Registered Nurse (Infection Preventionist)

Veterans Health Administration • Salt Lake City, UT

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Infection Preventionist (IP) Registered Nurse (RN) provides expert, evidence-based infection control practices to improve patient and organizational outcomes. The role establishes surveillance indicators and monitors infection risks among patients, employees, visitors, and students. It uses epidemiological principles and statistical methods to identify target populations, analyze trends and risk factors, and design and evaluate prevention and control strategies.

The Infection Preventionist develops surveillance plans based on the populations served, services provided, and available historical data; uses standardized definitions; analyzes data against internal and external benchmarks; reports significant findings; and evaluates the surveillance plan annually. The role also reviews current scientific literature and applies evidence-based findings to recommend updated practices and procedures.

This position is with the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., though the tour may be adjusted based on needs. Situational (ad hoc) telework is authorized; the position is not remote or virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives, as well as permanent change of station, are not authorized.

Requirements

• Graduate from an approved school of professional nursing accredited by ACEN or CCNE, or meet the stated qualifying alternative education provisions for bridge-program or foreign-school graduates.
• Hold current, full, active, and unrestricted professional nurse registration in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; the posting describes a limited Graduate Nurse Technician exception for eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Demonstrate proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Meet the education and experience criteria for the applicable Nurse grade and level. Criteria vary by grade and include ADN, diploma, BSN, MSN, or doctoral education and, for some levels, specified professional or specialized nursing experience.
• Meet the position's physical requirements, including the ability to perform the activities of the position without restriction.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Meet U.S. citizenship or applicable VA appointment eligibility requirements.
• Submit to urinalysis if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position; refusal results in denial of VA employment.
• Register for Selective Service if subject to the requirement.
• Undergo a background/security investigation and complete the online onboarding process and application requirements.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Complete a probationary period if required.

Nice To Haves

• Master's-prepared Registered Nurse.
• Certification in Infection Control (CIC) and expertise in infection prevention, control, and healthcare epidemiology.
• Experience with data analytics.
• Experience leading collaborative projects and interdisciplinary teams or networks.
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to maintain effective working relationships across a healthcare system.
• Ability in program development, oversight, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ability to communicate policies, goals, and complex data clearly and concisely in written and verbal formats.
• Ability to collaborate effectively and use group processes to identify, analyze, and resolve problems.

Responsibilities

• Surveil for hospital-acquired infections using National Healthcare Safety Network definitions.
• Implement the multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) Prevention Initiative.
• Identify and investigate potential infection outbreaks.
• Develop infection prevention and control measures using an interdisciplinary approach.
• Provide infection-control in-service education to care teams.
• Conduct environmental studies as needed to investigate epidemics, support education, and monitor sterilization activities.
• Review and revise Infection Prevention and Control policies with individual care teams.
• Consult with the Occupational Health Program and care teams.
• Liaise with Sterile Processing Service to support compliance with reusable medical equipment requirements.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Facilities Management on Legionella and construction-related dust abatement.
• Liaise with local health departments to report communicable diseases and consult on community health issues.
• Review requirements from the Joint Commission, Occupational Safety and Health, the Office of Inspector General, and other external surveying bodies, and advise the health care system on meeting them.
• Review the Infection Prevention and Control Programs for the hospital, home care, and behavioral health annually.
• Recommend new or revised practices based on accepted, evidence-based infection prevention and control strategies.
• Review, analyze, and apply relevant scientific literature and publications.
• Identify populations at high risk for infection and assess patient requirements relative to age-specific needs using human growth and development principles.
• Apply epidemiological principles and statistical methods, including risk stratification, to identify target populations, analyze trends and risk factors, and design and evaluate prevention and control strategies.
• Use statistical techniques to describe data, calculate rates, and evaluate the significance of findings.
• Develop the organization's surveillance plan based on populations served, services provided, and prior surveillance data when available.
• Use standardized definitions to identify and classify events, indicators, or outcomes.
• Analyze data using internal and, when appropriate, external benchmarks.
• Report epidemiologically significant findings to appropriate parties in a timely manner.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the surveillance plan annually.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year, consisting of 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with VA contributions up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree