Have nursing-process, assessment, and critical-thinking skills.
Be able to collaborate with nursing and ancillary departments on infection prevention practices.
Maintain knowledge of current infection prevention practices and interventions.
Responsibilities
Direct and coordinate the district's Infection Control program.
Implement and enforce Surveillance, Prevention and Control Program policies.
Coordinate infection prevention and control throughout the district.
Monitor the effectiveness of prevention and control activities and interventions.
Support Employee Health functions for new employees and existing facility staff.
Review new employee health physicals and vaccination and titer status as needed.
Assist with annual Employee Health trainings, including N95 fit-mask testing, tuberculosis surveillance, and the seasonal influenza program for staff, nursing facility residents, and hospital patients.
Use critical thinking to analyze issues, develop and implement improvement plans, and monitor their effectiveness.
Maintain confidentiality of records in accordance with hospital policy and applicable law.
Maintain APIC membership, use appropriate APIC references and best practices, and present new materials to staff.
Desired Qualifications
A Master of Science in Nursing, Public Health, or Epidemiology is very desirable.
Board certification in infection prevention is highly desirable.
Description
About SoHum Health:
At SoHum Health, our mission is to provide high-quality local medical services and engage community members in education and lifestyle opportunities to promote optimal health and wellness. As the sole provider of emergency, acute, radiology, skilled nursing, pharmacy, and various other health services in our expansive rural region, we play a unique role as a hub and trusted partner for the patients we serve. Guided by our core values of caring, quality, teamwork, and positivity, we strive daily to improve the health of our underserved community.
Position Summary
The Infection Preventionist (IP) directs and coordinates the Infection Control program in the district. The designated person has the authority to implement and enforce the Surveillance, Prevention and Control Program policies, coordinate all infection prevention and control within the district and facilitate ongoing monitoring of the effectiveness of prevention and/or control activities and interventions. The Infection Preventionist supports Employee Health related functions as those functions apply to New Employees and all staff in the facility. The Infection Preventionist may review new employee health physicals, vaccination and titer status and assist with annual related Employee Health trainings, i.e. N 95 Fit Mask testing, tuberculosis surveillance as well as the seasonal Influenza program for all staff, Nursing Facility residents and Hospital patients.
Essential Functions
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Acts as a role model in promoting quality care and adherence to the District's Vision, Mission, and Values. Communicate clearly with team members, patients, families, and providers. Performs with professionalism and diplomacy in the work environment. Uses critical thinking skills to analyze issues, develop plans for improvement, implement those plans, and monitor their effectiveness.
Adheres to all facility policies, including but not limited to Attendance and reliability: Adheres to attendance, punctuality, and absence reporting requirements.
Maintains confidentiality of appropriate records per hospital policy and applicable law.
Competencies:
Demonstrated experience in the application of infection prevention principles. Nursing process, assessment, and critical thinking skills, as well as the ability to collaborate with nursing and all ancillary departments regarding Infection Prevention practices. Maintains knowledge of current Infection Prevention practices and interventions. The IP will maintain APIC membership, paid for by the facility, and will utilize appropriate APIC references and Best Practices when presenting new materials to staff.
Requirements
Required Education and Experience:
Current Registered Nurse license in California
Bachelor's degree in either Microbiology, Nursing, Public Health, Epidemiology, or other Healthcare related field.
Minimum of 1-3 years' experience in infection prevention acquired via nursing, epidemiology, public health, or work in a related field.
Preferred Education and Experience:
Master of Science in Nursing, Public Health, or Epidemiology is very desirable
Board Certification in Infection prevention is highly desirable.