Registered Nurse- Infection Prevention
Job Location:
Phoenix, AZ - USA
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
The Registered Nurse Infection Preventionist is responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising infection control practices. Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on education self-management and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care. Follows procedures per established policies and guidelines. Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team.
Duties are and not limited to: The Registered Nurse (RN) Infection Preventionist (IP) is responsible for providing competent evidence-based infection control practices. The IP establishes surveillance indicators and conducts monitoring to identify and reduce the risk of acquiring and transmitting infections among patients employees visitors and students. Contributes to the annual
Infection Control Risk Assessment determining appropriate resources needed to accomplish
the proposed plan communicating any variance to administration and revises plan as needed.
The IP provides education on infection control issues as well as annual and ongoing trainings to
staff. Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of
healthcare professionals. The IP serves as an education resource for all employees on infection
control epidemiology and provides knowledge and guidance. Supports colleagues through
knowledge sharing while questioning clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence based
practices to provide safe quality nursing care.
Collaborates with Employee Occupational Health (EOH) and other members of the
interdisciplinary team to plan and implement the Immunization Program i.e. influenza. The IP
assists the Infection Control Provider in managing the Clinical Case Registry (CCR) for Human
Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and Hepatitis C
including providing reports and alerts to clinicians. The IP has an important role in various
programs and systems within the organization i.e. Reusable Medical Equipment (RME)
Construction and Water Safety committees. The IP participates in risk assessments for all
construction projects and completes random walk-throughs of construction projects to
inspect/review practices. The IP implements and maintains a system for analyzing trending
and reporting data. The IP assists in developing and maintaining mandatory documents such as
standards operating procedures policies outbreak and exposure investigations and external
agency required documents.
The IP provides leadership in ensuring the Infection Control Program complies with all
mandated Veteran Health Administration (VHA) The Joint Commission (TJC) Office of Safety
and Health Administration (OSHA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) applicable State regulations. The IP evaluates reviews and revising facility policies and procedures following national standard changes from Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) Centers for Disease Control (CDC) The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) etc. The IP works collaboratively with other clinical and administrative departments and staff including but not limited to Industrial Hygiene Patient Safety Engineering Risk Management and EOH in providing reports consultative advice and other data needed. The IP serves on facility committees to communicate educate and provide consultation.
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 license from any US State or territory
Work Schedule: Full-Time 8:00am-4:30pm. Tour subject to change depending on the needs of facility.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
- U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
- All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Subject to background/security investigation.
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
- Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- You may be required to serve a probationary period.
- Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.
Basic Requirements:
- English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
- Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); OR Individuals attending a masters level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelors level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program. Upon achievement of a State license the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program. (Reference VA Handbook 5005 Appendix G6); OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing possession of a current full active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program. Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD).
- Current full active and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. Puerto Rico) of the United States or the District of Columbia. Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements but do not possess the required licensure may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.)
Preferred Experience:
Infection Prevention Experience - Two years of Infection Prevention work including NHSN surveillance Joint Commission/OIG participation outbreak investigations risk assessments IPC consultation and use of APIC CDC OSHA and VHA 1131 standards.
Leadership Experience - Two years of nurse leader experience in VA or similar systems supporting Nurse Managers and providers leading interdisciplinary teams guiding change management mentoring staff improving care processes and contributing to organizational performance.
Epidemiology Experience - Experience applying epidemiologic methods to HAI surveillance trend analysis infection-rate calculations outbreak detection and risk assessment with ability to interpret data evaluate clinical risk and support evidence-based IPC decisions.
MDRO Coordinator Experience - Two years as MDRO Coordinator or backup including transmission investigations containment strategies MDRO policy development and collaboration with clinical/support services.
VISN Collaboration - Experience working with VISN IPC leadership participating in workgroups and supporting regional standardization and performance improvement.
Program Management - Experience leading system-wide programs or process-improvement efforts requiring interdisciplinary collaboration and data-driven evaluation.
APIC Training - Completion of APIC EPI Intensive or equivalent training.
NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification.
Grade Determinations: The following Scope Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates and if appropriate the level within a grade. The Dimension requirements (Practice Veteran/Patient Driven Care Leadership Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: I Level I
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit Requirements: This position may include a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nurses such as walking bending stooping and some lifting. There may also be extended periods of sitting or standing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols using mechanical lifts that are provided
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38 and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations Security and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Experience:
IC
