Infection Preventionist

Infection Preventionist

Requirements

• Completion of a nursing education program that is approved by a board of nursing or Bachelors in Health Related Field
• Registered Nurse (RN) – South Dakota Board of Nursing
• Infection Control Certification (CIC) – Accredited University or accredited training professionals

Responsibilities

• Applies epidemiologic principles and statistical methods, including risk stratification, to identify target population, analyze trends, and risk factors, and design and evaluate prevention and control strategies.
• Conducts ongoing surveillance using CDC infection criteria, documentation, and investigation of nosocomial infections through review of admission diagnosis, microbiology culture results, isolation orders, patient records, consultation requests, post-discharge surveillance findings.
• Conducts patient and environmental rounds in all inpatient and outpatient areas.
• Participate in investigations of unusual hospital infection outbreaks utilizing the microbiology laboratory, consultation with Infectious Disease Division, county/state public health departments, and when necessary in consultation with the Center for Disease Control.
• Report epidemiologically significant findings to appropriate stakeholders.
• Participate in quality/performance improvement activities by assessing, monitoring, and measuring nosocomial infections and evaluating outcomes on a continuous basis.
• Assist in the organization of regularly scheduled Hospital Infection Control meetings and dissemination of recommendations hospital-wide education.
• Plan, organize, develop and implement educational programs for all hospital employees including administrative and ancillary services which convey specialized knowledge and skills to increase employee awareness of existence of nosocomial infections; techniques for avoidance and preventive measures to provide a safe environment for hospital employees and patients.
• Develop appropriate informational materials at appropriate level of understanding and need.
• Assists collecting data, assessing market needs, and developing and implementing the annual Infection Control Plan.
• Serve as a knowledgeable and available resource on infection control practices and policies to patients, families, staff, and caregivers.
• All other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

• 1+ years of Infection Control Experience
• 3+ years of Healthcare Experience