Infection Control Nurse (RN or LPN) – Belhaven Nursing & Rehabilitation Center – Chicago, IL

Job Summary:

Responsible for the Infection Prevention Program. Evaluates quality of resident care and resident outcomes as they relate to healthcare–associated infections. Collects, prepares and analyzes healthcare–associated infection data, presents this data, and makes recommendations for actions. Monitors employee compliance in use of barriers and infection prevention measures. Prepares and presents educational offerings for the staff and serves as a resource to all departments and personnel. Implements policies to protect the healthcare workers, visitors, and others in the healthcare environment and prevent adverse events. Provides internal and external reporting of information and data and promotes compliance with regulations, guidelines, and accreditation requirements.

Responsibilities:

• Monitors healthcare-associated infections and any requisite additional precautions
• Assesses infection prevention problems and makes recommendations for corrective action
• Prepares the agenda for the infection prevention committee
• Monitors infection prevention practices for all departments and personnel
• Initiates and reviews infection prevention policies and procedures
• Conducts outbreak investigation and initiates control measures
• Reports communicable diseases to the state as required by law
• Provides educational offerings for orientation and ongoing inservices
• Consults with department heads and physicians as needed to improve care
• Initiates follow-up on employee/resident exposures to communicable diseases.
• Serves as a resource to all departments
• Participates in performance improvement activities
• Participates in short- and long-range planning for the infection prevention department
• Performs other duties as directed
• Ensures resident and staff vaccination programs are completed timely
• Maintain all aspects of the employee health program are completed and timely
• Champion the Antibiotic Stewardship Program
• Calculate nosocomial infection rates each month and communicate rates to the Administrator and Director of Nursing
• Ensure the surveillance program is completed in a timely manner and maintain records appropriately
• Ensure maintenance of the resident health program including but not limited to the tuberculosis testing and the influenza and pneumococcal vaccines
• Conduct inservices and competency assessment annually and as indicated

Education & Qualifications:

• Holds a current state license as a licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, or has equivalent healthcare experience
• Completion of training on infection prevention
• Certification in infection prevention is desired
• Ability to teach and evaluate clinical performance

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