nice To Haves

Master degree in nursing preferred.
Knowledge of psychiatric patient care techniques and understanding of mental illness, preferred.

Responsibilities

Conduct ongoing surveillance of infections in patients and employees (in conjunction with HR), vaccination status of patients and employees, compile and interpret this data, and present it to the Safety Committee each month.
Inspect all on and off-site areas, observe for employee activities to detect any potential infection hazards, and evaluate compliance with standards. Compile and present this data to the Safety Committee.
Investigate the clusters of infections above expected levels. Survey for outbreaks, evaluate and give recommendations for the prevention of further spread of infection and to disseminate this information to the Infection Control Committee.
Educate staff and patients on the specific policies and procedures involved in infection control, implements best practice such as universal precautions, blood borne pathogens, tuberculosis, etc.
Communicate all reportable diseases to the local Health Department in a timely manner.
Reviewing and develop written policies and procedures related to infection control.
Coordinate with nursing leadership regarding orientation and education of new hired nursing staff.
Responsible for training/educating nursing staff on the nursing process and in compliance with facility policies and procedures.
Organize, schedule, and present continuing education for nurses and other facilitate personnel on nursing related topics.
Collaborate with nursing leadership and administration on facilitating continuing education training.
Track and ensure nursing personnel meet continuing education requirements, including self.
Primary educate nursing staff with varying levels of education and experience.
Research and update methods of training/ education to keep nurses current with new developments in their field.
Monitors, reports, and documents the patients’ behavior and physiological status.
Administers medications and performs treatments/procedures in compliance with facility and nursing services, policies, and procedures.
Guides the response to residents who are behaviorally out of control or who may be experiencing a medical or behavioral crisis in collaboration with the nurse manager and physician.
Reports accurately and concisely to oncoming shifts regarding conditions of patients.
Cover assigned duties and responsibilities for both RTC and Acute Psychiatric Services as needed.