LVN/LPN Infection Control Nurse

PACS

4d•$62,400 - $88,400•Onsite

About The Position

This position is responsible for planning, developing, organizing, implementing, evaluating, coordinating, and directing the facility's infection control program. The role ensures compliance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines, including CDC and OSHA standards, concerning infection control and standard/universal precautions. The Infection Control Nurse develops and maintains infection control precautions and aseptic techniques, interprets policies, and maintains a reference library for infection control. The role involves making reports and recommendations to the Administrator, assisting departments in identifying tasks with exposure risks, and monitoring personnel's adherence to standard operating procedures for exposure to blood/body fluids. Regular rounds are made to nursing units for case findings, environmental sanitation review, and supervision of isolation precautions. The nurse also ensures laboratory support is available, reviews infectious disease reports, and consults with the Director of Nursing Services on care plans. Responsibilities include assisting with guidelines for decontamination and sterilization, performing periodic testing of sterile packs and equipment, monitoring shelf life of medical items, and ensuring proper disposal of contaminated materials. Monthly summaries of resident/personnel infections, corrective actions, and results are prepared and submitted. Special investigations on nosocomial and community-acquired infections are summarized, with reports and recommendations provided to the Director of Nursing Services. A written record of all residents and employees with nosocomial infections is maintained. The role includes participation in surveys of possible carriers, tracing infection sources, and assisting Directors of Laundry and Environmental Services with infection control procedures. The nurse also participates in facility surveys, assists with discharge planning for isolated residents, and helps implement a facility-wide TB management control program. Administrative duties such as completing medical forms and reports are also required.

Requirements

Possession of a Nursing Degree from an accredited college or university.
2 years or more experience preferably in a long term care facility.
Must possess a working knowledge of epidemiology, microbiology, infectious diseases, and aseptic technique to include standard/universal precautions.
Ability to read technical procedures.
Ability to read and comprehend policy and procedure manuals.
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers and employees.
Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations.
Ability to solve practical problems.
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Must possess a current, unenciponered, active license to practice as a Registered Nurse in this state.
Current CPR certification.
Must maintain all required continuing education for licensing.
Must remain in good standing with the State Board of Nursing at all times.
Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
Must be able to cope with the mental, emotional, and physical stress of the position.
Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to ensure that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
Must meet the general health requirements set forth the policies of this facility, which include a medical and physical examination.
Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a minimum of 25 pounds to a minimum height of 5 feet and be able to push, pull, move, and/or carry such weight a minimum distance of 50 feet.
Must be willing to perform tasks that may involve exposure to the resident’s blood/body fluids.
May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.

Nice To Haves

APIC Certification in infection control preferred, but not necessary.
Knowledge and experience with PCC preferred.

Responsibilities

Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, coordinate, and direct the infection control program.
Ensure the facility follows current CDC, OSHA, and local regulations concerning infection control or standard/universal precautions.
Develop, maintain, and periodically update infection control precautions and aseptic technique.
Interpret infection control policies and procedures.
Maintain a reference library of written infection control material.
Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Administrator concerning the infection control program.
Assist all departments in evaluating and classifying routine and job related functions to ensure that tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids are properly identified.
Monitor infection control practices and procedures to ensure that all personnel are implementing standard operating procedures for tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids.
Make rounds to nursing units for case findings, review of environmental sanitation procedures, and supervision of isolation precautions/practices.
Visit isolated residents as necessary to ensure that established isolation precautions and aseptic technique are followed.
Ensure that laboratory support is available, including microbiological and serological services.
Review and analyze infectious disease laboratory reports and consult with the Director of Nursing Services in developing the care plan for assuring that aseptic techniques are implemented.
Assist in developing and implementing guidelines for the decontamination and sterilization activities performed in the facility.
Perform periodic testing of prepared sterile packs, bundles, and supplies, including sterilization equipment.
Monitor the designated shelf life of medical items wrapped and sterilized at the facility and reprocess as necessary.
Ensure that all personnel follow established procedures for the disposal and removal of infective and contaminated materials from the facility.
Prepare monthly summaries of all resident/personnel infections, corrective action taken, and the results of the corrective action.
Prepare summaries of special investigations on the occurrence of nosocomial and community acquired infections.
Provide the Director of Nursing Services with a report of pertinent findings and recommendations pertaining to nosocomial infection.
Maintain a written record of all residents and employees who have nosocomial infections.
Participate in surveys of possible carriers among residents and personnel, and in tracing possible sources of infection within the facility.
Assist the Director of Laundry Services in developing infection control procedures for the handling of clean and soiled laundry/linen, equipment cleaning, etc.
Assist the Director of Environmental Services in developing infection control procedures for the routine and terminal cleaning of isolation rooms and areas, equipment cleaning, etc.
Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies as necessary or as may be directed.
Assist the Discharge Planning Coordinator in developing and implementing discharge plans for the resident in isolation or on infection control precautions.
Assist in the development and implementation of a facility wide TB management control program.
Report all reportable diseases to the county and state health departments.
Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc.
Serve on, participate in, and attend Infection Control Committee meetings.
Represent the Infection Control Committee as required.
Assist the Infection Control Committee in evaluating and revising infection control practices and aseptic technique.
Assist the Infection Control Committee in establishing the criteria for classifying all routine and reasonably anticipated job related tasks to ensure that tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids are properly identified and recorded.
Provide the Infection Control Committee with written and oral reports concerning all nosocomial infections within the facility.
Ensure that major changes in cleaning products or techniques are approved by the Infection Control Committee.
Assist in evaluating and implementing recommendations from the Infection Control Committee.
Provide information relative to TB assessment and make recommendations concerning the protocols to follow in isolating TB cases.
Develop and implement a practical system of detecting, evaluating, recording, and reporting infections that originate with facility personnel.
Assist the personnel director in developing and implementing the employee health services program, to include individual counseling.
Provide employee counseling as outlined in the infection control and employee health program.
Provide personnel with information concerning the facility’s policies governing hepatitis B vaccinations.
Assist in establishing the TB Mantoux testing and recordkeeping protocols for all employees.
Orient new employees to the importance of infection control policies and procedures, personal hygiene, handwashing/hand hygiene techniques, etc.
Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents.
Meet with the staff to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or the improvement of services, as necessary.
Develop and maintain a good working rapport with all department directors and personnel.
Maintain an excellent working relationship with the medical profession and other health related facilities and organizations.
Review complaints and grievances made or filed by department personnel.
Report known or suspected incidents of fraud to the Administrator.
Ensure that departmental computer workstations left unattended are properly logged off or the password protected automatic screen saver activates within established facility policy guidelines.
Participate in the interviewing and selection of residents for admission to the facility.
Ensure that all nursing service personnel follow established isolation precautions and aseptic technique to include standard/universal precautions.
Ensure that residents with known communicable or infectious diseases are placed in isolation or on infection control precautions.
Interview residents or family members and explain isolation and standard/universal precautions as necessary.
Make rounds with physicians as necessary.
Encourage attending physicians to record and sign progress notes, physicians’ orders, etc., on a timely basis.
Monitor medication passes and treatments to ensure that appropriate handwashing/hand hygiene techniques are being followed.
Review nurses’ notes of those residents in/on isolation precautions to ensure that they are informative and descriptive of the nursing care being provided.
Assist nursing service personnel in performing nursing care procedures as necessary.
Obtain culture samples in accordance with established procedures.
Provide direct nursing care as necessary.
Develop, implement, and maintain an effective orientation program for the infection control and employee health program.
Assist support services in developing, implementing, and conducting in service training programs relative to infection control.
Assist the In service Director/Educator in developing annual OSHA and CDC in service training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and bloodborne pathogens standard.
Develop a training program for all personnel required to perform tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids.
Recommend to the Director of Nursing Services the equipment and supply needs for maintaining an effective infection control program.
Ensure that a stock level of medical supplies, equipment, etc., is maintained on premises at all times.
Assist the maintenance director in developing a preventive maintenance program for maintaining the nursing department’s equipment and supplies.
Develop and implement procedures that ensure nursing service supplies are used in an efficient manner to avoid waste.
Ensure that established policies governing the labeling or tagging of contaminated equipment are followed when such equipment must be sent for repair or decontamination.
Assist in the development, implementation, and maintenance of a written plan of care for each resident in isolation or on infection control precautions.
Encourage the resident to participate in the development and review of his/her plan of care and explain the need to follow infection control practices and standard/universal precautions.
Assist in the scheduling of care plans to be presented and discussed at each committee meeting in relation to prevention and control of infectious diseases.
Ensure that all personnel involved in providing care to the resident are aware of the care plan.
Ensure that the care plan is reviewed prior to administering daily care to the isolated resident or prior to performing nursing care procedures involving exposure to blood/body fluids.
Review nurses’ notes to determine if the care plan is being followed.
Review and revise care plans as necessary, but at least quarterly.
Develop and maintain a good rapport with all services involved with the care plan to ensure that a team effort is achieved.
Assist the Director of Nursing Services in preparing the budget for the department in relation to its infection control program and activities.
Keep abreast of economic conditions/situations and recommend adjustments to ensure the continued ability to prevent and control infectious diseases.
Recommend to the Director of Nursing Services the equipment and supply needs for the Infection Control Program and its activities.
Report suspected or known incidence of fraud relative to false billings, cost reports, kickbacks, etc.
Identify, evaluate, and classify routine and job related functions to ensure that tasks in which there is potential exposure to blood/body fluids are properly identified and recorded.
Assist department directors in developing policies and procedures to prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases.
Ensure that all personnel performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/body fluids participate in appropriate in service training programs prior to performing such tasks.
Ensure that adequate supplies of personal protective equipment are on hand and are readily available to personnel who perform procedures that involve exposure to blood or body fluids.
Assist in developing policies and procedures in the handling and disposal of needles and other sharp instruments.
Assist the maintenance engineer in developing and implementing waste disposal policies and procedures for infectious waste, supplies, etc.
Assess and/or evaluate new or improved resident care products or procedures.
Provide counseling for employee testing mandate required for HBV and TB exposure and maintain in confidential manner.
Maintain resident/employee exposure reports in a confidential manner.