Registered Nurse - Infection Preventionist

The IPC RN provides leadership which facilitates delivery of quality patient care for inpatients and outpatients within the VA San Diego Healthcare System, community, and other health professionals in the field of infection prevention and control. This nurse provides leadership in improving patient care, maintaining standards of care, and directing and teaching personnel in a variety of settings.

The Infection Prevention & Control Nurse Registered Nurse assumes the following roles and responsibilities:

* This position requires flexibility in schedule and assignment, as this is a 24/7 facility.

* Demonstrate grade appropriate and consistent critical thinking skills.

* The nurse can manage the problem safely and effectively, recognizing his/her scope of practice (Performs assessment of patient condition and response to treatment and/or assessment of clinical documentation relevant to program initiatives.)

* Able to communicate and initiates referrals to other disciplines and/or services as appropriate.

* Organizes and completes own assignments in an effective and timely manner.

* Begin to strengthen interpersonal skills for effective information exchange and problem solving with all levels of management, consultants, and outside agencies. Effectively functions as a team member for the unit to effectively carry out Infection Prevention processes & goals.

* Begin to strengthen analytical and critical thinking skills, and learning to analyze problems, determine appropriate level of intervention, and develop and apply effective solutions. Organizes and completes own assignments in an effective and timely manner, assisting team members as necessary.

* Begins to strengthen organizational and project management skills, with the ability to lead a team, prioritize tasks, and see projects through from inception to completion.

* Participates as a member on formal service level committees, councils, or performance improvement teams.

* Assesses staff member or patient learning needs, learning preference, and readiness to learn. Modifies teaching approach based on knowledge of human of human behavior, motivations and reactions to situations .

* Assists Unit Practice Council, and the Nurse Manager in the development, maintenance, and implementation of the Unit Score Card, addressing process related to the feedback from All Employee Survey.

* Develops subject matter expertise in IPC elements.

* Begins to initiate, lead, and evaluate performance improvement efforts related to Infection Prevention and Control programs. (Competent in proper use of personal protective equipment).

* Begins to perform IPC surveillance, consultation and risk assessments and promotes quality outcomes. Maintains accessible data.

* Participates in the organization of IPC educational activities

* Begins to review, analyze, and incorporate current regulations, standards, and/or guidelines of applicable professional organizations, accrediting or regulatory bodies into practice and policies.

* Participates in data management and analysis. Begins to prepare reports to present accurate data with recommendations to IPCC, quality council, and others as required.

* Begins to formulate IPC outcomes for groups of patients, staff and the organization.

* Participates in interdisciplinary groups promoting decisions that positively impact patient and programmatic outcomes, services, and maintains knowledge and understanding of regulatory requirements and promotes compliance with agencies such as The Joint Commission (TJC), the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, VHA national Infectious Disease Program requirements and VHA/VASDHS strategic initiatives

* Learns to apply epidemiologic principles and statistical methods to identify target populations, analyze trends, risk factors, and evaluate prevention and control strategies.

* Participates in the development of strategies with nursing leadership, the chief of infectious disease and other sections or services to evaluate and manage complex events and unexpected situations such as exposures, outbreaks, and environmental emergencies.

* Performs all other tasks/duties as assigned.

Preferred Experience:

* At least two years of experience in Infection Prevention & Control, preferred.

* Certification in Infection Control (CIC) preferred or willingness to obtain Certification in Infection Control within 2 years of hire.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards

Pay:
Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards

Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)

Retirement:
Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA

Insurance:
Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted…