Infection Preventionist
About The Position
The Infection Preventionist coordinates and implements a comprehensive hospital-wide program of infection prevention, surveillance, and control at Western State Hospital, following applicable The Joint Commission, CMAS, CDC, Virginia Department of Health, and OSHA guidelines and standards for hospital and psychiatric facilities. The role serves as a consultant on infection prevention and control and provides education to patients and staff on related practices and procedures. The position applies hospital nursing knowledge and skills to care appropriate for adults with mental and physical illnesses. It directs and coordinates infection prevention and control activities, including developing policies and procedures, educating staff and patients, conducting surveillance and monitoring, reporting findings and making recommendations, implementing action plans, and evaluating results. The role also involves Employee Health services and knowledge of adult vaccination recommendations. The Infection Preventionist works independently with minimal supervision, communicates effectively, resolves conflicts and complex problems, makes decisions through appropriate consultation, and manages multiple priorities using organizational, time-management, and delegation skills. Strong computer skills are needed for data entry, analysis, and graphical presentation of trends.
Requirements
- Graduation from an accredited nursing program.
- Virginia Registered Nurse licensure or a compact license eligible for use in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
- Significant nursing experience.
- Experience with MS Office software, including Word and Excel, and databases.
- Experience administering vaccinations.
- Experience providing required Infection Prevention and Control Employee Health services.
- If CIC or LTC-CIP certification has not been obtained, take the a-IPC entry-level certification examination within 90 days of hire.
- Take the CIC or LTC-CIP certification examination by the end of the third year of employment.
- Ability to communicate effectively, listen, resolve conflict, and motivate others.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and make difficult decisions with appropriate consultation.
- Ability to resolve complex problems using data, obtain input from others, and evaluate results.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities through time management, organization, and delegation.
- Strong computer skills for data entry and analysis, including displaying trends graphically.
Nice To Haves
- Experience working in an inpatient setting relating to mental illness.
- Administrative experience.
- Experience working in a facility treating mental illness.
- CIC or Long-Term Care Certification in Infection Prevention (LTC-CIP).
- Bilingual Spanish and English.
Responsibilities
- Coordinate and implement a comprehensive hospital-wide infection prevention, surveillance, and control program.
- Ensure the program follows applicable Joint Commission, CMAS, CDC, Virginia Department of Health, and OSHA standards and guidelines.
- Serve as a consultant on infection prevention and control issues.
- Provide infection prevention and control education to patients and staff.
- Develop policies and procedures for the infection prevention and control program.
- Conduct surveillance and monitoring, report findings, and make recommendations.
- Implement plans of action and evaluate their results.
- Provide required Employee Health services, including vaccination-related services.
Benefits
- Western State Hospital will pay for the cost of the initial required certification examination; subsequent examination expenses are the employee's responsibility.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
