Infection Control/Staff Development Nurse

The Davis Community•Wilmington, NC

About The Position

The Staff Education and Training Coordinator and Infection Preventionist develops, implements, and evaluates ongoing educational and instructional programs for the campus, including reporting to measure training needs and results. The position is also responsible for the facility’s Infection Prevention Control Program. The role assesses training needs across campus disciplines and shifts, creates and evaluates programs that meet those needs and regulatory requirements, supports nursing staff during orientation, and develops competency and continuing-education resources. It also coordinates employee TB screening and flu vaccination activities and contributes to human resources, quality, employee-relations, and engagement initiatives. As Infection Preventionist, the role works with facility leadership and external partners to plan and evaluate infection-prevention goals; conducts surveillance and outbreak investigations; maintains required reporting systems; oversees antibiotic stewardship; provides infection-prevention education; develops and implements infection-control policies; and monitors compliance with precautions, hand hygiene, safety, OSHA, and applicable regulations. The position serves on the quality assessment and assurance committee and performs other duties as assigned by the HR Administrator.

Requirements

Baccalaureate degree in Nursing from an accredited school of nursing.
Current North Carolina licensure as an RN or LPN.
Wound Care Certification.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Nice To Haves

A.P.I.C. certification is preferred.
Two years of previous geriatric nursing experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Assess current and future training, educational, and instructional needs across all campus disciplines and shifts.
Use authoritative resources and best practices to ensure quality education and training.
Plan, implement, and evaluate programs that meet assessed needs and regulatory requirements.
Use varied training techniques, including lectures, printed materials, hands-on demonstrations, role-playing, group sessions, one-on-one training, unit-based instruction, and outside trainers.
Develop continuing-education support materials for staff reference after training.
Develop, implement, teach, and evaluate staff competency programs, including annual skills testing.
Assess and monitor training progress and procedures, analyze course effectiveness, and update curricula as needed.
Set benchmarks for program effectiveness and measure results through data assessment.
Consult with managers and supervisors to assess training needs and provide training resources.
Provide educational support to nursing staff during their 90-day orientation and as needed afterward.
Coordinate initial and annual employee tuberculin skin tests and/or screenings and maintain accurate records.
Promote and coordinate annual employee flu vaccinations.
Conduct random screenings in accordance with policy.
Participate in human resources and quality initiatives and activities as needed.
Support employee relations and engagement practices that promote a positive culture and staff retention.
Maintain current clinical knowledge and knowledge of long-term care and assisted living licensure requirements.
Collaborate with facility leadership and directors to develop, implement, and evaluate annual infection-prevention goals and action plans.
Partner with leadership, physicians, and local, state, and national agencies on infection-prevention activities.
Establish a system to prevent, identify, investigate, and control infections among residents, staff, and visitors, including surveillance to identify potential communicable diseases or infections before they spread.
Conduct outbreak investigations.
Maintain a system for reporting possible communicable-disease incidents to relevant agencies and documenting corrective actions.
Oversee the antibiotic stewardship program and monitor residents’ antibiotic use.
Assess needs for and develop and present infection-prevention education for departments, general orientation, and annual review.
Assess needs for, develop, and implement written infection-control policies and procedures, including standard and transmission-based precautions.
Enforce policies restricting staff with communicable diseases or infected skin lesions from direct contact with residents and their food, and enforce hand-hygiene policies consistent with accepted practice.
Serve as a member of the quality assessment and assurance committee.
Oversee surveillance of healthcare-acquired and community-acquired infections among residents, staff, volunteers, and visitors.
Maintain knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations and inform facility leaders of relevant issues; comply with infection-control, safety, and OSHA procedures and regulations.
Perform other duties as assigned by the HR Administrator and obey applicable federal, state, and local laws.