Infection Preventionist - Holy Name Medical Center

Description

Holy Name is New Jersey's last remaining independent, Catholic health system, comprising a comprehensive 361-bed acute care medical center, a cancer center, medical fitness center, residential hospice, nursing school, and physician network. The system has a national reputation for providing culturally sensitive care to a diverse population, drawing patients from across the New York City region to its specialty centers and renowned doctors. Holy Name's mission to provide technologically advanced, compassionate and personalized care extends across a continuum that encompasses education, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and wellness maintenance. The system is known as a high-quality, low-cost provider of extraordinary clinical care given by compassionate, highly trained physicians and staff.


A Brief Overview

The Infection Preventionist is responsible for the coordination of hospital wide initiatives for infection prevention activities to prevent and decrease healthcare associated infections and improve patient safety across the continuum of care. Facilitates activities according to established policies and procedures for infection prevention and control. Assists in the development of an integrated and comprehensive plan for infection surveillance, prevention, control and process improvement throughout the organization. Provides reliable process and outcome data for the purposes of continued quality improvement and provides education to healthcare providers.


What you will do

• Performs activities related to infection surveillance, prevention, and control.
• Identifies interventions to prevent health care associated infections.
• Reports communicable diseases as required by the NJ State department of health to the local and state health departments through phone or Communicable Disease Reporting Surveillance System (CDRSS).
• Reviews admissions and lab reports that are generated from Holy Name Medical Center and Quality Compass daily. Determines if infection(s) are related to hospitalization or procedure. Enters data into the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) system as required by law.
• Provides education, counseling and functions as a consultant on communicable diseases to physicians, patients and visitors.
• Collaborates with Employee/Occupational Health as needed.
• Participates and helps develop projects that support the hospital performance improvement processes.
• Prepares agenda and reports to be presented at the Infection Prevention Committee and participates in other committees as assigned.
• Participates in the medical center's continuous survey readiness program to maintain compliance with regulatory and accrediting standards.
• Attends and participates in APIC meetings and educational seminars
• Participates in the Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) and in emergency preparedness activities.
• Participates with hospital and community education by planning, developing and presenting programs as requested for patients, family and employees.
• Participates in unit based and quality based performance improvement projects.
• Monitors, evaluates and improves the processes that affect the quality of patient care.

Education Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing, Microbiology, Public Health, Medical Technology, Health Care Administration or related field Required and
• Compliance with continuing education requirements as mandated by the State Licensing Board. Required

Experience Qualifications

• 4-6 years 3-5 years nursing experience in Medical/Surgical and/or Critical Care or similar experience in an Infection Control capacity. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong leadership skills, ability to apply theories, principles, and practices for problem solving.
• Ability to work with interdisciplinary teams and manage a changing work environment.
• Excellent communication skills, knowledge of computers, spreadsheets and database applications.

Licenses and Certifications

• RN - Registered Nurse - State Licensure and/or Compact State Licensure must hold licensure in the state of New Jersey.   
• CIC - Certified in Infection Control preferred from the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology. 
• If not certified, IP shall be certified within five years beginning practice of infection control and shall maintain certification through the Certification Board of Infection Control (CBIC) as per NJ DOH licensing standards. 
• APIC within 3 years of hire

Holy Name is a mission-driven facility whose quality standards and philosophy are rooted in the principles of its founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. Those principles are exercised daily by the Medical Center's dedicated and talented team of physicians, nurses, allied health employees, and a wide variety of non-clinical administrative and operational staff members. Holy Name is an Equal Opportunity Employer.