Nurse Educator - Infection Prev

Acadia Healthcare•Mesa, AZ

3d•Onsite

About The Position

RN Nurse Educator/Infection Preventionist at Agave Ridge Behavioral Health. Located in East Mesa! Agave Ridge Behavioral Hospital is a 100 bed acute care psychiatric facility that offers a full continuum of inpatient behavioral healthcare services for adult patients including comprehensive treatment for those who struggle with acute symptoms of behavioral health disorders such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Responsible for planning and delivering continuing education programs for nursing staff, enhancing clinical skills and professional development. Lead and manage the facility's infection prevention and control efforts, promptly addressing and containing infectious outbreaks. Maintain a positive, empathetic, and professional approach while prioritizing patient safety and quality care. PURPOSE STATEMENT: Plan, develop and coordinate continuing nursing in-service education programs within the facility for all clinical and non-clinical nursing staff in a positive, empathetic, and professional manner at all times. This position is responsible for enhancing professional practice and the provision of quality patient care by providing evidence-based, quality educational programs and activities that promote professional competency for nursing, inter-professional, and non-licensed clinical staff at an assigned facility. Coordinate and lead the facility's infection prevention and control program. Responsible for determining, preventing and containing infectious outbreaks within the facility. Performs duties with a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude. Recognizes that patient safety is a top priority.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Nursing or commensurate experience required
Minimum of three years as a Registered Nurse (RN) required
Two years of behavioral health nursing experience required
Current state license is required for this position.
CPR and de-escalation/restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).
First aid may be required based on state or facility.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in nursing, Healthcare Administration, Education or other clinical field or equivalent combination of education and/or experience preferred.
5+ years of experience as a registered nurse strongly preferred.
Inpatient psychiatry experience as an RN strongly preferred
One or more years' experience in infection control preferred.
1+ years experience in Clinical Education/Training and Development (Preferred)
Certification as an NPD Practitioner and/or clinical certification as recognized by American Nurse Credentialing Center. (Preferred)
Certification by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology preferred

Responsibilities

Conduct ongoing surveillance of infections.
Gather and interpret data and keep accurate records of all infections.
Compile and present Infection Reports to the Safety/Infection Control Committee and the Performance Improvement Council at assigned intervals.
Inspect environment and observe personnel activities for the purpose of detecting infection hazards.
Monitor and evaluate compliance with standards set by facility policy and industry.
Monitor and update all facility department supervisors on all area-specific policies and procedures important to infection prevention principles.
Investigate all 'exposure incidents,' oversee post-exposure evaluation and follow-up process in order to recommend appropriate actions to be taken.
Notify designated medical, administrative staff and appropriate health department authorities all reportable communicable disease.
Develop and provide in-service and orientation programs concerning prevention and control of infection, standard precautions, isolation techniques and education on current infectious disease.
Responsibilities may also include gathering, analyzing and presenting data, facts and trends on infection prevention to facility or corporate leadership.
Train staff on infection prevention and control protocols.
Assess and re-enforce infection prevention practices.
Provides expertise in identifying professional development needs of individual staff
Assists staff to identify areas for individual growth in current role
Identifies and provides opportunities for skill enhancement and mastery
Utilizes novice to expert continuum when developing staff
Promotes certification in areas of nursing specialty
Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.