Veterans Infection Preventionist and Wound Care Nurse

Veterans Home Infection Preventionist and Wound Care Nurse – LPN/RN

Location:

Hot Springs, SD. Full‑time, 40‑hour weekly. Salary: $27.00 to $39.00 per hour.

• Responsible for the facility’s activities/monitoring/investigation aimed at preventing healthcare‑associated infections (HAIs) by ensuring that sources of infection are isolated.
• Develop and maintain programs to provide a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment.
• Help prevent the development and transmission of communicable diseases and infections.
• Collaborate with facility leadership and the medical director to develop, implement, and evaluate the annual infection prevention goals and action plan.
• Partner with facility leaders, physicians, local, state, and national agencies on infection prevention activities.
• Maintain employee health regarding blood borne pathogen exposure, TB testing, and influenza vaccination.
• Establish a facility‑wide system for the prevention, identification, investigation, and control of infections of residents, staff, and visitors, including surveillance designed to identify possible communicable diseases or infections before they spread.
• Conduct outbreak investigations.
• Maintain a system for reporting possible incidents of communicable diseases to local, state, or national agencies.
• Create and oversee the antibiotic stewardship program and monitor residents’ antibiotic use.
• Assess, develop, and present IPCP in‑service education for individual departments, general orientation, and annual review as needed.
• Monitor resident immunization programs.
• Assess, develop, and implement written policies and procedures for infection control, including those for standard precautions and for transmission‑based precautions.
• Enforce policies prohibiting staff with communicable diseases from direct contact with residents and their food, as well as enforcing hygiene policies consistent with accepted standards of practice.
• Serve as a member of QAPI.
• Be accountable for surveillance of healthcare and community‑acquired infections for residents, staff, volunteers, and visitors.
• Maintain current knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations and appropriate issues.
• Understand and comply with infection control procedures and regulations.

• Perform all skin checks and document findings.
• Educate staff on wound care protocols.
• Create and update wound care plans.
• Perform procedures: debridement, cleaning/dressing wounds, packing, wound vac, diabetic foot care, ostomy and suprapubic cares.
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team for skin interventions.
• In coordination with the provider, write nursing orders promoting wound healing.

Must be licensed as an LPN or RN, RN preferred, and able to work in South Dakota.

• Registered Nurse license and Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree.
• Strong clinical assessment and communication skills.
• Experience in infection control and wound care preferred.
• Infection Prevention and Wound Care certification preferred.

• Professional nursing theory and practices.
• Professional nursing applicable to the area of assignment.
• Clinical procedures.

• Maintain records.
• Follow verbal and written instructions.
• Operate medical equipment.
• Make reports on observations.
• Apply nursing techniques and practices.
• Work effectively with residents and staff.
• Communicate information clearly and concisely.

• Onsite low‑cost housing may be available; cost depends on square footage.
• Reduced tuition for continuing education.
• $0 premium employee health insurance option.
• Eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick‑leave accrual, dental and vision coverage, and retirement benefits (Class A under SDRS).

This position is eligible for Veterans’ Preference (ARSD 55:10:02:08). The State of South Dakota offers equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants.

Successful applicant(s) will be required to undergo a background investigation, abuse and neglect screening, and a drug screening. Mandatory completion of mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory…