Infection Prevention & Employee Health Nurse

Description

Join our compassionate and mission-driven team at Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center (SPRHC), where safety, integrity, and quality care are at the heart of everything we do. We’re seeking a dedicated and experienced Infection Prevention & Employee Health Nurse to support critical efforts that keep our staff and patients safe and healthy.

Pay: $25.61-$51.79 per hour based on experience and qualifications.

Status: Full Time

FLSA: Non-Exempt (Hourly)

Requirements

Summary: Responsible for the coordination, evaluation and implementation of Infection Control and Prevention at Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center. Assures a complete and comprehensive oversight of Employee Health requirements including maintenance of employee health records, administering required immunizations/safety (PPE) protocols and assuring those conditions are documented appropriately.

What You’ll Do:

Infection Prevention Duties:

•Assists with rounds and monitoring of infection prevention practices with staff members.

• Collects data on infections from hospital departments and maintains records of every case/situation.

• Conducts continuous surveillance for detecting infection sources for the purpose of prevention.

• Responsible for new employee education involving Infection Control procedures for, isolation precautions including standard, contact, droplet, airborne, neutropenic, bloodborne pathogens tuberculosis, and any emerging pathogens that develop.

• Surveillance of environmental cleanliness through routine observation.

• Monitors infection rates, prevalence and incidence rates, trends and adherence to infection control standards.

• Surveillance of personal protective equipment/supplies needed for isolation.

• Collaborates with the Lab Department to review trends including healthcare associated infection rates, antibiotic resistant micro-organisms, antibiotic patterns based on cultures and sensitivity reports.

• Collaborates with Pharmacy to review and report antibiotic resistance and antibiotic utilization.

• Participants in quarterly Infection Control Committee meetings. Maintains reports and goals related to the Infection Control Committee.

• Works with Director to set yearly goals and monitors data to meet goals monthly.

• Reports communicable diseases to required agencies and conducts follow-up for exposures.

• Responsible for entering data in CDC NHSN database.

Employee Health Duties:

• Responsible for new employee and annual required immunization for staff members, assures tuberculosis screening process is completed and completes mask fit testing, as required.

• Close collaboration with Human Resources for new hire onboarding.

• New hire health checklists, health history, documented vaccination status and/or order titers for Varicella, Hepatitis B, and MMR.

• Review vaccination status for influenza, COVID-19, Td/Tdap.

• Administer vaccinations for Varicella, Hep B, MMR, and influenza as needed, document medical declinations.

• Vaccine reporting and lookup through the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS).

• Facilitate flu vaccine clinics and complete vaccination status tracking/reporting to the state database.

• Complete TB screening questionnaires; order TB QuantiFERON lab and /or chest x-ray; report positive results to state; connect employees to providers for treatment, if needed.

• Guide employees through needlestick protocol.

• Hand hygiene education.

• Advise on protocols for employee illness, testing and return-to-work requirements.

• N95 fit testing/vaccination/reporting for students, agency staff, contract workers, volunteers, and employees.

• Maintain employee health records in Meditech

• Prepare health documents for scanning departments

• Maintain employee illness records.

At SPRHC, we are proud to serve our rural Colorado community with compassion and care. We offer a supportive environment, meaningful work, and opportunities for professional development—all in a beautiful and affordable part of the state

Minimum Required Education/Experience: 

LPN:  Valid state license as an LPN. 

RN: Associates or Bachelor's degree in Nursing is required. 

Five years of nursing experience with previous work experience in employee health, infection control, prevention, surveillance and monitoring preferred.

Pre-Employment Knowledge, Abilities and Skills:

• Ability to determine appropriate course of action in more complex situations.

• Ability to be self-directed and highly collaborative.

• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, negotiation, and critical-thinking skills.

• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.

• Strong adaptability and flexibility to various and changing duties.

• Ability to manage multiple and simultaneous responsibilities and to prioritize scheduling of work.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with the public, other agencies, employees and administration.

• Ability to provide meaningful and informative educational sessions to individuals, small groups or large audiences.

Note: An acceptable combination of education, training and experience that provides the above knowledge, abilities and skills may be substituted.

Necessary Special Requirements: Must obtain annual flu vaccination, and any job-specific immunizations. Required to submit to a tuberculosis screening process.

Licenses or Certificates: BLS.

Benefits:

All Employees are eligible for:

· Employee Assistance Program

· 403B retirement fund options (employer match after one year of employment)

· Cafeteria Meal Discount

Full and part-time positions are eligible for:

· Medical benefits including telehealth options

· Dental and vision benefits

· Basic life insurance and AD&D (employer paid)

· Supplemental Life/AD&D

· Paid Time Off

· Short-term disability (employer paid)

· Critical Illness Insurance

· Accident Insurance

· Legal Insurance

· Identity protection

· Tour of Duty (Paid temporary housing for those who qualify)

If you’re considering joining our team this position will be open for a minimum of 5 days or until filled.