Westgate Gardens Care Center is a special facility focused on enriching lives with a special emphasis on creating a happy, helpful, and heartfelt working environment for the staff. We recognize centering our appreciation on the staff will help the staff feel happy and work and happy staff mean happy residents. We hope you give us a call and learn more about our unique ways of emphasizing staff appreciation and performance.
The Infection Prevention Nurse position is a critical department head role in our facility and we are looking for the best and brightest nurses to apply. The IP Nurse will be part of a strong and cohesive team of department heads who work well and hard together to make Westgate an incredible place to work. Teamwork, reliability, and grit are the qualities we are looking for.
What makes Westgate Gardens Care Center a great place to work?!
Amazing Benefits!
Career stability with a culture of fun
Immediate availability
Referral Program
Supportive Team
Competitive Rates
Educational and Career Development
Join us at Westgate Gardens Care Center and become part of the family who wonderfully enriches the lives of everyone we touch!
Job Description: Infection Preventionist/Infection Control Nurse
Position Title Infection Preventionist/Infection Control Nurse
General Purpose
The primary purpose of your job position is to plan, organize, develop, coordinate, and direct our infection control program and its activities in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern such programs, and as may be directed by the Administrator and the Infection Control Committee to ensure that an effective infection control program is maintained at all times.
Essential Duties
Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is an essential function of the position.
Administrative Functions
Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, coordinate, and direct our infection control program in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern such requirements in nursing care facilities.
Ensure that the facility follows current CDC, OSHA, and local regulations concerning infection control or standard/universal precautions.
Develop, maintain, and periodically update infection control precautions and aseptic technique that successfully correct problem areas.
Interpret infection control policies and procedures as necessary.
Maintain a reference library of written infection control material that will assist the facility in meeting the day-to-day needs of the isolated resident.
Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Administrator, as necessary/required, concerning the infection control program of this facility.
Assist all departments in evaluating and classifying routine and job-related functions to ensure that tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids are properly identified.
Monitor infection control practices and procedures to ensure that all personnel are implementing our standard operating procedures for tasks involving exposure to blood/body fluids.
Make rounds to nursing units for the purpose of case findings, review of environmental sanitation procedures, and supervision of isolation precautions/practices.
Visit isolated residents as necessary to ensure that established isolation precautions and aseptic technique are followed.
Ensure that laboratory support is available, including microbiological and serological services.
Review and analyze infectious disease laboratory reports and consult with the Director of Nursing Services in developing the care plan for assuring that aseptic techniques are implemented.
Assist in developing and implementing guidelines for the decontamination and sterilization activities performed in the facility.
Perform periodic testing of our prepared sterile packs, bundles, and supplies, including sterilization equipment.
Monitor the designated shelf life of medical items wrapped and sterilized at the facility. Reprocess as necessary.
Ensure that all personnel follow established procedures for the disposal and removal of infective and contaminated materials from the facility.
Prepare monthly summaries of all resident/personnel infections, corrective action taken, and the results of the corrective action. Submit copies to the Administrator and Director of Nursing Services.
Prepare summaries of special investigations on the occurrence of nosocomial and community-acquired infections.
Provide the Director of Nursing Services with a report of pertinent findings and recommendations pertaining to nosocomial infection.
Maintain a written record of all residents and employees who have nosocomial infections.
Participate in surveys of possible carriers among residents and personnel, and in tracing possible sources of infection within the facility.
Assist the Director of Laundry Services in developing infection control procedures for the handling of clean and soiled laundry/linen, equipment cleaning, etc.
Assist the Director of Environmental Services in developing infection control procedures for the routine and terminal cleaning of isolation rooms and areas, equipment cleaning, etc.
Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies as necessary or as may be directed.
Assist the Discharge Planning Coordinator in developing and implementing discharge plans for the resident in isolation or on infection control precautions.
Assist in the development and implementation of a facility-wide TB management control program.
Report all reportable diseases to the county and state health departments.
Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc., as necessary.
Miscellaneous
Assess and/or evaluate new or improved resident care products or procedures.
Provide counseling for employee testing mandate required for HBV and TB exposure and maintain in confidential manner.
Maintain resident/employee exposure reports in a confidential manner.
Supervisory Requirements
As Infection Control Nurse you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties. Your immediate supervisor is the Director of Nursing Services.
Qualification
Education and/or Experience Possession of a Nursing Degree from an accredited college or university. 2 years or more experience preferably in a long-term care facility. Must possess a working knowledge of epidemiology, microbiology, infectious diseases, and aseptic technique to include standard/universal precautions.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as a Registered Nurse in this state. Current CPR certification. APIC Certification in infection control preferred, but not necessary. Knowledge and experience with PCC preferred. Must maintain all required continuing education for licensing. Must remain in good standing with the State Board of Nursing at all times.
