Responsibilities

• Following assessment of the institution develops an Infection Control Program appropriate to the institution and its needs.

• Serves as member of the CQI and MAC Committee and provides information including:
  • Report of the number and type of infections identified since the last meeting.
  • List of isolated patients.
  • Report on any problems encountered with negative trends, outbreaks, exposures etc.
  • Suggestions submitted by members of the health care team for improving infection control.
  • Health and Safety rounds of Healthcare Unit(s).
• Serves as member of the Institutional Safety Committee.
• Serves as a member of the Regional Infection Control Committee. Attends quarterly meetings and reports pertinent information at monthly unit staff meetings.
• Attends monthly staff meetings:
  • Reports on Infection Control issues.
  • Provides monthly in-services as needed.
• Updates site-specific infection control policies, procedures and educational material.
• Monitors compliance with infection control policies and procedures; i.e., management of contaminated needles, syringes, razors, dressings, blood spills, etc.
• Monitors compliance with all Infection Control related medications and therapies. Reports findings at CQI meeting.
• Conduct on-going surveillance programs that note and correct any practices that are not conducive to the control of infection and communicable diseases.
• Conduct on-going surveillance of clinic areas, patients’ medical records, and laboratory and pharmaceutical reports to identify, monitor, and report infectious disease.
• Participate in environmental rounds to ensure general cleanliness and environmental safety.
• Develop educational programs related to infectious disease for health care and correctional system personnel and inmates. Participates in monthly institutional initial inmate orientation.
• Assess culture and other lab reports weekly to determine:
  • Infections present.
  • Nosocomial infections.
  • Infections: community acquired.
• Assess all patients with potential sources of contaminants (observes and cultures IV sites, Foley catheters, suture lines, etc.).
• The ICN will maintain meticulous records and establish databases designed to meet the needs of the program to include records of all infections including location, isolation and general treatment of infections.
• Performs assigned clinical duties commensurate to any licensed nurse in the state of New Jersey.
• Function as member of the nursing health care team. Duties to include staffing on the health care unit as needed.
• Monitoring and tracking of inmates in the ID Chronic Care clinic to ensure required care and follow-up is provided.
• Serves as a liaison between departments of health and the correctional facility.
• Provides monthly numbers for statewide Infection Control and Health Services Reports (as Applicable to facility).
• Investigates, completes reports and makes the appropriate notifications for all occupational safety occurrences, safety devices malfunction etc.
• All other duties as assigned.

SPECIFIC PROGRAMS:

Tuberculosis Surveillance –

• The ICN directs the facility surveillance program in full compliance with guidelines promulgated in the Infection Control Manual.
• The ICN functions as the resource person for all health staff education pertaining to the implanting, reading, documenting and follow-up of PPD results.
• The ICN implants PPDs as needed, maintains logs of results, monitors x-rays.
• The ICN informs the Medical Director of all suspicious x-rays.
• The ICN works with all resources to promptly obtain advanced diagnostic studies, such as chest CT scans, where indicated.
• The ICN works with the Departments of Health to implement treatment.
• The ICN maintains statistics on a real-time basis, including, but not limited to:
  • number inmates screened,
  • number with positive PPD in millimeters – giving the details if a positive is 6mm or 16mm
  • number of x-rays done,
  • number of x-rays positive,
  • number of LTBI cases,
  • number on INH prophylaxis,
  • number refused.
• The ICN will document all discharge planning for TB cases.

Skin & Integument

• The ICN directs the facility surveillance program in full compliance with guidelines promulgated in the Infection Control Manual.
• The ICN will culture all appropriate wounds for MRSA.
• The ICN will monitor the patients along with the primary care team.
• The ICN maintains statistics on a real-time basis, including, but not limited to:
  • number inmates screened.
  • number cultured.
  • number of positive growth.
  • number of MRSA positive.
  • treatment regimen.
  • number refused.
• The ICN will report findings at the scheduled monthly MAC meetings, and at the quarterly County MAC-Infection Control Meetings.

Air-Borne Infections

• The ICN directs the facility surveillance program in full compliance with guidelines promulgated in the Infection Control Manual.
• The ICN will activate the air borne precautions alert where appropriate.
• The ICN will make the appropriate notifications to corrections.
• The ICN will instruct the patient on infection containment.
• The ICN will leave written instructions for nursing staff to implement, when situations arise during off-hours.

Blood Borne Pathogens

• The ICN directs the facility surveillance program in full compliance with guidelines promulgated in the Infection Control Manual.
• The ICN will maintain the infection control database for the HIV infected inmates, including, but not limited to:
  • CD4 count,
  • viral load,
  • CBC with differential,
  • urinalysis,
  • vaccination history,
  • treatment center – contact names, numbers, releases, treatment plans, compliance data.

• Provides direct and indirect nursing care to meet physiological, psychosocial and emotional needs of the inmate patient within the framework established by the correctional system.

• Provides care to inmate patient in a variety of settings such as initial intake area, healthcare unit for sick call, emergency situations in housing, chronic care clinics and infirmary.
• Plans nursing care by identification of inmate patient needs. Makes appropriate, timely referrals and initiates appropriate nursing care based on institutional policies and procedures. Documents plans appropriately.
• Implements nursing care and medical care orders in knowledgeable, safe and cost effective manner. Documents nursing care and appropriate medically directed care in accordance with institutional policies and procedures. Provides inmate education as an integral part of total patient care.
• Evaluates and documents inmate patient responses to aspects of health care and makes appropriate referrals to members of the health care team.
• Utilizes effective communication skills by demonstrating respect, concern and courtesy in all interpersonal relationships.
• Communicates information in an accurate, concise and timely manner.
• Protects confidentiality of information in written and verbal communications.
• Participates in problem solving activities of the health care team by attending unit meetings, utilizing positive interpersonal skills and appropriate channels to initiate change.
• Functions as a role model for other health care unit personnel and maintains harmonious relationships with security, inmate patients and members of the health care team.
• Uses current knowledge to promote a safe environment for providing health care to inmate patients.
• Maintains clinical area in clean, neat, safe manner and participates in required counts and cleaning assignments.
• Adheres to institution and medical unit infection control policies.
• Understands and adheres to safe correctional nursing practices and adheres to institutional security directives.
• Adheres to environmental safety guidelines, policies and procedures. Participates in fire and disaster programs and drills as appropriate.
• Maintains current professional skills and continues professional growth to enhance the practice of correctional nursing, infection control practices and the image of the organization.
• Attends appropriate in services and continuing education offerings to obtain and maintain necessary skills.
• Participates in offering education and orientation to inmates, security officers and other members of the health care team.
• Exhibits an ability to participate in the change process to support the organization and the health care unit.
• Accepts assignments and extra duties with flexibility and willingness to participate in activities other than “infection control” duties.
• Be able to function in a stressful environment.
• Adheres to personnel policies to enhance the operation of the health care unit.
• Conforms to dress code.
• Adheres to time and attendance policy.
• Reports to work at designated time.
• Maintains required annual licensure, CPR certification and credentialing requirements.

Qualifications

• A current CPR/BLS card with demonstrated and cognitive skills is required.
• RN or LPN license required
• One year or more experience in the correctional environment preferred

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and climb or balance. The employee is occasionally required to sit and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

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