JOB POSITION: RN/LPN - Infection Preventionist (IP) 

DIRECT SUPERVISOR: Director of Nursing (D.O.N.)

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt, Hourly

Job Summary: The Infection Preventionist (IP) / Education Coordinator is responsible for directing the infection prevention control program along with ensuring employees are trained properly according to state regulations.

Full-time employees, working an average of 64 hours per pay period are eligible for up to $1,000 per month scholarship/loan reimbursement!

All other employees who apply for full scholarship/loan reimbursement amount will be prorated based on average of hours worked, some weekend rotation required. 

Scholarship/ loan reimbursement only applies to student loans accumulated to obtain a nursing degree. 

• BCBS MN Health Insurance- competitive premium rates! 
• Company Paid Life Insurance and Supplemental Life Insurance Policies 
• Accident, Cancer, Disability, and Critical Illness Insurance 
• MetLife Dental and Vision 
• 401k Benefits. Available immediately upon hire. Employees eligible to receive up to a 5% match after one year of employment. (Must be 21 Years Old) 
• Accrued Paid Time Off
• Rotating Holiday Schedule 
• Rotating Weekend Schedule 
• Scholarship and Tuition Reimbursement
• Non-union position

Job Qualifications: 

• Current MN License as a Registered Nurse
• Preference given for experience in a geriatric long-term care setting.
• Work effectively with minimal supervision, strong communication skills, and ability to lead a group of people in completing tasks.
• Knowledge of standards of nursing practice and awareness of standards for compliance with state and federal regulations.

DUTIES: 

PUBLIC RELATIONS:

• Complete Marketing duties as assigned by the Administrator and/or Director of Nursing.
• Assist other department managers in planning/coordinating and hosting activities that bring the community to the facility (I.e. family picnic, parties, community coffee, Community Service Programs, Entertainment, Community Groups, Newsletters, Volunteer Program)
• Accepts inquires and provides tours to potential residents and their families or directs them to the facility designated individual who can.
• Maintains good relations with residents, family members, community guests, physicians, etc. 
• Have current and updated brochures/pamphlets available to advertise and market the facility
• Provides effective communication with other individuals (i.e. courtesy when answering the phones, assists visitors, guests and residents in finding their way around the building, does not gossip about, degrade or tarnish the reputation of the facility or any fellow employee)
• Establish and maintain a working relationship with the infection control professional at the local hospital and/or public health agency to better understand infection control concerns in the community. 
• Develops relationships with community leaders / directors in nursing programs and local school district high schools to promote health care course and job openings.

RESIDENTS:

• Reports Vulnerable Adult issues to their director supervisor as necessary. This may include filing with OHFC and then reporting to DON and Administrator per policy.
• Offers resolution or a visit from the appropriate individual who may offer resolution to any dislikes or concerns and communicates those with direct supervisor.
• Ensures any grievance is documented and reported to either the Social Service Director or Director of Nursing.
• Incorporates customer orientated approach into daily routine.
• Maintains resident’s confidentiality and respect according to HIPPA and Resident Rights.
• Identify and communicate information about residents with potentially transmissible infections agents. 
• Review microbiology culture and sensitivity reports on a regular basis to identify types of organisms causing infections, antibiotic resistant organisms, and transmission of organisms between residents. 
• Monitor and track antibiotic use to help determine if appropriate.
• Safeguard against exposure to potential sources of infection. 
• Assist in setting up and maintaining a process for communication regarding infections with other facilities where residents may transfer.
• Directs any new education or re-education needed for resident cares.

OPERATIONS:

• Follows the resident’s specific plan of care to ensure highest level of health, safety and quality. 
• Follows and adheres to Residents Rights.
• Identifies and actively supports the role of resident advocate/liaison by communication and documentation with the interdisciplinary team.
• Participates in the development of the comprehensive Resident Care Plan involving the Resident, Family, Nursing Assistant, and interdisciplinary team. 
• Assist in writing, reviewing at least yearly, and updating policies to establish the IPCP expectations and parameters.
• Define and educate on the frequency and nature of infection surveillance activities. 
• Perform surveillance for infections and compile and analyze data as it pertains to the facility IPCP. 
• Prepare and bring reports on the IPCP at the quarterly QAPI meetings along with reporting data to department managers for performance feedback.
• Collaborate with the Medical Director, Pharmacy Consultant, and DON on specific facility concerns related to the IPCP. 
• Plan and participate in process improvement activities as needed and indicated by data analysis. 
• Participate in identifying the process for choosing agents for performing hand hygiene. 
• Use and ensure others use proper hand hygiene prior to and after all procedures.
• Ensure that appropriate sterile techniques are followed.
• Use and ensure others use proper PPE when indicated.
• Conduct environmental rounds in the facility to identity potential breaches in infection control policies.
• Recommend aseptic techniques to be used in the facility. 
• Evaluate dietary, laundry, housekeeping, maintenance, and nursing techniques to assure they are consistent with recommended infection control practices.
• Assure that products used for cleaning and disinfection of surfaces are appropriate.
• Assist with management of food safety including employee health and hygiene, pest control, investigating potential food-borne illness, and waste disposal. 
• Ensuring that procedures that are revised during special circumstances, such as an outbreak, are effectively communicated to staff and implemented per policy. 
• Develop a process for reporting and report notifiable diseases to the public health department as directed.
• Develop an antibiotic stewardship program that includes antibiotic use protocols and a system to monitor antibiotic use.
• Responsible for tracking all employee education and follows-up with employees as needed to ensure training is completed and in compliance.

BUDGET:

• Monitors use of supplies and attempts to minimize waste as much as possible.
• Monitors self, completes work accordingly and is mindful of punctuality avoiding unnecessary/unapproved over-time or the waste of unproductive time.
• Participate in the control of cost-effective services that include proper use of equipment, appropriate use of supplies, and effective, efficient organization of resident care duties.
• Ensures that reusable equipment is being properly cleaned, disinfected, and reprocessed. 
• Ensure that single use medication vials and other single use items are used as indicated and properly disposed of after every use.

BUILDING, GROUNDS, and EQUIPMENT:

• Responsible for the building; cleanliness, repairs, replacement of fixtures and equipment; submit requests to Maintenance Department in a timely fashion to request any repair or maintenances. 
• Aware of disaster plans for the facility and participates in these plans and procedures during drills or actual events.
• Responsible that storage area are kept neat and organized to promote a safe environment.

EMPLOYEES:

• Acts as a professional role model to other staff for carrying out procedures, documentation, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Assists other staff to be redirected in correct procedures as becomes aware of deficient areas, or directs concerns to DON.
• Wears Name Tag at all times
• Is punctual in arriving to work, meetings, and following other schedules.
• Maintains confidentiality at all times. 
• Maintains proper hygiene according to departmental and position standards.
• Assumes responsibility for enhancing personal and professional development. 
• Require that staff use accepted hand hygiene after each direct resident contact for which hand hygiene is indicated. 
• Prohibit direct resident contact by an employee who has an infected skin lesion or communicable disease. 
• Instruct staff on caring for residents on various types of isolation precautions.
• Instruct staff on essential steps to cleaning equipment.
• Identify the staffs’ roles and responsibilities for the routine implementation of the program as well as in the case of an outbreak of a communicable disease, an episode of infection, or the threat of a biohazard attack. 
• Confirm that initial and on-going infection control education is completed to help the staff comply with infection control policies along with follow up competency evaluations to identify staff compliance. 
• On-going training on infection control including, but not limited to, hand hygiene, routes of disease transmission, sanitation procedures, MDRO’s, transmission-based precaution techniques, and federally required OSHA education. 
• Supports and encourages employees to apply for facility scholarship programs and in-services enhancing knowledge and competence in their roles.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS: 

• The IP must have primary professional training in nursing, medical technology, microbiology, epidemiology, or another related field.
• The IP is qualified by education, training, experience or certification. 
• Has completed specialized training in Infection Prevention and control and /or willingness to complete.
• The IP must maintain current knowledge in the field of infectious disease and epidemiology. 
• The Education Coordinator is in charge of and directs the education programs such as: CNA/HHA Classes, Feeding Assistant, Annual In-services, Nursing Policies Education and Re-Education.
• Work effectively with minimal supervision, strong communication skills, and ability to lead a group of people in completing tasks.
• A broad knowledge of nursing including gerontology and related aspects such as rehabilitation and mental health.
• Knowledge of standards of nursing practice and awareness of standards for compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Awareness of community resources and health care agencies and ability to collaborate with other health care professionals. 
• Current MN License as an RN, ability to pass a state of MN background check, ability to pass a drug and TB test.
• Current driver’s license in the state of MN.

RATE OF PAY:  $35.00 - $40.37/ hour; based on previous experience.

HOURS OF WORK:  As Scheduled. Typical hours are day shift 8:00am-4:30. Every third weekend rotation is required. May need to flex hours to work various shifts to ensure training with employees is completed.