Infection Prevention Nurse - II

This position is responsible to provide unit staff with information and training both routine and just-in-time for topics related to infection control and related EOC rounds audit findings and other IC related issues. Will be present on the units on most days dividing time between units as needed to meet infection control needs. Responsibility to this duty include:

• Assists in yearly infection control training for CMHHIP staff.
  
• Provides routine Infection Control training to CMHHIP staff using curriculum developed by the DICP.
  
• Uses judgment and knowledge of IC protocols and standards to conduct just-in-time training as pertinent topics of infection control emerge.
  
• Meets with any unit or individual staff who needs to be provided with individual guidance direction instruction and mentoring.
  
• Uses effective communication skills to impart information to staff.
  
• Monitors unit staffs skills competencies and actions as part of just-in-time training.
  
• Ensure treatment education ongoing needs continuity-of-care and all other training are documented and tracked according to hospital policy.
  
• Keeps the DICP and the SRM apprised of identified patient health related issues and CMHHIP unit needs.
  
• Learns and maintains necessary infection control and prevention skills through research of standards CMHHIP policy and other sources of information regarding CMHHIP specific procedures.
  
• Listens effectively to others ideas problems and suggestions. Adapts communication methods to respond to different audiences.
  
• Works in an open manner and shares information with others.
  
• Responds in a prompt friendly manner to requests and inquires.
  
• Is appropriate in all communications with all staff regardless of race age gender culture ability religion or sexual orientation.
  
• Seeks approval for increased training if unsure of how to perform in any area.
  
• Serves as a role model and a resource to all disciplines on campus regarding infections outbreaks and day to day infection control.
  
• Provides direction and assistance to staff regarding donning and doffing personal protective equipment.
  
• Understands and reinforces education regarding how to prevent the spread of infection through utilization of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
  
• Discusses CDC guidelines on hand hygiene and enforces proper donning and doffing of PPE.
  
• Reinforces education regarding standard precautions transmission based precautions and respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette.
  
• Assists with Competency Fairs related to IC.
  
• Yearly assists in ensuring staff were trained regarding how to wash their hands wear personal protective equipment the safe management of equipment environment blood and body fluids and linen.
  
• Assists in standardizing equipment forms practices and communicating new information campus-wide.
  
• Reinforces education regarding standard precautions transmission based precautions and respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette.
  
• Educate employees to reduce potential for exposure to communicable diseases.
  
• On occasion may conduct other training e.g. NEO in the absence of the DICP.
  
• Follows CMHHIP and CDHS policies and procedures.
  
• Maintains confidentiality (PHI/HIPAA)
  
• Reports abuse allegations immediately by submitting an incident report through the RLDatix system and notifies the DQM.
  
• Manages time to assure effective and efficient work product.
  
• Maintains RN license.
  
• Maintains patient boundaries.
  
• Understands the RN scope of practice and operates within the scope of practice in the performance of this duty.
  
• Ensures mandatory training is up to date.
  
• May on occasion and with DQM approval attend additional training to further enhance job knowledge

Quality Assurance Measures Risk Reduction and Prevention EOC Rounds:

Quality Assurance:

• Assists the DICP to establish patterns in Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) using established guidelines and processes.
• Performs Infection control surveillance (patient/non-patient areas) as assigned using established guidelines and processes.
• Participates in Environment of Care (EOC) rounds and provides follow-up data information and education related to EOC rounds results and during infection control NEO training.
• Reports communicable diseases if found during audits rounding or other means.
• Is a subject matter expert in cleaning disinfection sterilization and asepsis and acts as a resource to staff..
• Maintains a sufficient level of understanding of CMHHIP policies and procedures related to Infection Control.
• Participates in Lean rapid improvement events to improve processes and respond to needs.
• Offers feedback to the DICP and Director of Quality Management (DQM) in identifying quality assurance measures and reporting on quality indicators e.g. the annual CMHHIP QAPI Plan and National Health Safety Network (NHSN).
• Utilizes knowledge expertise and experience to identify specific factors associated with infectious cases and provides feedback to the DICP so they can perform risk assessments or investigate outbreaks
• Implements strategies determined by the DICP to reduce risks or prevent healthcare associated infections.
• Coordinates processes with the Unit Nurse Managers Infection Control Nurses Program Support Professionals Director of Nursing (DON) Assistant Directors of Nursing (ADON) as needed.
• Responsible for assessing units/departments and completing infection control rounds and providing follow-up.

• Identifies specific factors associated with infectious cases reports findings to the DICP for their investigation and after a strategy is developed by the DICP implements the strategy to reduce risks or prevent healthcare associated infections.
• Performs process surveillance to identify whether practices comply with established prevention and control procedures policies and best practices.
• Assists in processes related to perpetual readiness for surveys.
• Monitors infection control issues on units/departments offering recommendation regarding the issue(s).
• Maintains knowledge of proper hand hygiene use of PPE the IC rounding criteria blood and body fluids exposure measures and linen handling related to contamination.
• Monitors for compliance and implements Standard and Transmission-Based Precautions.

• Data collection input and review of data relating to infection control surveillance (departmental reports patient immunization and vaccinations).
• Enters data for unit logs EOC rounds and other databases maintained by the Infection Control and Prevention Program.
• Collects and enters data in databases maintained by the Infection Control and Prevention Program.
• Summarizes findings tracks progression and identifies potential risk.
• Communicates data for feedback and accountability.
• Immediately relays necessary information (findings reported to outside agencies abnormal findings problematic trends potential risks) to the DICP and Safety and Risk Manager as appropriate.
• Performs random audits for hand hygiene and other quality related checks such as refrigerator medication microwave logs etc.
• Performs review of EHR for Healthcare associated infections and utilizes judgment and knowledge base to identify issues.
• Assists in collection and input of data relating to infection control surveillance.
• Serves as a resource for CMHHIP related to data collected on behalf of the Infection Program.
• Enters data for hand hygiene monitoring unit logs Environment of Care rounds antibiotic reports patient immunizations and other databases maintained by the Infection Control and Prevention Program.
• Reports observations of Infection Control Interventions that do not meet standards.
• Maintains working knowledge of regulatory agencies rules regulations and standards.
• Assist in completing an accurate patient database within the Behavioral Electronic Health Record (BEHR) for patient infection control issues and whether it was hospital acquired or not and patient vaccines.
• Responsible for performing Environment of Care rounds as scheduled.
• Collects and enters audit results into audit databases for EOC rounds.
• Provides audit data to DICP and SRM for presentation to appropriate discipline to request a plan of action to correct issues.
• Provides infection control information to staff during Environment of Care rounds and during infection control updates and training.
• Assists in performing risk assessments
• Ensures the data collected by this position is in perpetual readiness for regulatory surveys.
• Seeks guidance for standards or policies when interpretation is required.
• Notifies DICP as needed when review/revision of audit documents may be required.
• Assists in monitoring information regarding patients with infections.
• Offers feedback to the DICP for revision of policy and procedures related to infection control issues.
• Communicates data findings for feedback and accountability.

Other Duties as Assigned:

Responsibility to perform assigned tasks and duties within the scope of practice for this position that do not fall within the realm of duty statements A-C.

• A pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted as part of the selection process as this position is deemed to have direct contact with vulnerable persons. Felony convictions conviction of crimes of moral turpitude or convictions of misdemeanors related to job duties may disqualify you from being considered for this position. Should your background check reveal any charges or convictions it is your responsibility to provide the CDHS Background Unit with an official disposition of any charges. Additionally you will be required take and pass a drug screen.
• Current/Valid and Unrestricted Drivers License
• 2-step TB (tuberculosis) screening.
• This position will be paid biweekly.
• Influenza vaccination.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must (1) disclose that information on the application (2) provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position (3) provide the employee number from the applicants prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email () postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street 4th Floor Denver CO 80203) or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the departments action.

About Us:

*Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.

ADAA Accommodations:CDHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment including completing the application process interviewing completing any pre-employment testing participating in the employee selection process and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position please direct your inquiries to our ADAA Coordinator Nancy Schmelzer at or call 1-.