infection preventionist nurse for skilled nursing facility

Primary Purpose of this Position

The primary purpose of your job position is to plan, organize, develop, coordinate, and direct our infection prevention and control program and its activities in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern such programs, and as may be directed by the Administrator and the Infection Prevention and Control Committee to ensure that an effective infection prevention and control program is maintained at all times.

Duties and Responsibilities

Legend

(1) Potential Risk Exposure to Blood and Body Fluids (Ö = yes)

(2) Essential Function (Ö = yes)

(3) Safety Factors:

RM = Repetitive motion

WL = Weight lifting requirement

SB = Sitting, standing and bending prolonged

Note: Information explaining the above are located on the last page of this job description.

(1) Risk Exposure

(2) Essential Function

(3) Safety Factors

Administrative Functions

Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, coordinate, and direct our infection prevention and control program in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern such requirements in nursing care facilities.

Ensure that the facility is in compliance with current CDC, OSHA, and local regulations concerning infection prevention and control.

Develop, maintain, and periodically update infection prevention and control processes and techniques in accordance with current best practices.

Review, modify and interpret infection prevention and control policies and procedures as necessary.

Maintain a reference library of written infection prevention and control material that will assist the facility in meeting the infection prevention and control needs of the staff and residents.

Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Administrator, as necessary/required, concerning the infection prevention and control program of this facility.

Assist all departments in evaluating and classifying routine and job-related functions to ensure that tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids are properly identified.

Monitor infection prevention and control practices and procedures to ensure that all personnel are implementing our standard operating procedures for tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids.

Make rounds to nursing units for the purpose of case findings, review of environmental sanitation procedures, and supervision of standard and transmission-based precautions/practices.

Visit residents as necessary to ensure that established standard and transmission-based precautions and aseptic technique are followed.

Ensure that laboratory support is available, including microbiological and serological services.

Review and analyze infectious disease laboratory reports and consult with the Director of Nursing Services in developing the care plan for assuring that aseptic techniques are implemented.

Assist in developing and implementing guidelines for the decontamination and sterilization activities performed in the facility.

Perform periodic testing of our prepared sterile packs, bundles, and supplies, including sterilization equipment.

Administrative Functions (continued)

Monitor the designated shelf life of medical items wrapped and sterilized at the facility. Reprocess as necessary.

Ensure that all personnel follow established procedures for the disposal and removal of biohazardous and contaminated materials from the facility.

Prepare monthly summaries of all resident/personnel infections, corrective action taken, and the results of the corrective action. Submit copies to the Administrator and Director of Nursing Services.

Prepare summaries of special investigations on the occurrence of healthcare- and community-acquired infections.

Prepare summaries of data gathered in support of the facility Antibiotic Stewardship Program, including number of antibiotic starts and days of use, and laboratory culture and sensitivity reports.

Provide the Director of Nursing Services with a report of pertinent findings and recommendations pertaining to communicable diseases, healthcare-associated infections and antibiotic stewardship.

Maintain a written record of all residents and employees with community- or healthcare associated infections.

Monitor and address possible sources of infection within the facility, including personnel, visitors, residents, and the environment.

Assist in developing infection prevention and control procedures for the handling of clean and soiled laundry/linen, equipment cleaning, etc.

Assist in developing infection prevention and control procedures for the routine and terminal cleaning of rooms and common areas, equipment cleaning, etc.

Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies as necessary or as may be directed.

Assist in developing and implementing discharge plans for the resident on transmission-based precautions or an active communicable infection.

Assist in the development and implementation of a facility-wide TB management control program.