Infection Control Preventionist

Surgery Partners Careers•McKinney, TX

12h•Onsite

About The Position

This role is responsible for assisting in the development and implementation of policies that govern the control of infections and communicable diseases. The position involves maintaining records of infection and communicable disease incidents according to regulatory guidelines, and providing supervision and coordination for all activities related to the surveillance and control of healthcare-associated infections in patients, visitors, and staff. The role also manages the departmental performance improvement process, including report preparation, analysis, and submission. A key aspect is educating staff on infection risks, prevention, transmission, and control, as well as disease-specific care and appropriate precautions. The Infection Control Preventionist will develop, review, and revise infection prevention and control policies and procedures in conjunction with leadership, ensuring facility compliance with state and federal regulations. They will also assist leaders in developing and evaluating departmental goals, managing departmental budgets and staffing plans, and maintaining employee health files, including initial, annual, and ongoing employee testing. The position promotes patient safety, serves on the Safety Committee, and is responsible for the Patient Safety Program. Additionally, the role involves managing cases for productivity, ensuring appropriate care and return to work, contributing to the design of injury prevention controls, and identifying health promotion strategies. The Infection Control Preventionist evaluates and treats injuries and illnesses, provides or manages physical evaluation programs, and leads ergonomic teams for improvement assessments. Leadership responsibilities include promoting a positive environment, maintaining confidentiality, embracing diversity, monitoring employee conduct, acting as a change agent, accepting feedback, and pursuing professional growth. Clinical and educational duties involve demonstrating sound clinical judgment, serving as a clinical resource, collaborating on safe employee practices, and sharing knowledge. Effective communication, commitment to quality patient care, adherence to policies and regulatory standards, participation in quality improvement activities, and accurate documentation are essential. Financial responsibility includes appropriate resource utilization and time management. The role also supports managers in maintaining employee records and ensuring clear, concise written correspondence and accurate meeting minutes.

Requirements

Baccalaureate Degree from an accredited school of nursing - Required
Minimum of three (3) years pediatric clinical experience
A minimum of three years’ clinical experience in an acute pediatric setting
Current permit or license to practice professional nursing in the State of Texas
Current BLS
Maintain membership and active participation in APIC or SHEA

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree
Previous education experience preferred
CIC Certification preferred

Responsibilities

Assist in the development and implementation of policies that govern control of infections and communicable diseases.
Maintain records of incidents related to infections and communicable diseases in accordance with regulatory guidelines.
Provide supervision/coordination of all activities for surveillance and control of healthcare associated infections in patients, visitors, and staff.
Manage the departmental performance improvement process, including the preparation, analysis, and submission of required reports.
Educate staff about the risk, prevention, transmission, and control of infection, disease-specific care, appropriate precautions, and appropriate assessments.
Develop, review, and revise infection prevention and control policies and procedures in conjunction with leadership and assure the facility’s compliance with state and federal regulations related to infection prevention and control.
Assist leaders to develop, implement, and evaluate departmental goals that align with the hospital goals on a yearly basis, maintaining a departmental budget and staffing plan that meets organizational needs.
Provide and maintain employee health files.
Responsible for the initial, annual and ongoing employee testing as required by policy and accrediting agencies.
Promote patient safety and serve on the Safety Committee.
Responsible for the Patient Safety Program.
Manage cases to facilitate productivity, assuring appropriate care and return to work.
Contribute in the design of controls for injury prevention and health surveillance related to actual and potential hazards in the work environment.
Identify primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention and health promotion strategies to optimize health of the population.
Evaluate and treat all injuries and illnesses in an efficient and professional manner within the scope of practice and consistent with clinical nursing.
Provide or manage the required physical evaluation programs and services to meet regulatory requirements, such as OSHA, CDC, etc.
Train and lead ergonomic team to assess jobs and provide input regarding ergonomic improvements.
Promote an environment within the units/departments for fair and courteous treatment of patients, families, visitors, and staff.
Maintain confidentiality and commit to embracing diversity.
Monitor employee’s conduct/compliance to identified goals and hold staff accountable.
Act as a change agent for the benefit of the hospital.
Accept feedback and learn from experiences.
Exhibit professional character, attitude, and appearance for self and staff.
Pursue ongoing professional growth opportunities through advanced certification, education and continuing education in the area of clinical practice.
Maintain knowledge about current trends in the health care delivery system.
Demonstrate sound clinical judgment and appropriate decision-making abilities.
Serve as a clinical resource to the staff in the units/departments.
Collaborate with the nurse managers to develop safe employee practices and promote infection prevention.
Seek opportunities to share knowledge with peers and colleagues.
Demonstrate effective communication skills as evidenced by being respectful, use of positive body language and tone, and appropriate eye contact.
Adapt to the communication styles of others to accomplish effective communication.
Utilize active listening skills, clarify understanding and ask open-ended questions to facilitate discussions.
Communicate clearly and accurately with staff, patients, families and visitors regarding patient care.
Commit to quality patient care.
Promote quality measures to maintain a safe work environment.
Adhere to policies and procedures as well as regulatory standards.
Participate in continuous quality improvement activities.
Demonstrate the use of the nursing process in providing care to patients in the facility.
Demonstrate competency in nursing skills.
Document patient assessments, interventions, and evaluations clearly and accurately.
Document accurate and appropriate charges.
Offer appropriate feedback to management team.
Participate in all departmental and hospital mandatory in-services.
Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability to change.
Utilize resources appropriately and be conscientious with regards to increasing efficiencies.
Able to prioritize and organize work and utilize work time appropriately.
Report to work on time.
Assist Managers/Coordinators with maintenance of complete employee records/files as per hospital policy and regulatory requirements.
Ensure written correspondence is clear, concise, and professional.
Ensure committee/staff meeting minutes are accurate and provided to the staff when appropriate.
Serve as a resource to staff for documentation needs.