As one of Connecticut’s Top Ranked Healthcare/Hospital organizations, we are seeking an experienced Registered Nurse (RN) Infection Preventionist to join our growing team! Opportunity to make a positive impact on patients’ lives, collaborate with a dedicated healthcare team, providing high quality, patient-centered care, with plenty of room for growth, while being supported by a friendly, professional team!

• Position: RN Infection Preventionist
• Location: Norwalk, CT
• Hourly Rate: $90,000 - $130,000 $10k Sign on Bonus Excellent Benefits Package
• Shift/Schedule: Monday – Friday / 8a/8:30a – 5p/5:30p (flexible start/end time)

Job Overview: The Infection Preventionist position promotes Patient Safety and Quality outcomes and is essential to maintaining a safe environment with minimal risks of infections.

• Participates in establishing and maintaining a facility-wide infection prevention and control program, which complies with regulatory guidelines. Collaborates with all disciplines and departments to incorporate infection prevention principles in current policies and procedures or practices to provide and consult on a safe environment for patients, personnel, visitors, and volunteers. Acts as a Liaison to the Employee Health department to assist in establishing and promoting effective infection prevention protocols consistent with current practice, for the protection of employees, volunteers, students, and other healthcare providers/contractors as indicated.
• Serves as a principal member of the Infection Prevention and Control Committee. Collects, analyzes, and reports complete, accurate surveillance data. Provides current infection prevention information and coordinates the implementation of the infection prevention program, which includes a system of detecting, reporting, evaluating and documenting healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
• Utilizes infection prevention software for surveillance and works to develop proficiency in its many functions.
• Participates in designing, developing, and conducting in-service education programs for the prevention and control of infection for all health care personnel through orientation of new employees and other programs to meet specific departmental continuing education needs. Additionally, assists in providing community education as opportunities are presented.
• Assures the reporting of infections or communicable diseases to the appropriate public health authorities as required, and provides for appropriate isolation practices, coordinated patient management and exposure follow-up. Assists in conducting and coordinating epidemiological investigations of clusters and outbreaks, special studies, and exposures to communicable diseases. Also assists in the evaluation of outcomes, and provides follow-up to minimize risks to patients, visitors, employees, and volunteers, etc. 6) Participates in hospital, statewide, regional, and national committees
• Participates in the selection of care products and services, providing advice and information from an infection prevention perspective.
• Serves on hospital/system-wide committees as indicated to provide infection prevention input and promote safe practices.
• Provides Infection Prevention and Control oversight of outpatient locations
• Participates in the development of performance improvement efforts to promote compliance with standards established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Joint Commission, the Connecticut Department of Public Health, and other regulatory agencies; to minimize the risks of exposure to infectious organisms, and to utilize all the precautions necessary to safeguard the healthcare environment.
• Participates with infection prevention projects, surveys, and other tasks, such as construction/renovation oversight, environmental monitoring, hand hygiene observations, environmental cleaning validation etc. as indicated
• Monitors for appropriate Disinfection and Sterilization practices in designated locations
• Participates in prevention of Emergent infections program, and training of Front-Line Staff in the proper use of PPE

Qualifications

• Current RN license in the State of Connecticut with either a BSN, or a BS degree in a health-related field, or a Master's prepared person with (CIC) *RN’s that don’t currently have a CT RN license are encouraged to apply, as it only takes 14 days to obtain a CT RN License.
• Experience as a Registered Nurse in an acute care/hospital or public health setting
• Prior experience in infection prevention
• Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC) or will attain certification within five years of hire
• Experience in Infection Prevention and Control or Microbiology or willingness to be trained
• Awareness or experience with Infection Prevention Software such as Pathfinders/Vecna Infection Prevention software JC requirements, OSHA, Department of Public Health, etc.
• Medical and Microbiological Terminology
• Effective communication skills in a variety of settings, i.e. public forums, educational sessions, on-the-spot in-services, etc.

Responsibilities

• Assists with plans and coordination of activities of Infection Prevention and Control under the guidelines established by the Infection Prevention and Control Committee
• Responsible for studying, coordinating, and evaluating all infection prevention and control practices within all hospital departments and hospital clinics
• Provides continuing education to all hospital personnel on current trends and changes to improve infection prevention and control standards
• Assist, supervise and coordinate hospital activities related to disease transmission with emphasis on education, and patient care issues and associate safety
• Certification in Infection Control and Epidemiology
• Monitor's healthcare associated infections2
• Assesses infection prevention and control problems and makes recommendations for corrective action
• Participates in the Infection Prevention and Control Committee, if applicable
• Oversees monitoring of infection prevention and control practices and personnel compliance for all departments
• Provides assistance to department managers in development of infection prevention and control departmental policies
• Reports communicable diseases to the local health departments and state as required by law
• Provides educational presentations for orientation and ongoing in-services related to current recommendations and mandates
• Consults with department leadership and physicians as needed to improve care delivery.
• Serves as a resource for all departments and personnel.
• Participates in short and long-range planning for the infection prevention and control department.
• Provides consultation to the Associate Health Nurse Practitioner related to exposure determination, personnel infections, follow-up, and current healthcare personnel vaccination recommendations.
• Participates in performance improvement activities and committees.
• Conducts outbreak investigations and initiates control measures.
• May assist with development, implementation, and monitoring of the TB management program.
• Reviews and assists with environmental sampling as necessary.
• Participates and provides oral and written infection prevention recommendations for all construction, renovation, remediation, repair, or demolition as part of a multidisciplinary team during preplanning, demolition, construction, and commissioning.
• Collects, prepares, and analyzes healthcare-associated infection data; presents data to leadership and stakeholders
• Provides internal and external reporting of information and data as required by law, accreditation requirements and regulatory mandates.
• Assists with development, implementation, and evaluation of plans for an influx of infectious diseases
• Frequent walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, and feeling are necessary body movements utilized in performing duties through the work shift.
• Able to move freely through the facility to perform daily and special tasks
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
• Able to analyze statistics and utilize stats for recommendation of changes

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $95,000.00 - $130,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• License reimbursement
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Medical specialties:

• Infectious Disease

Physical setting:

• Inpatient

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Supplemental pay types:

• Signing bonus

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Work Location: In person