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HUMAN RESOURCES JOB DESCRIPTIONS / Nursing Administration

SUBJECT: Infection PreventionistHRJD.136

JOB DESCRIPTION
Infection Preventionist

Department: / Nursing Administration
Reports to: / Director of Clinical Services (DCS)

Job Summary:
The Infection Preventionist carries out the infection control duties of surveillance, education, and consultation as assigned by the Director of Quality and abides by the Standards of Behavior for the organization. This position, under the direction of the infection control committee, is responsible for the management and operation of the Hospital’s infection prevention program.

MAJOR TASK, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Managing critical data and information, including surveillance of hospital-acquired infections (HAI) infections. Assist with collection of infection control data as directed which includes but is not limited to:
  2. Review microbiology reports
  3. Review patient care records
  4. Consult with patient care staff to collect specific infection data
  5. Complete data entry forms accurately
  6. Formulate questions for review by medical consultant
  7. Formulate prevention plans and assist clinical departments with implementation plans
  8. Evaluate and monitor adherence to intervention plans
  9. Standard:
  10. Conduct environmental roundsmonthly in all inpatient and outpatient care areas
  11. Act as an infection prevention resource for all staff
  12. Assists with the preparation and presentation of reports and data analysis as directed by the Director of Quality. Data collected for reports (i.e. focus studies, communicable disease reports, post-exposure reports) is accurately aggregated and data analyzed, if appropriate:
  13. Standard:
  14. Accurate aggregated data for reports and studies prepared prior to the scheduled reporting month
  15. Data analyzed as directed by the Director of Quality
  16. Information pertinent to quality assurance and/or risk management is reported to the Director of Quality
  17. Setting and recommending policies and procedures to insure rigorous infection control standards that meet Centers for Medicaid / Medicare Services (CMS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) and other nationally organized agency recommendations and requirements. Written infection prevention and control policies and procedures must be established, implemented, maintained and updated periodically. Policies and procedures should be monitored periodically for performance:
  18. Standard:
  19. Writes and/or reviews policies and procedures as directed by the Director of Quality
  20. Participates in implementing new and existing policies and procedures
  21. Monitors infection control policy and proceduresannually and reports results to the Director of Quality
  22. Intervening directly to prevent transmission of infectious diseases. Able to identify and assist when needed in patient placement and transfer/discharge situations involving patients with communicable diseases/conditions. Possess the capacity to identify communicable diseases/conditions, occurrences of outbreaks and/or clusters of infectious diseases. In the event of an outbreak or cluster of infection, participates in investigation and implementation of appropriate control measures:
  23. Standard:
  24. No valid complaints received of patient placement or transfer situations involving patients with communicable diseases/conditions related to a decision made by the Infection Preventionist
  25. Identifies the occurrence of outbreaks or clusters of infectious diseases, when they occur
  26. Assists in the investigation and implementation of appropriate control measures for contagious diseases/conditions and in an outbreak or cluster of infection situation as directed by the Infection Control Committee Chair
  27. Interacts with physicians, nurses, department managers and other professional and non professionalstaff members to resolve infection control problems and identify new opportunities to improve serviceby educating and training healthcare workers and providers. Able to provide ongoing educational orientation and programs in infection prevention and control to healthcare workers appropriate to the education level of learners. Able to evaluate education programs for effectiveness. Records attendance per Hospital policy:
  28. Standard:
  29. Provides infection prevention and control education for hospital orientation and classes/programs on infection prevention and control as directed by the Director of Quality
  30. Two classes per year will be developed, instructed and evaluated by the Infection Preventionist
  31. Participates in Product Evaluation. Product review is conducted on new and, when appropriate, existing products to evaluate whether the product may contribute to a decrease in infection risk, or not increase the infection risk for patients and/or others. Invasive products and those used in sterilization; disinfection and cleaning as well as hand hygiene products have the highest priority:
  32. Standard:
  33. Products are reviewed and input is given in a timely manner for the Supply Standardization Committee
  34. No valid complaints are received regarding timely review
  35. Participates in facility design, construction and renovation/remodels. The Infection Preventionist will work collaboratively with theDirector of Plant Operations, project manager and/or other departments for risk assessment, planning and monitoring. Hospital Policies and Procedures for the assessment and management of construction, renovation, and maintenance activity will be used (as they relate to infection control and prevention) to reduce the risk of infection during and after construction, renovation or maintenance activities:
  36. Standard:
  37. Participates in infection risk assessment, planning and monitoring related to construction, renovation and maintenance as requested by the Director of Quality
  38. Documents participation in team meetings
  39. Documents findings during monitoring of projects and takes appropriate action if breeches of infection control permit are identified
  40. Compliance with regulations, guidelines, and accreditation requirements. Collaboratively works with the local Department of Public Health and Employee Health Department on exposures to communicable diseases/conditions. Collaborates and provides liaison to appropriate local and state health departments for reporting of communicable diseases and conditions and to assist with the control of infectious diseases. Current regulations, guidelines and accreditation requirements are considered when developing policies and procedures, planning education programs, doing infection risk interventions and in surveillance activities. Participates in performance improvement activities as directed by the Director of Quality:
  41. Standard:
  42. No valid complaints received regarding exposure to communicable diseases or conditions follow up from Employee Health and Stanislaus County PublicHealth Department
  43. No valid complaints from Public Health Department regarding lack of information, accuracy of information submitted, or adherence to timeliness for reporting as set forth by Stanislaus County Health Department
  44. Policies and procedures, education programs, risk interventions and surveillance are consistent with current regulations, guidelines and accreditation requirements
  45. Completes special projects, additional tasks as assigned. Includes participation on Performance Improvement teams upon request by the Director of Quality
  46. Standard:
  47. Performance to be evaluated in terms of:
  48. Accuracy
  49. Completion
  50. Adherence to instructions
  51. Cooperation
  52. Manages Employee Health:
  53. Maintains employee health files
  54. Verifies new hire vaccinations / administers vaccinations
  55. Monthly annual and new hire orientation and reorientation

The above statement reflects the general duties considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job as identified and shall not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the position.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:

  • Graduation from an accredited school of nursing

Experience:

  • Two years of experience in health care preferred
  • Two years of experience in Infection Control or progressive experience in nursing, epidemiology, or public health may be substituted

Required Course(s)/Training

  • Knowledge of data collection techniques
  • Knowledge of microbiology terminology
  • Basic mathematical, statistical and data analysis skills (rate calculation, trend analysis, etc.)
  • Competent in the application and reading of skin tests
  • Able to write legibly and effectively present ideas; document activities; read and interpret technical information
  • Able to communicate (read, write, hear, understand) clearly and effectively in English to the degree required to perform the job
  • Capable of basic computer skills-database management and word processing

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Bachelors degree in Nursing or related field
  • Attendance at a Center for Disease Control (CDC), State of California, or Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) sponsored Infection Control Training Course

Required Certification/Registration:

  • Current RN licensure with the State of California
  • Current Certification in Infection Control (CIC) by the Certification Board of Infection Control

Physical Requirements:

For the purposes of the American Disability Act (ADA), this position has been assessed to identify essential and marginal functions. Tasks listed below are considered to be essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with qualifying disabilities in order to perform the essential function of the job:

  1. Work Position
  2. Sitting 40% or more
  3. Standing 30% or more
  4. Walking 30% or more
  5. Body Movements
  6. Lifting/Carrying up to 20 lbsFrequency, less than 1%
  7. Bending or stooping Frequency, less than 10%
  8. Hand grip, wrist and digital dexterityFrequency, 95%
  9. Speaking, hearing and visual acuity to receive and interpret instructions
  10. Verbal and written English communication skills
  11. Mathematical and reasoning skills
  12. Normal vision range: ability to distinguish letters, numbers and symbols
  13. Requires the use of office equipment, such as a computer, telephones, photocopier, scanner and Fax machine

Employee Signature / Date

Original Date: 11-7-13

Revised Date: 2-Feb-16[2] Revised by: S Gonzalez RN MSN CNOR, Director Of Clinical ServicesLast saved: 2/2/2016 11:22:00 AM Last saved by Michele Colin

Approved, Director of Clinical Services: 11-Nov-13

Revised/Approved: Director of Human Resources, K. Wynn, 8-9-16