RN Infection Prevention 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.
• Develop, maintain, and update infection control precautions and aseptic technique.
• Interpret infection control policies and procedures.
• Maintain a reference library of infection control material.
• Make written and oral reports/recommendations to Administrator.
• Aid all departments in evaluating and classifying routine and job-related functions involving exposure to blood/body fluids.
• Monitor infection control practices and procedures.
• Make rounds to nursing units for case findings, review of environmental sanitation, and supervision of isolation precautions.
• Visit isolated residents to ensure isolation precautions and aseptic technique are followed.
• Maintain laboratory support, including microbiological and serological services.
• Review and analyze 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.
• Provide reports on nosocomial and community-acquired infections.
• Maintain records of nosocomial infections.
• Assist in facility surveys and tracing sources of infection.
• Assist in developing discharge plans for residents in isolation or on infection control precautions.
• Develop and implement a facility-wide TB management control program.
• Report all reportable diseases to county and state health departments.
• Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc.

Committee Functions

• Serve on and participate in Infection Control Committee meetings.
• Represent the Infection Control Committee as necessary.
• Evaluate and revise infection control practices and aseptic technique.
• Evaluate and establish criteria for classifying routine and reasonably anticipated job-related tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids.
• Provide reports concerning nosocomial infections within the facility.
• Absorb major changes in cleaning products or techniques.
• Implement recommendations from the Infection Control Committee.
• Provide information regarding TB assessment and make recommendations concerning protocols for isolating TB cases.

Nursing Care and Consultation Functions

• Participate in the interviewing and selection of residents for admission to the facility.
• Ensure nursing service personnel follow isolation precautions and aseptic technique.
• Interview residents or family members and explain isolation and standard/universal precautions.
• Monitor medication passes and treatments.
• Review nurses' notes of residents in/on isolation precautions.
• Assist nursing service personnel in performing nursing care procedures.
• Obtain culture samples.
• Provide direct nursing care as necessary.
• Develop and maintain an effective orientation program for new employees.
• Aid support services in developing, implementing, and conducting in-service training programs.
• Develop and implement annual OSHA and CDC in-service training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and bloodborne pathogens standard.
• Develop a training program for personnel requiring exposure to blood/body fluids.
• Recommend equipment and supply needs for infection control program.
• Absorb stock levels of medical supplies, equipment, etc., to meet resident needs.
• Develop and implement preventive maintenance program for nursing department equipment and supplies.
• Ensure supplies are used efficiently to avoid waste.
• Absorb established policies governing labeling or tagging of contaminated equipment.
• Assist in the development, implementation, and maintenance of a written plan of care for each resident in isolation or on infection control precautions.
• Absorb review of care plans and revision as necessary.
• Ensure all personnel involved in providing care are aware of the care plan.
• Absorb review of care plans before administering daily care or performing nursing care procedures involving exposure to blood/body fluids.
• Ensure care plans are reviewed quarterly.
• Develop and maintain a good rapport with all services involved in the care plan.
• Absorb preparation of the budget for the department in relation to its infection control program and activities.
• Absorb keeping abreast of economic conditions/situations and recommending adjustments to ensure continued ability to prevent and control infectious diseases.
• Absorb recommendation of equipment and supply needs for the Infection Control Program and its activities.
• Absorb reporting suspected or known incidences of fraud.