Infection Preventionist Registered Nurse

Department of Veterans Affairs

The Infection Preventionist RN leads infection prevention efforts, including surveillance, reporting, investigation, and control of infections. Ensures compliance with standards, educates staff and patients, and collaborates with teams to reduce risks and improve patient safety. Supports policies and provides guidance to maintain a safe, clean healthcare environment.

• Major components of this function include surveillance, prevention and control activities; reporting communicable illnesses; infection control policy development; administrative functions; infection control education and training; consultative services, and analysis of infection control data. The Infection Preventionist (IP) has the authority to function in all services of the organization to coordinate, establish and monitor acceptable infection control practices and standards. S/he serves as a principal member of the Infection Control Committee and recommends new or revised practices, based on currently accepted evidence-based infection prevention and control strategies. The IP evaluates clinical parameters to determine the presence of infection, assess the severity of disease, identify specific risk factors, and determine source(s) for infection that can be improved. The IP analyzes surveillance data monthly, quarterly, and annually to identify unusual occurrences, clusters of infection, infection due to unusual pathogens, and occurrence of healthcare-acquired infections that exceed the targets established for the organization, determining the need for intervention. The IP uses standard definitions for the identification and classification of events, indicators, or outcomes and appropriate statistical techniques to describe the data, calculate rates and critically evaluate the significance of findings. The IP analyzes data using comparative data when available and reports epidemiologically significant findings appropriately. The IP evaluates infectiousness of patients and employees with communicable diseases, makes recommendations for isolation or work restrictions, and investigates exposures to these diseases. The IP recognizes deviations from infection control standards and makes recommendations as necessary to maintain the same level of infection control prevention and control standards throughout all areas of the organization. The IP evaluates the effectiveness of infection prevention and control measures in assigned areas of responsibility and identifies potential infection hazards and deviations from expected hospital target for infection and/or colonization of patients. The IP facilitates implementation of infection control policies and procedures and makes recommendations for integration of infection control principles throughout the medical center. The IP monitors implementation of infection control policies and procedures. The IP identifies opportunities to integrate surveillance findings into the organization's plan for improvement and initiates and facilitates procedural changes to improve infection control practices through active participation and/or collaboration with appropriate committees or workgroups. The IP takes remedial action and implements immediate infection control measures when a known breach is identified or there is reason to believe that there is danger of exposure to or spread of infection in patients or personnel. The IP communicates and follows up with all services involved to ensure corrective action is implemented. The IP formulates individual goals for specific areas of individual responsibility to accomplish the broader goals of the Infection Control Program. The IP participates in Quality Improvement activities and contributes epidemiological skills and expert knowledge of infection prevention and control methods. The IP uses knowledge of current scientific literature and existing regulations and guidelines to incorporate appropriate recommendations into written infection control policies and procedures and to ensure consistency with current standards of care. The IP establishes and maintains effective oral and written communications with all services and community agencies as needed concerning prevention and control of infections in patients. The IP ensures that findings, recommendations, and policies of the infection control program are disseminated to appropriate individuals. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards 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: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Ad-Hoc Only Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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