Infection Control Practitioner

IntroductionAre you an experienced Registered Nurse looking for the next step in your career? Apply today to be a crucial part of supporting Connecticut veteransThe State of Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) is seeking an Infection Control Practitioner to join our dedicated team. This role will coordinate infection control by monitoring infection rates, implementing prevention policies, educating staff, and ensuring health and safety practices meet current standards This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the well-being of those who have served our country. See below for detailsPOSITION HIGHLIGHTS: LOCATION: Sgt. John L. Levitow Healthcare Center ADDRESS: 287 West Street, Rocky Hill, CT SCHEDULE: Full-time (40 hours weekly), Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Please note: applicants must be able to work flexible hours to meet with employees working night shift. WHY THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT: Explore our comprehensive State Employee Benefits Overview to see what we offer Be part of the prestigious Forbes-ranked State of Connecticut, recognized as one of the Best Employers of 2023. Experience national acclaim for providing unparalleled job growth, competitive benefits, and flexible schedules. Enjoy endless opportunities for professional growth and development Embrace a healthywork/life balance tailored to all employees DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO: Engage in a rewarding career Provide support to a division that is passionate about improving the lives of those we serve Assist our clients so they can achieve success Make a difference in the public sector Work together in a collaborative team environment MORE ABOUT US:For over 140 years the State of Connecticut DVA has been caring for its veterans and their dependents. As a Department, we believe in "serving those who have served." This is accomplished through our: Office of Advocacy and Assistance, Residential Facility, Healthcare Center, and Cemetery and Burial Services. The DVA has supported Connecticut Veterans and continues this tradition with Residential and Healthcare programming on our campus in Rocky Hill. There are two paths for residency at the DVA: Residential Facility: offers temporary, supportive living with programming designed to return Connecticut Veterans to independent living in the community; Sgt. John L. Levitow Healthcare Center: a state-of-the-art medical facility that offers long-term care for veterans with chronic, disabling conditions who require 24-hour assistance. EXEMPLARY CARE, ENDURING RESPECTSelection Plan FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING: Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply FOR THOSE WHO HOLD A RN LICENSE IN A STATE OTHER THAN CONNECTICUT AND WISH TO APPLY FOR A CONNECTICUT LICENSE, PLEASE: Review the eligibility and documentation requirements for CT license by endorsement of an out-of-state license; Complete a CT DPH online application online (expand the 'Public Health Practitioners' grouping, select 'Registered Nurse' and then 'Start'; Request verification of your out-of-state license(s) electronically through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing's : Nursys® System. To send verification of your license(s) to CT, read and agree to the terms, enter your biographic information, select your license type and select 'SEARCH'. Review the results and select the 'Next' button. Check the box next to 'Connecticut' and complete the transaction. Once the transaction is completed, you will receive a confirmation email from Nursys and the verification will be available to the DPH. Note that PA and MI verifications are not provided through Nursys. Please contact those state boards for information on obtaining verification. To Apply: In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified. You must specify your qualifications on your application. You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate's obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov. This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting. Important Next Step Information for After You Apply: Although applicants will receive correspondence via email and/or phone, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process. This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam. Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class. Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics. For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other. Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview. Connect With Us: Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment please contact Alyssa Hovanec via email at Alyssa.Hovanec@ct.gov. PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)In a state facility this class is accountable for coordinating the Infection Control Program and for serving as a liaison between all departments and the Infection Control Committee. In the Department of Public Health this class is accountable for coordinating hospital-acquired infection control activities and serving as a liaison to health care facilities regarding infection control.EXAMPLES OF DUTIES Conducts surveillance of infections in patients/clients and employees; Prepares monthly reports, statistical summaries and analyses of infections for the Infection Control Committee; Writes policies and procedures for infection prevention and control; Develops and conducts in-service education programs for all facility personnel to improve knowledge and practices of infection control and epidemiology of infectious diseases; Maintains records of all patients/clients with infections; Consults with Epidemiologists in Department of Public Health when clusters of infection occur and/or unusual pathogens are isolated; Reports and provides information required by Department of Public Health or other official bodies; Consults in infection control aspects of employee health program including immunization and other similar activities; Develops and updates isolation techniques according to current standards of practice which provide optimum care for patients/clients with infections; Monitors patient/client care activities to identify methods, techniques, equipment, supplies, new products and/or specific policies or procedures which may constitute a risk of originating or transmitting infections; Reviews sterilization and disinfection methods practiced in all areas of facility and makes recommendations for changes; May attend educational conferences related to specialty; Performs related duties as required. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH Trains infection control practitioners in acute care hospitals to conduct surveillance of hospital-associated infections according to accepted standards; Conducts on-site inspection of surveillance methods and findings; Analyzes surveillance results to determine rates of hospital-associated infections; Coordinates and conducts meetings with hospital infection control practitioners to review collective surveillance results and to establish best practices for surveillance and prevention of hospital-associated infections; Develops and implements educational programs for health care staff and the general public; Assists in the investigation of reported outbreaks of infections in hospitals and long-term care facilities; Provides consultation to infection control practitioners as needed; Assists in conducting pilot surveillance efforts for hospital infections not currently under statewide surveillance; Performs related duties as required. KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY Considerable knowledge of principles and practices of infection control with special reference to infections and preventable diseases; theories and practices of microbiology, epidemiology, nursing, statistics and public health; Skills interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; Considerable ability to conduct independent research and evaluate results in field of epidemiology and infection control. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE A Bachelor's degree in nursing and three (3) years of professional experience in direct patient/client care services. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED A Master's degree in nursing may be substituted for one (1) year of the General Experience. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Experience as a Registered Nurse Certification as an Infection Control Practitioner Experience as an Infection Control Practitioner in a Skilled Nursing Facility Experience with regulations from the Centers for Disease Control, Centers for Medicare Services, Department of Public Health, and Skilled Nursing Facility standards Experience with wound management in a Skilled Nursing Facility SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Incumbents in this class must possess and retain licensure as a Registered Nurse issued by the Connecticut State Department of Public Health in accordance with the applicable Connecticut General Statutes. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel. Incumbents in this class may be required to undergo immunization for infectious diseases. WORKING CONDITIONS Incumbents in this class may be exposed to communicable diseases and hazardous substances. ConclusionAN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.ACKNOWLEDGEMENT As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.