Nurse Educator - Infection Preventionist

Acadia Healthcare Inc.•Austin, TX

60d•Onsite

About The Position

Cross Creek Hospital in Austin, TX is looking to add a Nurse Educator/Infection Preventionist to our nursing leadership team! Cross Creek Hospital is a respected provider of mental health services for adolescents, adults, and seniors of all genders. Our hospital, which is located in the Walnut Creek area of north Austin, serves individuals who are struggling with depression, bipolar disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health concerns. We also treat individuals who have a primary mental health diagnosis and a co-occurring substance use disorder. Our inpatient options include age-appropriate programs for adults, and seniors. At the outpatient level, we offer separate programs for adolescents and adults. 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

Master's degree in nursing, Healthcare Administration, Education or other clinical field or equivalent combination of education and/or experience preferred.
Bachelor's degree in nursing or commensurate experience required
5+ years of experience as a registered nurse strongly preferred.
Three years of registered nurse experience required.
Inpatient psychiatry experience as an RN strongly preferred
Two years of behavioral health experience as an RN required.
One or more years' experience in infection control preferred.
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.
For Joint Commission facilities: The infection preventionist is appointed by the governing body to be responsible for the infection prevention and control program. The appointment is based on recommendations of medical staff leadership and nursing leadership.

Nice To Haves

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

Facilitates orientation/onboarding program to promote employee retention.
Conducts orientation in a manner that fosters a positive learning environment.
Role models organizational and personal commitment to new employee success.
Participates in designing and identifying educational activities to address practice gaps for identified target audiences, which may include licensed and non-licensed healthcare personnel.
Identifies learning needs of staff and/or facility
Role models competent practice through demonstration or simulation activities
Assess practice gaps/Crosswalk competencies to practice
Collaborates with Corporate Nursing Director /Educator to review outcomes data to evaluate and refine competency management activities
Assist with development and/or instruction of didactic content and clinical skills for designated competencies
Develops education plan according to gap assessment or quality data/safety outcomes
Aligns educational programs with facility and/or organization policies and procedures
Implement and deliver educational curricula as required by regulatory agencies such as Joint Commission, CARF, CMS and State agencies.
Creates engaging, evidence-based educational content to meet the specific needs of the intended audience
Demonstrates exceptional instructional skills while maintaining learner engagement
Act a general resource for nursing staff.
Collaborate with medical practitioners and CNO/DON to incorporate nursing processes into the plan of care for patients.
Provide educational leadership to patients and care providers to enhance specialized patient care within established clinical protocol.
Promotes safe, quality, and compassionate patient care
Assist patient and caregivers with education needs, problem solution and health management across the continuum of care.
Educate direct patient care staff in the use of equipment, supplies, and coordinates in-service training for appropriate staff.
Supports new ideas and innovation in educational design
Provides staff with resources and "just-in-time" education to implement immediate changes
Communicate therapeutically and professionally with patients, visitors, coworkers and others in an effective manner
May provide direct care as needed.
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.