Infection Preventionist

PURPOSE OF YOUR JOB: 

The primary purpose of your job position is to plan, organize, develop, coordinate and direct our infection 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, Director of Nursing and/or Assistant, and the Infection Control committee to ensure that an effective infection control program is maintained at all times.

RESPONSIBLE TO:                            

Director of Nursing, Assistant Director of Nursing, Infection Control Committee, Facility Administrator.

JOB TITLES SUPERVISED:                         

All nursing department direct care RN's, LPN's, CENA's.

JOB POSITIONS MONITORED:

All facility departments that have direct contact with residents ie: Laundry, Housekeeping, Dietary, Maintenance, etc.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, coordinate, and direct our infection control program in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern such requirements in the long term care facility.
2. Ensure that the facility is in compliance with current CDC, OSHA, and local regulations concerning infection control or standard precautions.
3. Develop, maintain and periodically update infection control precautions and aseptic technique that successfully correct problem area.
4. Interpret/develop infection control policies and procedures as necessary.
5. Maintain a reference library of written infection control material that will assist the facility in meeting the day-to-day needs of the isolated residents.
6. Make written and/or oral reports/recommendations to the Director and/or Assistant Director of Nursing and Administrator concerning the Infection control program of this facility.
7. 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.
8. Monitor infection control practices and procedures to ensure that all personnel are implementing our standard operating procedures for tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids.
9. Make rounds to nursing units for the purpose of case findings, review of environmental sanitation procedures, and supervision of isolation precautions/practices.
10. Visit isolated residents as necessary to ensure that established isolated precautions and aseptic technique are followed.
11.  Review and analyze infectious disease laboratory reports and assist nursing staff in developing a care plan for assuring that aseptic techniques are implemented.
12. Assist in developing and implementing guidelines for the decontamination and sterilization activities performed in the facility.
13. Perform periodic testing of our prepared sterile packs, bundles, and supplies including sterilization equipment.
14. Monitor the designated shelf life of medical items wrapped and sterilized at the facility and handle outdated items appropriately.
15. Ensure that  all  personnel  follow  established  procedures  for  the  disposal  and removal of infective and contaminated materials from the facility .
16. Prepare monthly summaries of all resident/personnel infections, corrective action taken, and the results of the corrective action.  Submit to the Administrator and Director of Nursing.
17. Prepare, as necessary, summaries of special investigations on the occurrence of nosocomial and community acquired infections.
18. Provide the Director of Nursing with a report of pertinent findings and recommendations pertaining to facility acquired infections.
19. Maintain a written record and floor plan of all residents who have nosocomial infections every month and summarize the findings and corrective action.
20. Conducts surveys of possible disease carriers among residents and personnel, and provides corrective actions to prevent further spread or future outbreaks.
21. Assist the Director of Laundry Services in developing infection control procedures for the handling of clean and soiled laundry/linen, equipment cleaning.
22. Assist the Director of Housekeeping Services in developing infection control procedures for routine and terminal cleaning of rooms and isolation rooms, as well as general patient areas and equipment cleaning.
23. Participating in facility surveys made by authorized government agencies.
24. Assist in the development and implementation of a facility wide TB Management control program.  Holding at the minimum of a yearly update in-service with the same.
25. Report all reportable diseases to the county and state health departments as appropriate/necessary.
26. Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc. as necessary.
27. Does daily follow up on suspected infections and determines if the charted signs and symptoms meet the CDC guidelines for determining infections.
28. Responsible for calculating prevalence rates each month and making appropriate reports.
29. Chair and conduct Infection Control Committee meetings and represent the committee as required.
30. Assist the Infection Control Committee in evaluating and revising our infection control practices and aseptic technique to ensure continued sanitation practices are maintained throughout the facility.
31. Ensure that major changes in our cleaning products or techniques are approved by the committee and are appropriate for use in the facility.
32. Provide information relative to TB assessment and do fit testing for HEPA masks and make recommendations concerning the protocols to follow in caring for suspected TB cases until they are confirmed cases.
33. Establishes the TB Mantoux testing and record keeping protocols for all employees and residents of the facility.
34. Establishes and educates all personnel with information concerning the facilities policies governing Hepatitis B vaccinations. Delivers and maintains the record keeping for said vaccinations.
35. Orient new employees to the importance of infection control policies and procedures, personal hygiene, hand washing techniques, etc.., as well as the employee's responsibility in following our established procedures for tasks involving exposure to body fluids.
36. Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infections materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facilities policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents.
37. Meet with the staff to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or the improvement of services, as necessary.
38. Develop and maintain a good working rapport with all department directors and personnel to ensure that infection control services and activities can be properly maintained to meet the needs of the residents.
39. Participate in the interviewing and selection of residents for admission to the facility.
40. Ensure that residents with known communicable or infectious disease are placed in isolation or on infection control precautions to include Universal Precautions.
41. Explain and educate staff, residents, and visitors on proper procedures and protocols to follow when they visit/care for isolated residents.
42. Make rounds with physicians as necessary.
43. Monitors medication passes and treatments to ensure that appropriate hand washing techniques are being followed in the handling and administering of drugs, medications, and treatments.
44. Review the nurse’s notes of those residents with suspected infections, confirmed infections, and in isolation to ensure that they are informative and descriptive of the nursing care being provided and that they reflect the resident’s response to the care being administered.
45. Provide direct nursing care as necessary (i.e. fill in for floor coordinators, charge nurses, team leaders, or staff development coordinator.)
46. Assist the Staff Development Coordinator in conducting new employee orientation, monitoring of new hires, conducting in-service training as needed.
47. Assist support services in developing, implementing, and conducting in-service training programs relative to infection control/nursing care.
48. Assist the Staff Development Coordinator in developing annual OSHA and CDC in-service training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and blood borne pathogens standard and hand hygiene.
49. Assist the maintenance Director in developing a preventive maintenance program for maintaining the nursing department's equipment and supplies in a safe and operable manner.
50. Ensures that all personnel performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/bodily fluids participate in appropriate in-service training programs prior to performing such tasks.
51. Ensures that adequate supplies of personal protective equipment are on hand and are readily available to personnel who perform procedures that involve exposure to blood or bodily fluids.
52. Assist in developing policies and procedures in the handling and disposal of needles and other sharp instruments and assists the maintenance and janitorial staff in developing and implementing waste disposal policies and procedures for infectious waste, supplies, etc.
53. Provide counseling for employee testing mandate required for HBV and TB exposure and maintain in confidential manner.
54. Maintain resident/employee exposure reports in a confidential manner.
55. Monitors all pressure ulcer treatments, conditions and assessments (Braden Scale), report findings to DON/designee in accordance with facility policy.
56. Monitor all measurements of pressure ulcer injuries/wounds in house and make appropriate recommendations of follow up to all Interdisciplinary team members.
57. Any other duties as assigned by DON/ADON.
58. Handles all employee health issues.
59. Responsible for Flu Vaccinations for residents and staff. 
60. Responsible for getting consents signed for vaccinations as required.
61. Responsible for Pneumonia Vaccinations and consents, including get consents signed, verifying/administering vaccines and reporting data to infection control committee.

     

62. Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, coordinate, and direct our infection control program in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern such requirements in the long term care facility.
63. Ensure that the facility is in compliance with current CDC, OSHA, and local regulations concerning infection control or standard precautions.
64. Develop, maintain and periodically update infection control precautions and aseptic technique that successfully correct problem area.
65. Interpret/develop infection control policies and procedures as necessary.
66. Maintain a reference library of written infection control material that will assist the facility in meeting the day-to-day needs of the isolated residents.
67. Make written and/or oral reports/recommendations to the Director and/or Assistant Director of Nursing and Administrator concerning the Infection control program of this facility.
68. 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.
69. Monitor infection control practices and procedures to ensure that all personnel are implementing our standard operating procedures for tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids.
70. Make rounds to nursing units for the purpose of case findings, review of environmental sanitation procedures, and supervision of isolation precautions/practices.
71. Visit isolated residents as necessary to ensure that established isolated precautions and aseptic technique are followed.
72.  Review and analyze infectious disease laboratory reports and assist nursing staff in developing a care plan for assuring that aseptic techniques are implemented.
73. Assist in developing and implementing guidelines for the decontamination and sterilization activities performed in the facility.
74. Perform periodic testing of our prepared sterile packs, bundles, and supplies including sterilization equipment.
75. Monitor the designated shelf life of medical items wrapped and sterilized at the facility and handle outdated items appropriately.
76. Ensure that  all  personnel  follow  established  procedures  for  the  disposal  and removal of infective and contaminated materials from the facility .
77. Prepare monthly summaries of all resident/personnel infections, corrective action taken, and the results of the corrective action.  Submit to the Administrator and Director of Nursing.
78. Prepare, as necessary, summaries of special investigations on the occurrence of nosocomial and community acquired infections.
79. Provide the Director of Nursing with a report of pertinent findings and recommendations pertaining to facility acquired infections.
80. Maintain a written record and floor plan of all residents who have nosocomial infections every month and summarize the findings and corrective action.
81. Conducts surveys of possible disease carriers among residents and personnel, and provides corrective actions to prevent further spread or future outbreaks.
82. Assist the Director of Laundry Services in developing infection control procedures for the handling of clean and soiled laundry/linen, equipment cleaning.
83. Assist the Director of Housekeeping Services in developing infection control procedures for routine and terminal cleaning of rooms and isolation rooms, as well as general patient areas and equipment cleaning.
84. Participating in facility surveys made by authorized government agencies.
85. Assist in the development and implementation of a facility wide TB Management control program.  Holding at the minimum of a yearly update in-service with the same.
86. Report all reportable diseases to the county and state health departments as appropriate/necessary.
87. Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc. as necessary.
88. Does daily follow up on suspected infections and determines if the charted signs and symptoms meet the CDC guidelines for determining infections.
89. Responsible for calculating prevalence rates each month and making appropriate reports.
90. Chair and conduct Infection Control Committee meetings and represent the committee as required.
91. Assist the Infection Control Committee in evaluating and revising our infection control practices and aseptic technique to ensure continued sanitation practices are maintained throughout the facility.
92. Ensure that major changes in our cleaning products or techniques are approved by the committee and are appropriate for use in the facility.
93. Provide information relative to TB assessment and do fit testing for HEPA masks and make recommendations concerning the protocols to follow in caring for suspected TB cases until they are confirmed cases.
94. Establishes the TB Mantoux testing and record keeping protocols for all employees

95. and residents of the facility.

96. Establishes and educates all personnel with information concerning the facilities policies governing Hepatitis B vaccinations. Delivers and maintains the record keeping for said vaccinations.
97. Orient new employees to the importance of infection control policies and procedures, personal hygiene, hand washing techniques, etc.., as well as the employee's responsibility in following our established procedures for tasks involving exposure to body fluids.
98. Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infections materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facilities policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents.
99. Meet with the staff to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or the improvement of services, as necessary.
100. Develop and maintain a good working rapport with all department directors and personnel to ensure that infection control services and activities can be properly maintained to meet the needs of the residents.
101. Participate in the interviewing and selection of residents for admission to the facility.
102. Ensure that residents with known communicable or infectious disease are placed in isolation or on infection control precautions to include Universal Precautions.
103. Explain and educate staff, residents, and visitors on proper procedures and protocols to follow when they visit/care for isolated residents.
104. Make rounds with physicians as necessary.
105. Monitors medication passes and treatments to ensure that appropriate hand washing techniques are being followed in the handling and administering of drugs, medications, and treatments.
106. Review the nurse’s notes of those residents with suspected infections, confirmed infections, and in isolation to ensure that they are informative and descriptive of the nursing care being provided and that they reflect the resident’s response to the care being administered.
107. Provide direct nursing care as necessary (i.e. fill in for floor coordinators, charge nurses, team leaders, or staff development coordinator.)
108. Assist the Staff Development Coordinator in conducting new employee orientation, monitoring of new hires, conducting in-service training as needed.
109. Assist support services in developing, implementing, and conducting in-service training programs relative to infection control/nursing care.
110. Assist the Staff Development Coordinator in developing annual OSHA and CDC in-service training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and blood borne pathogens standard and hand hygiene.
111. Assist the maintenance Director in developing a preventive maintenance program for maintaining the nursing department's equipment and supplies in a safe and operable manner.
112. Ensures that all personnel performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/bodily fluids participate in appropriate in-service training programs prior to performing such tasks.
113. Ensures that adequate supplies of personal protective equipment are on hand and are readily available to personnel who perform procedures that involve exposure to blood or bodily fluids.
114. Assist in developing policies and procedures in the handling and disposal of needles and other sharp instruments and assists the maintenance and janitorial staff in developing and implementing waste disposal policies and procedures for infectious waste, supplies, etc.
115. Provide counseling for employee testing mandate required for HBV and TB exposure and maintain in confidential manner.
116. Maintain resident/employee exposure reports in a confidential manner.
117. Monitors all pressure ulcer treatments, conditions and assessments (Braden Scale), report findings to DON/designee in accordance with facility policy.
118. Monitor all measurements of pressure ulcer injuries/wounds in house and make appropriate recommendations of follow up to all Interdisciplinary team members.
119. Any other duties as assigned by DON/ADON.
120. Handles all employee health issues.
121. Responsible for Flu Vaccinations for residents and staff. 
122. Responsible for getting consents signed for vaccinations as required.
123. Responsible for Pneumonia Vaccinations and consents, including get consents signed, verifying/administering vaccines and reporting data to infection control committee.
124. Handles all employee health issues.
125. Responsible for Flu Vaccinations for residents and staff. 
126. Responsible for getting consents signed for vaccinations as required.
127. Responsible for Pneumonia Vaccinations and consents, including get consents signed, verifying/administering vaccines and reporting data to infection control committee.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Must be a graduate of an accredited school of nursing.

• Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as a registered nurse in the State of Michigan.
• Must be able to read laboratory reports and       draw information pertaining to communicable diseases from them.
• Must be knowledgeable, as well as laws, regulations and guidelines to include universal precautions.
• Previous experience as a supervisor in a long term care setting and as an infection control practitioner preferred.
• Must possess the ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies, and
• Procedures, etc.., that are necessary for preventing and controlling infections, to include the establishing of universal precautions.
• Must   have   patience,        tact,     and     cheerful         disposition     and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult residents and staff.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the person assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of persons so classified.  Staff assigned to this position perform other duties as assigned.