Position Purpose: The primary purpose of the Infection Preventionist position is to develop, plan, organize, implement, and maintain an Infection Prevention and Control Program (IPCP) within the facility. Methods such as surveillance, investigation, and education are utilized to maintain a comprehensive Infection Prevention and Control Program to prevent recognize, and control the spread of infection in the facility. The IP should have sufficient time to achieve the objectives of the IPCP within the facility.

Educational Requirements: Graduation from an accredited RN program.

Experience Required: Experience in Infection Control in the sub-acute setting is desired.

Physical Requirements: While preforming the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, talk and hear, and use hands and arms to handle items, lift, feel, and reach. The employee is frequently required to sit, stoop, kneel, or crouch.

Professional Licensure and Certification Required: Current, unencumbered, active New York State RN license. Must have Infection Control Certification (Must have certification by 11/2019). Current CPR certification.

Interpersonal Relationships: Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public.

Administrative Functions

• Possesses the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.

• Must be knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices and procedures, as well as laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to long-term care and infection control; to include universal and transmission-based precautions.

• Must possess leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other personnel.

• Possesses 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.

• Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm; must have the willingness to handle difficult residents and staff.

• Willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices in accordance with current clinical standards as well as state and Federal guidelines.

• Able to relate information concerning a resident’s condition accurately and with precision. Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.

• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.

• Must be knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices and procedures, as well as laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to long-term care and infection control; to include universal and transmission-based precautions.

• Must possess leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other personnel.

• 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.

• Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm; must have the willingness to handle difficult residents and staff.

• Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices in accordance with current clinical standards as well as state and Federal guidelines.

• Must be able to relate information concerning a resident’s condition accurately and with precision.

• Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.

  Personnel Functions

• Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, coordinate, and direct our Infection Prevention and Control Program in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern such requirements in the long-term care facility.

• Ensure that the facility is in compliance with current CDC, OSHA, and local regulations concerning infection control or universal precautions.

• Develop, maintain, and periodically update infection control precautions and aseptic technique that successfully correct problem areas.

• Interpret infection control policies and procedures as necessary.

• Assist in maintaining updated immunization lists for both residents and employees.

• Assist in evaluating and implementing recommendations from the Infection Prevention and Control Sub-Committee.

• Perform surveillance and investigation to prevent the onset and spread of infection and make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Administrator, as necessary/required, concerning infection prevention and control practices. Will serve on, participate in, and attend IPCP meetings.

• Represent the Infection Prevention and Control Sub-Committee as required.

• Assist the Infection Prevention and Control Sub-Committee in evaluating and revising infection prevention and control practices and aseptic techniques to ensure continued sanitation practices are maintained throughout the facility.

• Provide the Infection Prevention and Control Committee with written and oral reports concerning all nosocomial infections within the facility.

• Provide information relative to TB assessment and make recommendations concerning the protocols to follow in isolating TB cases.

• Develop, implement, and maintain a practical system of detecting, evaluating, recording, and reporting infections which originate with facility personnel.

• Ensure that major changes in our cleaning products or techniques are approved by the IPCP Sub-Committee.

• Assist the personnel director in developing and implementing our employee health services program, to include individual counseling as outlined in our infection control and employee health program.

• Provide personnel with information concerning the facility’s policies governing Hepatitis B, Pneumococcal and Influenza vaccinations.

• Assist in establishing the TB Mantoux testing and recordkeeping protocols for all employees.

• Orient new employees to the importance of infection prevention and control policies and procedures, personal hygiene, handwashing techniques, etc., as well as the employee’s responsibility in following our established procedures for tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids.

• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents.

• Monitor infection prevention and control practices and procedures to ensure that all personnel are implementing standard operating procedures for tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids.

• 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.

• Make rounds on nursing units for the purpose of case findings, review of environmental sanitation procedures, and supervision of isolation precautions/practices.

• Visit isolated residents as necessary to ensure that established isolation precautions and aseptic technique are followed.

• Review and analyze infectious disease laboratory reports and consult with the Director of Nursing Services in developing the care plan for assuring that aseptic techniques are implemented.

• Assist in developing and implementing guidelines for decontamination and sterilization activities performed in the facility.

• Perform periodic testing of our prepared sterile packs, bundles, and supplies, including sterilization equipment.

• Monitor the designated shelf life of medical items wrapped and sterilized at the facility. Reprocess as necessary.

• Ensure that all personnel follow established procedures for the disposal and removal of infective and contaminated materials from the facility.

• Prepare monthly summaries of all resident/personnel infections, corrective action(s) taken, and the results of the corrective action. Submit copies to the Administrator and Director of Nursing Services.

• Prepare summaries of special investigations regarding the occurrence of nosocomial and community-acquired infections.

• Provide the Director of Nursing Services with a report of pertinent findings and recommendations pertaining to nosocomial infection.

• Ensure that all nursing service personnel follow established isolation precautions and aseptic technique to include universal precautions.

• Ensure that residents with known communicable or infectious diseases are placed in isolation or on infection control precautions to include universal precautions.

• Interview residents or family members and explain isolation and universal precautions as necessary.

• Maintain a written record of all residents and employees who have nosocomial infections.

• Monitor medication passes and treatments to ensure that appropriate handwashing techniques are being followed in the handling and administering of drugs, medications, and treatments.

• Review nurses’ notes of those residents in/on isolation precautions 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.

• Assist nursing service personnel in performing nursing care procedures as necessary.

• Obtain culture samples in accordance with our established procedures. E.g. Legionella

• Participate in surveys of possible carriers among residents and personnel, and in tracing possible sources of infection within the facility.

• Assist the Director of Laundry Services in developing infection prevention and control procedures for the handling of clean and soiled laundry/linen, equipment cleaning, etc.

• Assist the Director of Housekeeping Services in developing infection prevention and control procedures for the routine and terminal cleaning of isolation rooms and areas, equipment cleaning, etc.

• Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies.

• Assist the Discharge Planning Coordinator in developing and implementing discharge plans for the resident in isolation or on infection control precautions.

• Report all reportable diseases to the county and state health departments.

• Assist support services in developing, implementing, and conducting in-service training programs relative to infection control.

• Attend and participate in continuing educational programs designed to keep you abreast of changes in your profession, as well as to maintain your license on a current status.

• Assist in the development, implementation, and maintenance of a written plan of care (preliminary and comprehensive) for each resident in isol

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. All pay rates and bonuses are paid and/ or awarded to employees based on the facilities policy and/ or the CBA, depending on the position.