LVN IP - S

Pay Range: $80,000.00 - $130,000.00 annually, depending on experience.

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401k Matching

Responsibilities

• Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, coordinate, and direct the infection control program in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines governing nursing care facilities.
• Ensure facility compliance with CDC, OSHA, and local regulations concerning infection control, standard/universal precautions, and aseptic techniques.
• Develop, maintain, and update infection control policies and procedures to address problem areas and ensure corrective actions.
• Interpret and communicate infection control policies and procedures as needed.
• Maintain a reference library of infection control materials to support daily operations.
• Provide written and oral reports to the Administrator regarding the facility’s infection control program.
• Assist departments in evaluating and classifying job-related tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids.
• Monitor infection control practices to ensure compliance with standard operating procedures.
• Conduct rounds to nursing units for case findings, environmental sanitation reviews, and supervision of isolation precautions.
• Visit isolated residents to ensure adherence to isolation precautions and aseptic techniques.
• Ensure availability of laboratory support, including microbiological and serological services.
• Review and analyze infectious disease laboratory reports and collaborate with the Director of Nursing Services on care plans.
• Develop and implement guidelines for decontamination and sterilization activities.
• Test sterile packs, bundles, and supplies, including sterilization equipment, and monitor shelf life of medical items.
• Ensure proper disposal and removal of infective and contaminated materials.
• Prepare monthly summaries of resident and personnel infections, corrective actions, and results for the Administrator and Director of Nursing Services.
• Investigate and report on nosocomial and community-acquired infections.
• Maintain records of residents and employees with nosocomial infections.
• Participate in surveys of possible infection carriers and trace sources of infection within the facility.
• Assist in developing infection control procedures for laundry, linen handling, and equipment cleaning.
• Participate in facility surveys conducted by authorized government agencies.
• Assist in developing and implementing a facility-wide TB management control program.
• Report all reportable diseases to county and state health departments.
• Complete administrative duties such as medical forms, reports, evaluations, and charting.

Committee Functions

• Serve on and participate in Infection Control Committee meetings.
• Represent the Infection Control Committee as required.
• Assist in evaluating and revising infection control practices and aseptic techniques.
• Establish criteria for classifying job-related tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids.
• Provide written and oral reports on nosocomial infections to the Infection Control Committee.
• Ensure major changes in cleaning products or techniques are approved by the Infection Control Committee.
• Evaluate and implement recommendations from the Infection Control Committee.
• Provide information and recommendations on TB assessment and isolation protocols.

Personnel Functions

• Develop and implement a system for detecting, evaluating, recording, and reporting infections among facility personnel.
• Assist the personnel director in developing and implementing an employee health services program, including individual counseling.
• Provide counseling on infection control policies, personal hygiene, and handwashing techniques.
• Inform personnel about the facility’s hepatitis B vaccination policies.
• Assist in establishing TB Mantoux testing and recordkeeping protocols for employees.
• Orient new employees on infection control policies, personal hygiene, and procedures for tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids.
• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals.
• Meet with staff to identify and correct problem areas and improve services.
• Develop and maintain a good working rapport with department directors and personnel.
• Maintain relationships with medical professionals and health-related facilities.
• Review complaints and grievances from department personnel and report as necessary.
• Report suspected incidents of fraud to the Administrator.
• Ensure compliance with facility policies on unattended computer workstations.

Nursing Care and Consultation

• Participate in interviewing and selecting residents for admission.
• Ensure nursing service personnel follow established isolation precautions and aseptic techniques.
• Place residents with known communicable or infectious diseases in isolation or on infection control precautions.
• Interview residents or family members to explain isolation and standard/universal precautions.
• Conduct rounds with physicians as necessary.
• Encourage timely recording and signing of progress notes and physicians’ orders.
• Monitor medication passes and treatments to ensure proper handwashing and hygiene techniques.
• Review nurses’ notes for residents in isolation to ensure informative and descriptive documentation.
• Assist nursing service personnel in performing nursing care procedures.
• Obtain culture samples in accordance with established procedures.
• Provide direct nursing care as needed.

Staff Development

• Develop, implement, and maintain an orientation program for new employees on infection control and employee health.
• Assist in developing and conducting in-service training programs on infection control.
• Collaborate with the In-Service Director/Educator on annual OSHA and CDC training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and bloodborne pathogens.
• Develop training programs for personnel performing tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids.

Equipment and Safety

• Recommend equipment and supply needs for the infection control program to the Director of Nursing Services.
• Ensure adequate stock levels of medical supplies and equipment.
• Assist in developing a preventive maintenance program for nursing department equipment.
• Implement procedures to ensure efficient use of nursing service supplies and avoid waste.
• Ensure compliance with policies for labeling or tagging contaminated equipment sent for repair or decontamination.

Care Plan Functions

• Assist in developing, implementing, and maintaining written care plans for residents in isolation or on infection control precautions.
• Encourage resident participation in care plan development and review.
• Explain infection control practices and standard/universal precautions to residents.
• Schedule and present care plans at committee meetings related to infectious disease prevention and control.
• Ensure all personnel involved in resident care are aware of the care plan.
• Review care plans prior to administering daily care or performing procedures involving exposure to blood/body fluids.
• Review nurses’ notes to ensure adherence to care plans.
• Review and revise care plans at least quarterly.
• Maintain a team approach with all services involved in care plan development.

Budget and Planning

• Assist the Director of Nursing Services in preparing the department budget for the infection control program.
• Monitor economic conditions and recommend adjustments to ensure continued ability to prevent and control infectious diseases.
• Recommend equipment and supply needs for the Infection Control Program to the Director of Nursing Services.