Registered Nurse- INFECTION CONTROL PREVENTIONIST- Part-time- Dayshift

Meadville Medical Center•Meadville, PA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

To perform surveillance activities related to infection prevention, control, and patient safety. To make daily rounds to monitor compliance to infection prevention and control policies/procedures. To provide continuing education programs related to identification and reduction of healthcare associated infection risks. To act as a consultant for infection risk assessment, prevention and control strategies. To provide input in product/procedure evaluation. To provide data to regulatory and licensing agencies related to infection prevention and control practice and patient safety. To apply epidemiologic principles to improve patient outcomes. To provide services in a cost effective manner. To enter infection and patient safety data into applicable computer databases.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree preferred in nursing, business, hospital administration, public health, epidemiology and/or biostatistics.
Knowledge of Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
Knowledge of National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)
BLS preferred.

Nice To Haves

CIC certified preferred

Responsibilities

Maintains upward communications with managers of Infection Prevention and Control, Patient Safety, and the Infectious Disease Physician.
Maintains ongoing communication with patients, staff, and environmental problems as related to the infection prevention and control and safety programs.
Maintains ongoing communication with all regulatory agencies by means of written or verbal reporting methods.
Maintains by observation that staff adhere to infection prevention and control measures.
Communicates and reviews HAI's with patients, families and staff when HAI's are identified.
Delivers disclosure letter to patient.
Conducts surveillance and reporting activities to identify important healthcare associated and community infections in our patient and employee population.
Conducts timely interventions of HAI's by utilizing monitoring programs such as PA-NEDSS.
Investigates and analyzes infection data.
Identifies and controls epidemic & endemic levels of disease through outbreak investigation.
Promotes accreditation compliance with regulatory agencies.
Maintains infection prevention and control with employee health by working with Occupational Medicine Department to comply with federal, state, OSHA and other regulatory agencies.
Promotes compliance with safety programs with regulatory environment requirements, waste management and food safety.
Provides education or consultation to patients, staff, community and other agencies on infection prevention and control issues.
Monitors and reports communicable diseases to the Department of Health and Center for Disease Control & Epidemiology through PA-NEDSS.
Reports antibiotic usage and resistant trends to the Pharmacy & Therapeutics and Infection Control Committee.
Communicates reports received from microbiology to staff and physicians.
Participates in quality processes including task forces and PIT teams related to infection prevention and control issues.
Actively participates in quality Pay- for- Performance initiatives as evidenced by improvement in quality indicators.
Performs computer data entry of infection and patient safety information as evidenced by reporting to NHSN, compliance to Act 52, PHC4, DOH, and PA Patient Safety Authority.
Actively participates in emergency preparedness related to infection prevention and control.
Demonstrates professionalism when interacting with patients, families, agencies, reviewers, and regulatory agencies.
Sets priorities and meets deadlines.
Demonstrates appropriate use of equipment and cost effective use of supplies.
Participates in in-services and educational opportunities appropriate to the position.
Attends classes in pursuit of Certification in Infection Prevention, Control and Epidemiology.
Membership in Professional Association (APIC).
Regular attendance at unit meetings and APIC chapter meetings.
Proficient skills with PC & Meditech AICE, NHSN, QC Pathfinder, PA-NEDSS, and electronic interface applications.
Demonstrates the ability to conduct surveillance by reviewing recored based on age specific criteria.
Uses appropriate communication skills for specific ages when evaluating and managing cases.