Infection Preventionist Registered Nurse

Veterans Health Administration • West Palm Beach, FL

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Infection Preventionist RN leads infection prevention efforts, including surveillance, reporting, investigation, and control of infections. The role ensures compliance with standards, educates staff and patients, and collaborates with teams to reduce risks and improve patient safety. It supports policies and provides guidance to maintain a safe, clean healthcare environment.

The Infection Preventionist coordinates, establishes, and monitors infection control practices and standards across the organization, and serves as a principal member of the Infection Control Committee. The role evaluates clinical parameters and infection risks, analyzes surveillance data, identifies significant patterns and healthcare-acquired infections, and recommends interventions. It also evaluates communicable disease risks and exposures, recommends isolation or work restrictions, and addresses deviations from infection control standards.

The position facilitates and monitors infection control policies and procedures, initiates or collaborates on improvements, and takes immediate remedial action when a breach or risk of infection spread is identified. It contributes epidemiological expertise to quality improvement, develops individual goals aligned with the Infection Control Program, and uses scientific literature, regulations, and guidelines to maintain current policies. The Infection Preventionist communicates findings, recommendations, and policies to relevant services and community agencies.

Work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is ad hoc only; this is not a virtual position. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or qualifying nursing education as described in the posting.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered nurse licensure in a U.S. State, Territory, or Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a Graduate Nurse Technician exception may apply to eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the education and professional nursing experience requirements for the applicable Nurse grade and level.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Complete required pre-employment screening, background/security investigation, onboarding, and physical evaluation; selected applicants in testing-designated positions are subject to urinalysis.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Moderate lifting up to 30 pounds; prolonged walking, standing, and bending; reaching, stooping, and pushing; visual acuity; manual dexterity for computer and office technology; and effective communication in person, by telephone, and in writing.
• Adhere to infection prevention practices and use appropriate personal protective equipment when occasionally exposed to environmental hazards such as infectious materials.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated experience applying evidence-based infection prevention and control practices in a healthcare setting.
• Experience conducting surveillance of healthcare-associated infections, analyzing infection trends, and participating in infectious disease outbreak investigations.
• Experience collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to develop, implement, and evaluate infection prevention policies, procedures, and educational programs.
• Experience with regulatory and accreditation standards, such as The Joint Commission, CDC, and CMS.
• Knowledge of disinfection and sterilization principles and familiarity with personal protective equipment and isolation precautions.
• Certification in Infection Control (CIC) is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct infection surveillance, prevention, and control activities, including reporting communicable illnesses.
• Develop, recommend, and monitor infection control policies, procedures, practices, and standards throughout the organization.
• Serve as a principal member of the Infection Control Committee and recommend evidence-based practices.
• Evaluate clinical parameters to identify infections, assess disease severity, identify risk factors, and determine potential sources.
• Analyze surveillance data monthly, quarterly, and annually to identify unusual occurrences, clusters, unusual pathogens, and healthcare-acquired infections exceeding organizational targets; determine when intervention is needed.
• Use standard event definitions and appropriate statistical techniques to calculate rates and evaluate findings; compare data when available and report epidemiologically significant results.
• Evaluate infectiousness of patients and employees with communicable diseases, recommend isolation or work restrictions, and investigate exposures.
• Identify deviations from infection control standards and recommend corrective measures to maintain consistent standards across the organization.
• Evaluate infection prevention measures and identify potential hazards or deviations from hospital infection and colonization targets.
• Facilitate and monitor implementation of infection control policies and procedures and recommend integrating infection control principles throughout the medical center.
• Integrate surveillance findings into organizational improvement plans and facilitate procedural changes through committees or workgroups.
• Take immediate remedial action and implement infection control measures when a breach or risk of exposure or spread is identified; communicate and follow up to ensure corrective action is implemented.
• Set individual goals aligned with the broader goals of the Infection Control Program.
• Participate in Quality Improvement activities and contribute epidemiological skills and infection prevention expertise.
• Use scientific literature, regulations, and guidelines to inform written policies and procedures and maintain consistency with current standards of care.
• Maintain effective oral and written communication with organizational services and community agencies, and disseminate program findings, recommendations, and policies to appropriate individuals.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases, with potential for performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year: 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree