Infection Control and Health Nurse

Infection Control and Employee Health Nurse

Infection Control and Employee Health Nurse – North Star Behavioral Health

• Infection Control:
  Implement employee events for all staff on topics including vaccinations, hand washing, and other employee and patient health topics. Ensure events are planned, communicated, and implemented to maximize participation system-wide.
• Identify risks and hazards within the agency as part of the EOC committee.
• Partner with Facilities Manager to ensure ICRA form is completed for facility projects.
• Establish a system for the prevention, identification, investigation, and control of infectious diseases.
• Maintain, review, and update policies and procedures within the agency related to infection control and employee health.
• Effectively monitor the effects of intervention strategies on infection rates and modify the interventions as necessary.
• Maintain complete and accurate vaccination records for patients.
• Present monthly reports to Environment of Care Committee.
• Present quarterly reports to Quality Council.
• Present annual reports to Medical Executive Committee.
• Ensure compliance with State, Federal, and Joint Commission requirements.
• Enter and maintain data in VacTrAK in compliance with State guidelines.
• Maintain all vaccines within State guidelines and complete all documentation with the Medical Director.
• Be educated on changes, trends, and developments in infection control management of both child and adult psychiatric patients and act as a subject matter expert and resource for other nursing staff.

• Conduct employee health functions, including pre-employment health screening, maintenance of employee health files, and ensuring annual employee health requirements.
• Develop and deliver educational efforts that improve employees’ understanding of their health and safety on the job.
• Maintain complete and accurate employee health records, including initial and annual requirements.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Education/
  
  Experience:
  
  Minimum of an Associate’s Degree in Nursing and a valid State of Alaska RN License. 2 years of nursing experience required.
• Knowledge/
  
  Skills:
  
  Able to frequently travel to assigned areas; ability to perform assignments with minimal supervision; ability to work under highly stressful conditions; ability to make sound, independent judgments based on scientific and/or ethical principles; ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary team members; adaptability to varying workloads; effective reading, writing, and verbal communication skills; excellent assessment skills; working knowledge of computers.
• Minimum Requirements Of The Position: Must be willing and able to execute patient de-escalation methods, complete new hire requirements such as State of Alaska Background Check and Drug Testing; demonstrate training and skills for age groups and program-specific competency within the first three months; CPR and Handle with Care Training within the first month and annually thereafter; complete mandatory in-services; TB testing requirements (PPD or chest x-ray) on hire and periodically thereafter.

Psychiatric hospital setting with potential risk from aggressive patients; shifts may include day, evening, night, weekend, and/or holiday; exposure to blood borne pathogens and loud noise levels.

• Frequent standing or sitting for long periods; speaking, hearing, and seeing with appropriate correction; ability to climb stairs; bend and reach; lift up to 50 pounds occasionally and up to 20 pounds frequently.
• Ability to move objects and work in varied environmental conditions; ability to respond calmly to potentially volatile clients; emotional stability and physical stamina to handle stress and emergencies.

Note:

This description reflects the responsibilities and qualifications for the Infection Control and Employee Health Nurse role and is subject to change.