Infection Preventionist

Responsibilities include collecting, analyzing, and providing infection data and trends to nursing staff and health care practitioners; consulting on infection risk assessment, prevention, and control strategies; providing education and training; and implementing evidence-based infection control practices.
Coordinates the care and services provided to residents living at Rock Haven. Practices within State and Federal guidelines to ensure the appropriate delivery of care is being provided. Assists the Director of Nurses to plan, organize, develop and direct the overall operation of the nursing department in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern the facility.

Provides weekend coverage for the entire facility as needed (this position is in a weekend rotation with nurse management).

60% - Infection Preventionist (IP)

• The Infection Preventionist will oversee the Infection Prevention and Control Program.
• Will ensure that surveillance/monitoring/line listing/care planning of disease is occurring throughout the building.
• Will identify the staffs' roles and responsibilities for the routine implementation of the program as well in the case of an outbreak of communicable disease, an episode of infection, or the threat of a bio-hazard attack.
• Will ensure that initial and ongoing infection control education is completed for all staff.
• Will collaborate with the public health nurse for all reporting situations.
• Will participate in the review and development of policy, such as written standards, policies and procedures.
• The IP will participate in conducting the annual review of the Infection Prevention and Control Program and update the program to meet current federal regulations.
• Monitors and investigates known or suspected sources of infections in order to determine the source and ensure control.
• Reports infection surveillance, prevention and control information to local, state, and federal public health authorities in accordance with law and regulation.
• Audit routinely that all residents and staff are update to date on required immunizations.
• Organize and participates in employee and resident vaccination clinics.

10% - Administrative Functions

• Communicates shifts concerns by unit to appropriate staff (e-mails, voice mail etc).
• Serves as administrative authority for the smooth function of assigned unit.
• Notifies Administrator, DON or ADON of urgent concerns during the shift. (When the concern is non-urgent, notifies manager by phone message or e-mail.
• Performs rounds at least twice each shift to monitor the conditions and care of acutely ill residents/clients on scheduled weekends.
• Receives reports throughout the shift on scheduled weekends.
• Assists RNs to assess residents who are experiencing acute changes on scheduled weekends.
• Provides clinical expertise in the management of medical and psychiatric emergencies on scheduled weekends.
• Responds to Code Blue, Medical Assist and Code Green situations. Assists staff as needed.
• Provides clinical expertise in medical management, crisis and behavior management techniques.
• Supervises staff and assures survey compliance on a daily basis. Provides guidance and support to staff to better plan work flow on scheduled weekends.
• Initiates investigations for all alleged incidents of abuse, neglect or misappropriation of resident belongs. Maintains administrative records.
• Audits charts routinely. Provides clinical expertise in documentation including MDS, Medicare PPS, acute illness charting, weekly summaries and care planning.
• Oversees and tracks compliance with resident and employee vaccinations.

10% - Quality Assurance and Regulatory compliance

• Meets routinely with the nurse manager group and the interdisciplinary teams.
• Represents nursing on the Rock Haven Quality Assurance Committee.
• Assists with the development and implementation of Nursing Policies and Procedures.
• Directs nursing department in survey compliance, quality assurance and staff development activities.
• Reviews injury and risk forms. Assures that preventive measures have been initiated.
• Reviews investigations for all alleged incidents of abuse, neglect or misappropriation…