Infection Control Nurse

Responsibilities

$10,000.00 Signing Bonus Eligible.

Job Summary: Responsible for developing, implementing, conducting and evaluating in-service programs, orientation and continuing education for nurses, nursing students and other staff; establishes educational policies and procedures; acts as a resource person to staff and management; participates in CQI performance improvement activities; serves on special committees.

Demonstrates Competency in the Following Areas:

Develops and directs orientation programs, in-services and continuing education for the nursing staff and auxiliary personnel.

Teaches classes, provides individual instruction; assigns in-service ideas to staff members to develop and teach.

Supervises student education programs.

Interacts professionally with each nursing unit to determine their specific educational needs and to coordinate educational programs to meet those needs.

Performs continuous evaluations of training needs; determines effectiveness of educational programs.

Ability to develop instructional materials; demonstrates patient care equipment; set-up demonstrations of patient care equipment by vendors'/manufacturers' representatives.

Able to develop and instruct educational programs for all patients. This includes pediatric, geriatric and the general population.

Determines the need and helps to coordinate continuous quality improvement activities.

Responsible for developing a budget for educational programs; able to write grant proposals.

Ability to assist with and implementation of special projects.

Documents staff participation of in-services; ensures educational requirements, hospital requirements and regulatory standards are met on an annual basis.

Evaluates and documents staff performance of clinical skills.

Plans and coordinates conferences and seminars; uses community resources.

Videotapes seminars, classes, demonstrates for future use.

Ability to serve as a resource person, consultant to nursing and medical staff, education instructors, students and all other staff members.

Monitors employee illnesses and health activities, responds to problem situations in an urgent manner, and reports the number and type to the Infection Control Committee as appropriate.

Practices infection control and standard precautions to decrease the spread of communicable diseases.

Accurately records information on call-in log.

Assists staff in identifying communicable diseases and completion of Infection Control Report Form.

Evaluates response to infection and ensures that appropriate precautions are taken.

Completes required Infection Control activities to meet regulatory requirements.

Maintains data on handwashing compliance, code blue evaluations and all infection related data

Reviews medical records to determine infections and antibiotic treatment

May perform clinical duties if needed; may set-up and maintain equipment.

Treats patients and families with respect and dignity; ensures patient confidentiality.

Follows the eight medication rights and reduces the potential for medication errors.

Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors.

Demonstrates the ability to be flexible and organized.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Performs administrative duties as needed; management reports; maintains in-service, orientation records; plans a monthly calendar for education activities; orders supplies and equipment.

Qualifications

Professional Requirements:

Meets dress code standards; appearance is neat and clean.

Completes annual educational requirements.

Maintains regulatory requirements.

Wears identification while of duty.

Attends department managers' meetings and other Hospital meetings as appropriate.

Actively participates in the department's continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities.

Communicates the mission, ethics and goals of the hospital, as well as the focus statement of the department.

Requirements:

Current South Carolina Registered Nurse Licensure

Certification as an instructor in BCLS and/or ACLS where needed.

Knowledge of infection control procedures, IOSHA, OSHA and CDC guidelines.

Knowledge of the principles of epidemiology and infectious disease.

Knowledge of psychiatric and medical nursing procedures.

Knowledge of all code procedures.

Knowledge of general and psychiatric nursing principles, working concepts and theory, leadership skills, age specific growth and development, limit setting, crisis and behavior management.

Knowledge of Joint Commission and other federal, state and local laws that govern healthcare.