RN - INFECTION CONTROL at University of New Mexico - Hospitals

Additional $6.00/HR Safety Incentive Increase

Cell phone and/or smart devices are not allowed on persons for this position at MDC, unless there is a documented medical condition.

Department: MDC - Medical
FTE: 1.00
Full Time
Shift: Days

Position Summary:
The MDC Infection Control Nurse plans, develops, organizes, directs, implements and evaluates infection prevention throughout the Metropolitan Detention Center. This position serves to instruct staff in proper infection control procedure, identify infection trends, and investigates infection control problems. In addition, the incumbent generates reports containing data used to analyze trends. Ensure adherence to Hospitals and departmental policies and procedures. Patient care assignment may include neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric age groups.

Detailed responsibilities:
* EVALUATION - Evaluates risk of patients and employees after exposure to an infectious disease. Evaluates and recommends appropriate prophylaxis, reviews entire exposure process in accordance with organizational policies and assures appropriate documentation
* DEVELOPMENT - Develops innovative teaching methods and plans for teaching universal precautions. Maintains documentation on infectious disease trainings
* INFECTION CONTROL - Coordinates the infection control program including developing educational classes to meet the infection control needs of a given population
* PROGRAMS - Acts on recognized trends of disease to establish control programs
* PARTICIPATION - Participates in committee discussion and offers interventions as necessary
* COMMUNICATION - Communicates with all staff about infection control problems, provides literature to support advice and action problems to establish protocols
* PROTOCOLS - Uses medical literature to establish protocols for appropriate culturing of environment and patient care
* TRACKING - Track and ensure appropriate isolation/negative pressure room maintenance
* SURVEILLANCE - Activates surveillance during peak times of infectious diseases or during an outbreak. Tracks rates and types of infection through surveillance systems and report findings to the MDC Medical Director and Director of Nursing in conjunction with NM Department of Health
* EXPOSURE - Reviews entire exposure process and assure appropriate documentation
* ASSESSMENT - Completes and maintains the annual risk assessment
* TESTING - Provides fit testing for employees
* TESTING - Performs TB testing and annual vaccination, as assigned
* ROUNDING - Participates in environmental rounds, completing and maintaining environmental lists and recognizes risks and hazards that may be described in the literature but not listed on a checklist or in a policy
* ANALYSIS - Analyzes nosocomial infection surveillance data, performs statistical analysis, and analyze information during discussions
* COMMITTEES - Participates in CQI/Infection Control committees and establish action plans, as needed
* COMPLIANCE - Ensures compliance with all infection control activities required by the Department of Health and organization
* RELATED DUTIES - Upon receiving the necessary training and/or instruction, performs other related duties as required or assigned
* PATIENT SAFETY 1 - Follow patient safety-related policies, procedures and protocols
* PATIENT SAFETY 2 - Demonstrate proactive approach to patient safety by seeking opportunities to improve patient safety through questioning of current policies and processes
* PATIENT SAFETY 3 - Identify and report/correct environmental conditions and/or situations that may put a patient at undue risk
* PATIENT SAFETY 4 - Report potential or actual patient safety concerns, medical errors and/or near misses in a timely manner
* PATIENT SAFETY 5 - Encourage patients to actively participate in their own care by asking questions and reporting treatment or situations that they don't understand or may "not seem right"

Qualifications

Education:
Essential:
* Program Graduate
Education specialization:
Essential:
* Nationally Accredited Nursing Graduate

Experience:
Essential:
1 year directly related experience

Nonessential:

Credentials:
Essential:
* RN in NM or as allowed by reciprocal agreement by NM
* CPR for Healthcare/BLS Prov or Prof Rescuers w/in 30 days

Physical Conditions:
Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly (Constantly: activity or condition exists 2/3 or more of the time) to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. May require walking or standing to a significant degree or requires sitting most of the time but entails pushing and/or pulling of arm or leg controls; and/or may require working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing and/or pulling of materials even though the weight of materials is negligible.

Working conditions:
Essential:
* Sig Hazard: Chemicals, Bio Hazardous Materials req PPE
* Sig Haz: Physical risk/injuries due to combative patients
* Sub to work in close proximity to incarcerated individuals
* May be subject to initial & ongoing security clearance req

Department: Registered Nurse