Infection Control Nurse

Administrative Functions

• Develop, organize, implement, evaluate, coordinate, and direct infection control program in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines.
• Ensure facility follows CDC, OSHA, and local regulations concerning infection control or standard/universal precautions.
• Maintain a reference library of written infection control material.
• Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Administrator concerning the infection control program.
• Absorb and evaluate routine and job-related tasks to identify tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids.
• Monitor infection control practices and procedures to ensure personnel are implementing standard operating procedures.
• Make rounds to nursing units for case findings, review of environmental sanitation, and supervision of isolation precautions/practices.
• Visit isolated residents to ensure isolation precautions and aseptic technique are followed.
• Maintain laboratory support and review infectious disease laboratory reports.
• Develop and implement guidelines for decontamination and sterilization activities.
• Perform periodic testing of sterile packs, bundles, and supplies.
• Ensure proper disposal and removal of infective and contaminated materials.
• Prepare monthly summaries of resident/personnel infections and corrective actions.
• Assist in developing and implementing a TB management control program.
• Report all reportable diseases to county and state health departments.
• Complete medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc., as necessary.

Committee Functions

• Serve on and participate in Infection Control Committee meetings.
• Evaluate and revise infection control practices and aseptic technique.
• Evaluate and establish criteria for classifying routine and reasonably anticipated job-related tasks.
• Provide reports concerning nosocomial infections within the facility.
• Affirm major changes in cleaning products or techniques.
• Evaluate and implement recommendations from the Infection Control Committee.
• Assist in TB assessment and provide recommendations.

Nursing Care and Consultation Functions

• Interview and select residents for admission to the facility.
• Ensure nursing service personnel follow isolation precautions and aseptic technique.
• Explain isolation and standard/universal precautions to residents or family members.
• Monitor medication passes and treatments to ensure appropriate handwashing/hand hygiene techniques.
• Review nurses’ notes of residents in/on isolation precautions.
• Assist nursing service personnel in performing nursing care procedures.
• Obtain culture samples in accordance with established procedures.
• Provide direct nursing care as necessary.
• Participate in the interviewing and selection of residents.

Equipment and Safety Functions

• Recommend equipment and supply needs for maintaining an effective infection control program.
• Maintain a stock level of medical supplies, equipment, etc., at all times.
• Develop and implement procedures for efficient use of nursing service supplies.
• Affirm policies governing the labeling or tagging of contaminated equipment.

Care Plan Functions

• Develop, implement, and maintain a written plan of care for each resident in isolation or on infection control precautions.
• Incentivize resident participation in the development and review of their care plan.
• Absorb and discuss care plans at committee meetings.
• Affirm that all personnel involved in providing care are aware of the care plan.
• Affirm that the care plan is reviewed before administering daily care or performing nursing care procedures involving exposure to blood/body fluids.
• Review and revise care plans as necessary, but at least quarterly.
• Develop and maintain a good rapport with all services involved with the care plan.

Budget and Planning Functions

• Absorb and prepare the budget for the department in relation to its infection control program and activities.
• Keep abreast of economic conditions/situations and recommend adjustments to ensure the continued ability to prevent and control infectious diseases.
• Recommend equipment and supply needs for the Infection Control Program and its activities.
• Report suspected or known incidences of fraud.