Registered Nurse (RN) Infection Control Specialist

Summary

Coordinates the hospital’s efforts to control the spread of infectious disease within the facility as required by CMS or OSHA and other licensing, accrediting, or regulatory bodies or statutes. Conducts surveillance of high-risk population. Monitors any outbreaks of communicable diseases, helps identify potential sources within the facility, and coordinates any necessary follow-up activities.

Essential Functions

Develops and manages Infection Control programs for assigned service lines to include collection of data, recordkeeping of hospital associated and community acquired infections, interpretation, analysis, and reporting of information, development of interventions and recommendations related and follow up on performance.

Investigates and analyzes clusters of infections or changes in patterns of infection with appropriate interventions.

Interprets and applies state, county, and federal requirements and other appropriate guidelines related to IC and EOC issues; assists with or develop programs to implement guidelines; informs authorities of reportable diseases.

Establishes/ maintains communication between infection control, nursing units and ancillary departments for the purpose of problem solving; utilizes appropriate lines of communication within the department.

Communicates and interfaces with hospital personnel and medical staff to ensure high-quality patient care.

Communicate with patients and family members to address concerns or questions regarding infectious disease or transmission based precautions.

Develops and implements educational programs for the organization and department personnel, such as orientation program and ongoing in-service education.

Develops written standards, policies, and procedures relating to infection control.

Serves on nursing and hospital committees and assume responsibility for disseminating and communicating information to staff.

Identifies and evaluates relationship of environmental factors to infection.

Observes and assesses patient care activities.

Provide training for evidence based practices related to patient care activities, for example urinary catheter care or wound care aseptic technique.

Applies clinical expertise to infection prevention patient care practices.

Adheres to TMC organizational and department-specific safety, confidentiality, values, policies and standards.

Performs related duties as assigned .

Minimum Qualifications

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree from a qualified, nationally-accredited nursing program, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.

EXPERIENCE: One year in infection control or epidemiology in an acute care setting preferred.

LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION : Current RN licensure permitting work in the State of Arizona.Preferred Certification by the National Board of Infection Control (CIC).

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Knowledge of infectious diseases and proper techniques and care to use to minimize risk.
• Skill in coordinating risk assessments and communicating protocol to follow.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to inquiries or complaints from employees, patients and/or their representatives, and the general public.
• Ability to comprehend and apply principles of statistical theory.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.