RN Infection Preventionist - Quality Management - Full Time

Staff Position Description

Position Title: Infection Preventionist Position Code: QMInfPre-8030

Department: Quality Management Safety Sensitive: Yes

Reports to: Director of Quality Management Exempt Status: Yes

Position Purpose:

All KHI employees are expected to perform their respective tasks and duties in such a way that supports KHI's vision of providing the region's best clinical care and patient service through an environment that fosters respect for others and pride in performance.

Key Responsibilities

Surveillance:

• Apply epidemiologic principles and statistical methods, including risk stratification, to identify target population, analyze trends and risk factors, and design and evaluate prevention and control strategies.
• Conduct on-going surveillance using National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) infection criteria, definitions, documentation, and investigation of hospital and community associated infections through review of admission diagnoses, microbiology culture results, isolation needs, patient records, consultation requests, post-discharge surveillance, and autopsy findings.
• Assess environmental control through surveillance of water supply systems as needed, air pressure relationships for high risk environmental monitoring.
• Conduct environmental healthcare safety rounds in all inpatient and outpatient care areas.
• Participate in investigations of unusual hospital infection outbreaks utilizing microbiology laboratory, consultation with Infectious Disease Division, county/state public health departments, and when necessary in consultation with the Center for Disease Control. Report epidemiologically significant findings to appropriate shareholders and customers.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the surveillance plan and modify as necessary.
• Report all in-house patients with communicable disease to the county and/or State health department and maintain appropriate records. Compile, interpret and present surveillance reports to Infection Prevention committee, specialty areas, nursing care units, and Quality Council on a regular basis.
• Share infections identified as present on admission and present post discharge to appropriate discharge and admitting facility and keep log.

Data:

• Collect data in support of epidemiological studies of specific problems or problem areas to determine the source of the problem and make appropriate recommendations.
• Timely and accurate reporting to NHSN and all regulatory agencies
• Accurate reporting of metrics to Medical Staff committees and Administration
• Utilize and maintain appropriate electronic databases

Performance Improvement:

• Participate in quality/performance improvement activities by assessing, monitoring, and measuring hospital and community associated infections and evaluating outcomes on a continuous basis.
• Select indicators based on the projected use of the data, and facility history of infections.
• Assist in the organization of regularly scheduled Hospital Infection Control meetings and dissemination of recommendations hospital-wide.
• Plan, organize, develop and implement educational programs for all KHI employees including administrative and ancillary services which convey specialized knowledge and skills to increase employee awareness of existence of nosocomial infections; techniques for avoidance and preventive measures to provide a safe environment for hospital employees and patients.

Exposure:

• Develop appropriate informational materials at appropriate level of understanding and need.
• Serve as a knowledgeable and available resource on infection prevention practices and policies to patients, families, staff, employees and community.
• Participate in continuing educational activities at the department, State, and national levels to promote personal growth and maintain a current knowledge base commensurate with latest research and scholarly knowledge.

Regulatory:

• Maintain compliance with national standards and regulating bodies such as CDC, OSHA, FDA and HCFA.
• Develop and update isolation techniques and procedures in accordance with current standards of practice, rules and regulations.
• Participate in maintaining policies and procedures which provide for a program of preventive medicine for KHI personnel to include establishment of policies and procedures relating to exposure to infectious diseases and prevention of cross-contamination.
• Recommend and evaluate procedures or policy statements relating to infection control within KHI.
• Maintain a knowledge base of current infection prevention and control information through peer networking, internet access, published literature and professional meetings.

Qualifications

Education: BSN - Bachelor of Science Nursing

Licensure: AZ RN

Certifications: BLS through The American Heart Association

Certified in Infection Control (CIC)

Experience: Three (3) years of nursing experience

Skills and Knowledge: Knowledge of infection control strategies; knowledge of CDC, NIOSH, Arizona Department of Health, FDA, and OSHA requirement/standards is a must; knowledge of performance improvement, the use of statistical tools for analysis of aggregate data and word processing spreadsheet applications required; good organizational and written and verbal communication skills are essential.

Preferences

Two (2) years of experience in infection prevention preferred with APCI coursework - EPI 101, 102, Project Management Workshop.

Special Position Requirements

Exposure Category I

Work Requirements

Must be able to safely lift up to 30 pounds.