Infection Preventionist Nurse-Infection Control

****JOB DESCRIPTION**** This position requires working closely with clinical staff, departments, and administration to reduce the risk of healthcare\-associated infections among patients. ****RESPONSIBILITIES**** * Participates in needs assessment for all departments around infection prevention and control issues. * Facilitating integration of infection prevention and control activities within and across departments. * Builds relationships with staff, peers, and colleagues to support interdisciplinary and interdepartmental planning, aimed at improving patient outcomes. * Liaises with senior infection preventionist to provide clinical consultations to nurses, physicians, and allied health professionals related to infection prevention and control. * Demonstrates knowledge of microbiological and epidemiological principles and isolation precautions when addressing the purchase of resources (e.g., personal protective equipment). * Manages to update DOH with information regarding the reportable infectious diseases, and endemic and the epidemic situation in the community. * Assists in surveillance and epidemiologic investigation: * Provides support to the senior infection preventionist in performing outbreak investigations * Prevents and controls the transmission of infectious agents: * Provides infectious disease disaster plan education and training to the staff * Demonstrates knowledge for early detection of an infectious disease disaster through active or passive surveillance * Liaises with senior infection preventionist for recommending strategies for handling potentially contagious individuals and implementing environmental controls to prevent or limit the emergence or spread of communicable diseases * Maintains knowledge of effective interventions that can be implemented when standard practices cannot be achieved during a disaster (when resources may be limited). * Monitors pandemic alerts issued by DOH CDC, MOH, WHO, etc., if a pandemic is declared: * Facilitates communication and implementation of necessary precautions applicable to the physical setting. * Performs process and/or outcome surveillance activities to identify infections that cause or have the potential to cause an outbreak * Participates in epidemiological investigation * Implements routine practices and precautions to prevent the transmission of infection * Maintains confidentiality and security of patient, family, and organization information in accordance with the confidentiality policy * Liaises closely with medical and nursing staff in ensuring that all notifiable diseases are reported to DOH. * Collaborates with the multidisciplinary team by providing effective communication and timely feedback in improving quality and patient safety. * Assists in\-patient and environmental risk documenting and documenting corrective action to improve patient outcomes as required. * Participates in the implementation of evidence\-based practice to promote clinical knowledge and a research\-based clinical practice environment. * Performs infection prevention and control audits and reviews as required to minimize risk and improve the safety of patients, visitors, or healthcare workers. * Participates in risk assessment and management in the organization for TB, Blood borne pathogens, environmental, safety, and renovation/construction projects. * Demonstrates knowledge of current infection prevention and control strategies and organizational policies. * Participates in product evaluation and cost containment projects as indicated * Engages in health promotion activities in the organization and community * Participate in reviewing policies and procedures which promote consistent adherence to evidence\-based infection control practices which minimize transmission of pandemic infection diseases * Participates in ongoing educational and research programs within the organization. * Monitor the use of antimicrobial prophylaxis for surgical site infection. ****Accountabilities**** * Collaborates with senior infection preventionist for providing advice to occupational health, laboratory staff, and the risk manager in the event of a blood\-borne pathogen and body fluid exposure incident or any other Infection Prevention and Control issue. * Monitors and continuous surveillance of identified healthcare\-associated infection clinical indicators and participate in using this data to prioritize the infection prevention and control program. * Assists in producing infection prevention and control reports and surveillance monitoring in a timely manner (i.e., monthly). ****Required:**** **QUALIFICATIONS** * Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing * Degree in Nursing (minimum two (2\) years course duration) and Registration as a Registered Nurse from Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia or Degree in Midwifery or equivalent * Valid/current national license * BLS * Licensing: DOH license in Nursing ****Desired:**** * N.A. **Specialist Certifications: Required:** * N.A. ****Desired:**** * Certified in Infection Control (CIC) (i.e. Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology or equivalent) and maintain certification status * Certified proof of yearly CME * Continuous post\-graduate courses ****Experience:**** **Required:** * NLT 2 years clinical experience post qualification in an appropriate setting * Skills in the use of Microsoft (e.g., word, excel, and PowerPoint) ****Desired:**** * N.A.