Registered Nurse - INFECTION PREVENTION CONSULTANT

at Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration in Hines, Illinois, United States

Job Description

Summary The Infection Preventionist (IP) is a professional registered nurse who is accountable for the multiple facets of the Hines Infection Control Program, which is aligned under the Quality and Patient Safety (QPS) Service. The nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, or community (ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses).The IP Nurse meets the needs of customers while supporting the Hines VAH mission. Responsibilities Responsibilities of the Infection Control Consultant (IP) RN include performing infection surveillance, conducting epidemiological investigations, preparing, and reporting data, providing education to staff and patients on infection control topics, and working in collaboration with other health professionals and/or individuals to ensure that all product line/program areas are in compliance with health care as it relates to the practice of Infection Prevention and Control. The IC RN position reports to the Manager, Infection Control and works collaboratively with the Infection Control Committee/Infectious Disease physician to create a safe and clean environment for patient care. Quality management duties shall include engaging in investigative and/or audit functions, i.e., TJC, Sentinel Events, OIG, Fact Findings, etc. Functions and Responsibilities: – Identifying and implementing infection prevention and control activities that are specific to the setting, population and care provided. – Applying epidemiologic principles and statistical methods to identify target populations, analyze trends and risk factors, and design and evaluate prevention and control strategies. This includes outbreak and exposure, incidents. – Obtaining and managing critical data and information; including a systematic approach to infection surveillance to monitor the effectiveness of prevention and control strategies. – Educating and training healthcare workers and patients for infection prevention and control and healthcare epidemiology. – Preventing and controlling infections between employees and patients; including collaborative activities with employee health. – Providing expert knowledge and consultation in infection prevention and control and healthcare epidemiology-related issues. – Identifying and participating in performance improvement opportunities based on indicators, process and outcome measures, and other findings/observations. – Providing ongoing evaluation of the quality and effectiveness of the infection control program and plan. – Integration of pertinent regulatory requirements, accreditation standards, professional guidelines, and current infection control practices into developing and recommending policies and procedures. – Maintaining compliance with professional, regulatory, and accrediting standards. – Reporting and collaborating with local and state. health departments of communicable diseases and related conditions to assist with control of infectious diseases in the community. – Participation in the infection prevention and control issues of the facility’s Environment of Care, Emergency Preparedness, and construction projects. – Applying relevant research findings to infection prevention and control practices and/or participates in infection prevention and control-related research independently or collaboratively. – Considering financial implications when making recommendations for changes in infection control prevention and control practices. – Collaborating and providing care of patients seen in the Infectious Disease Clinic. – Assists in evaluating the effectiveness of the Infection Control Program and Risk Assessment at least annually. – Performs other duties as assigned to meet the needs of the Quality and Patient Safety Service, Veterans, and the organization. The IP Nurse meets the needs of customers while supporting the Hines VAH mission. Functions as an advanced clinician and executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex patient care. Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates delivery of care based on age specific components. Demonstrates performance and leadership that is broad enough to improve the care for a group of patients. They demonstrate sound decision-making and judgment and possess excellent interpersonal skills. They are self-directed and influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team and leading innovative process improvement initiatives. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Monday thruFriday, 8am-430pm, Rotating Weekends every 4 weeks Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS):Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) – See “Additional Information” below for details. Qualifications Basic Requirements: English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); OR Individuals attending a master’s level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor’s level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program. Upon achievement of a State license, the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program. (Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6); OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program. Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a f