Infection Prevention Coordinator (Nurse) - TekWissen LLC

• Creates a positive, collegial environment among department members and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with leadership for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the NBH Infection Prevention Program.
• Develops prospective and retrospective surveillance strategies for hospital acquired and community acquired infections and performs such surveillance.
• Develops forms and record keeping systems for surveillance activities and prepares appropriate statistical reports from collected data to identify and analyze trends of infections.
• Utilizes computer based programs for tracking or reporting and disseminates information as appropriate. Responsible for the submission of surveillance reports, directed studies and other pertinent infection prevention data to the appropriate committees and personnel.
• Investigates potential infection hazards and deviations of hospital infection rates above the baseline; recommends and coordinates the implementation of appropriate changes; and evaluates the effectiveness of prevention and control measures.
• Serves as the resource for infection prevention matters in partnership and collaboration with the hospital Epidemiologist/Medical Director for this client.
• Provides collaborative and consultative support with Travis Air Force Base, civilian support agencies, and community, state, and national professional organizations regarding current infection prevention practice.
• Provides consultation to all hospital departments and activities for the safe delivery of health care services. Provides expertise in planning patient care regarding infections and communicable diseases.
• Monitors regulatory and accreditation agency standards as well as national professional organizations (WHO, APIC, IHI) and proposes necessary program changes to the Pharmacy &Therapeutics/Infection Control Committee.
• Develops, maintains, and coordinates implementation of NBH infection prevention policies and regulations, including OSHA, TB, and blood borne pathogen standards.
• Participates in the establishment of performance improvement criteria. Develops and manages monitoring tools to evaluate the effectiveness of infection prevention activities and conducts continuous monitoring of same.
• Utilizing scientifically proven epidemiological principles and practices, the IPC observes, investigates and implements prevention measures throughout NBH when an outbreak or cluster of infections is noted among staff or patients and in consultation with the hospital Epidemiologist/Medical Director for this client.
• Influences the integration of infection prevention principles for inpatient care practices thorough such mechanisms as, recommending culture and sensitivity testing, and initiating appropriate isolation precaution when deemed necessary.
• Participates in daily inpatients rounds for surveillance activities; coordinates infection prevention education of patients diagnosed with a communicable disease as necessary in conjunction with the hospital epidemiologist.
• Collaborates with and provides support to Occupational/Employee Health. Such support includes communicable disease referrals and follow-up for NBH staff, policy revision, staff immunizations, aiding with health fairs and performing other projects as needed.
• Keeps current in the field of infection prevention including pursuing continuing education credits and involvement with the Association for Professionals in Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC). Interprets and disseminates information garnered from these activities as necessary.
• Develops and presents education activities including but not limited to community outreach. Provides support to Human Resources, Medical Staff Office, and Guild by ensuring that NBH personnel are provided with an orientation and annual infection prevention training. Target audiences include physicians, residents, nursing staff, paraprofessionals, physical and occupational therapists, social workers, volunteers, students, and all other clinical and administrative support personnel throughout NBH.
• Interacts with the California Department and Solano County Public Health Departments as necessary.
• Infection Prevention monitoring will include but not be limited to Center for Wound Care, Centers for Primary Care, Pain Center, ABC Clinic, Occupational Health, Health at Work, acute care nursing units, inpatient and outpatient procedural clinics/departments, emergency departments and all ancillary departments at client's hospitals.
• Collaborates with the hospital's Epidemiologist/Med Director of Infectious Disease, Manager and Director on the ongoing implementation and improvement of the hospital's infection prevention program.
• Demonstrates effective problem solving and conflict resolution skills through implementation of Relationship Based Care and principles of commitment to my co-worker.
• Responsible for data management that includes applications that includes but not limited to NHSN, Vigilanz, and our report event system.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor's degree in nursing. Master's degree preferred.
• Licensure/Certification: Current RN licensure in the State of CA. Infection Control Certification preferred and must be obtained within 18 months of hire. Ability to travel between facility and work sites with access to an operating vehicle with at least minimal coverage auto insurance. Current California driver's license.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years' acute care experience and prefer at least 6 months' experience in acute care infection prevention. Working knowledge of health care practices, data management, patient care equipment and products.
• Skills: Excellent oral, written, communication, leadership, problem solving and analytical skills. Ability to lead and manage multiple projects simultaneously. Ability to lead and coach teams and mentor individuals. Must be well organized, be able to set priorities, work independently and be an effective team member. Proficient with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook. Strong knowledge of infection prevention and epidemiology, TJC, Cal-OSHA, CMS standards. Course completion of APIC EPI 101 within 12 months of hire.
• Interpersonal Skills: The client is a set of value-based behaviors that are to be consistently demonstrated and role modeled by all employees that work at this client. This client's principles consist of Caring, Communication, Collaboration, and Competence.
• Standards of Performance: Demonstrate performance by adhering to established policies and procedures and exhibiting the defined characteristics associated with attendance and punctuality.
• Physical Effort: Attendance is an essential function of the job. The physical demands described in the Job Task Analysis are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Hours of Work: Normally eight-hour days but hours will vary according to work demands and project requirements; will require on-call support. Occasional attendance at evening meetings.