Nurse Educator, Quality Assurance & Infection Preventionist, Home Care Full-Time, Days

Be a part of a world-class academic healthcare system UChicago Medicine as a Nurse Educator Quality Assurance & Infection Preventionist in our Home Care. This position is a 100% onsite opportunity and you will be traveling in the field between patients homes. You will need to be based in the greater Chicagoland area.

Eligible for a Sign-On Bonus up to $15000

The Nurse Educator Quality Assurance & Infection Preventionist is a multifaceted clinical role responsible for ensuring excellence in staff education regulatory compliance quality outcomes and infection prevention across the Home Care continuum including Home Health Hospice and Palliative Care services.

This role integrates clinical education quality assurance and performance improvement and infection prevention oversight to support safe compliant patient-centered care. The incumbent will serve as a subject matter expert in CMS Conditions of Participation The Joint Commission standards and Illinois Department of Public Health regulations ensuring ongoing readiness for surveys audits and regulatory reviews.

Essential Job Functions

• The Nurse Educator functions as the primary clinical education leader for the Home Care department.
• Develop implement and maintain structured onboarding programs for newly hired clinical staff including RNs LPNs Aides Therapists and other interdisciplinary team members.
• Ensure orientation includes regulatory requirements clinical competencies documentation standards infection control practices and patient safety protocols.
• Tailor onboarding plans based on discipline experience level and service line (Home Health Hospice Palliative Care).
• Design and deliver continuing education programs based on identified learning needs regulatory changes quality data trends and organizational goals.
• Provide education related to: CMS Conditions of Participation (Home Health and Hospice) Joint Commission standards Illinois state regulations evidence-based clinical practices end-of-life care symptom management and palliative interventions facilitate annual mandatory education in-services and skills labs.
• Develop validate and track initial and annual clinical competencies. Conduct skills assessments return demonstrations and competency validations (e.g. wound care medication management infusion therapy end-of-life care). Identify performance gaps and collaborate with leadership on remediation plans.
• Serve as a clinical resource for staff regarding best practices documentation standards and regulatory interpretation. Support preceptors and mentors in developing staff clinical proficiency.
• The Quality Assurance Nurse ensures compliance accuracy and excellence in clinical documentation and care delivery.
• Conduct routine and focused chart audits across Home Health Hospice and Palliative Care services to ensure: Compliance with CMS and TJC standards accurate and complete clinical documentation medical necessity and skilled service justification timely completion of assessments care plans and visit documentation identify trends risks and opportunities for improvement and report findings to leadership.
• Manage Additional Documentation Requests (ADRs) from Medicare and other payers review records for accuracy completeness and compliance prior to submission collaborate with billing coding and clinical teams to reduce denials and improve reimbursement outcomes.
• Conduct joint home visits with field staff to assess: Clinical practice patient safety compliance with policies and procedures adherence to infection control practices provide real-time coaching and feedback to staff.
• Participate in Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) activities. Analyze quality indicators survey findings incident reports and patient outcomes. Assist in developing corrective action plans and monitoring effectiveness.
• Support ongoing readiness for CMS TJC and IDPH surveys. Participate in mock surveys and staff education related to survey expectations.
• The Infection Preventionist provides oversight and leadership for the organizations Infection Prevention and Control Program.
• Develop implement and maintain a comprehensive Infection Prevention and Control Program compliant with: CMS Conditions of Participation Joint Commission standards CDC guidelines and Illinois Department of Public Health regulations. Ensure policies and procedures reflect current evidence-based practices.
• Monitor track and analyze infection data including healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) identify trends and potential outbreaks prepare infection control reports for leadership QAPI committees and regulatory agencies.
• Lead infection prevention initiatives focused on risk reduction and staff compliance conduct root cause analyses related to infection events develop and implement mitigation strategies and corrective action plans.
• Educate staff on infection prevention practices including standard and transmission-based precautions PPE usage cleaning and disinfection bag technique and validate staff competencies related to infection prevention. Validate staff competencies related to infection prevention.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting of required infection data. Serve as the primary infection control contact during surveys audits or outbreaks. Collaborate with public health authorities as required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required.
• Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of Illinois.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association (AHA).
• Minimum of 35 years of clinical nursing experience with experience in: Home Health Hospice or Palliative Care
• Clinical education quality assurance or infection control.
• Demonstrated knowledge of CMS Conditions of Participation and The Joint Commission standards.
• Strong analytical organizational and communication skills.
• Prior experience in regulatory compliance survey readiness or leadership roles

Preferred Qualifications

• Master of Science in Nursing degree (MSN) Healthcare Administration Education Public Health or a related field

Position Details

• Job Type/FTE: Full-Time (1.0 FTE)
• Shift: 8:00am-4:30pm
• Work Location: Harvey IL
• Unit/Department: UCM Home Care
• CBA Code: None

Weve been at the forefront of medicine since 1899. We provide superior healthcare with compassion always mindful that each patient is a person an individual. To accomplish this we need employees with passion talent and commitment with patients and with each other. Were in this together: working to advance medical innovation serve the health needs of the community and move our collective knowledge forward. If youd like to add enriching human life to your profile UChicago Medicine is for you. Here at the forefront were doing work that really matters. Join us. Bring your passion.

UChicago Medicine is growing; discover how you can be a part of this pursuit of excellence at:UChicago Medicine Career Opportunities

UChicago Medicine is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race color ethnicity ancestry sex sexual orientation gender identity marital status civil union status parental status religion national origin age disability veteran status and other legally protected characteristics.

As a condition of employment all employees are required to complete a pre-employment physical background check drug screening and comply with the flu vaccination requirements prior to hire. Medical and religious exemptions will be considered for flu vaccination consistent with applicable law.

Compensation & Benefits Overview

UChicago Medicine is committed to transparency in compensation and benefits. The pay range provided reflects the anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position.

The pay range is based on a full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) and is reflective of current market data reviewed on an annual basis. Compensation offered at the time of hire will vary based on candidate qualifications and experience and organizational considerations such as internal equity. Pay ranges for employees subject to Collective Bargaining Agreements are negotiated by the medical center and their respective union.

Review the full complement of benefit options for eligible roles at Benefits - UChicago Medicine.