What are the responsibilities and job description for the Nurse Manager Infection Prevention position at VA Portland Health Care System?
The Infection Prevention Program Manager Registered Nurse serves as the clinical and administrative leader responsible for the implementation of the Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) Program. The incumbent partners with the Hospital Epidemiologist(s) to develop program goals, implement surveillance systems, mitigate risks, and promote safe, high-quality care for Veterans across inpatient, outpatient, long-term care, and specialty settings.
Duties include, but not limited to:
Program Leadership & Management
- Leads and manages the IPC Program across all VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS) sites, including inpatient, outpatient, long-term care, residential, and community-based clinics.
- Partners with the Hospital Epidemiologists to direct IPC program planning, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement efforts.
Regulatory Compliance & Policy Development
- Coordinates and participates in IPC Program policy and procedure development and review including the infection control manual, other mandatory documents, and outbreak reports.
- Ensures full compliance with VHA, The Joint Commission, OSHA, OIG, and applicable state regulations and adherence to national standards such as APIC, CDC, SHEA, and IDSA.
Surveillance, Analysis & Reporting
- Coordinates and conducts surveillance, analysis, and reporting of infection-related outcomes.
- Identifies trends, conducts risk assessments, and provides data-driven recommendations to leadership and frontline services.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration & Consultation
- Promote alliances across the care continuum, building trust through active listening, engagement, and emotional intelligence.
- Collaborates with internal stakeholders including but not limited to Employee Health, Industrial Hygiene, Patient Safety, Engineering, and Risk Management to provide consultation, reports, and programmatic support.
- Establishes and maintains partnerships with regional (VISN) and national (VACO) VA counterparts; local academic (OHSU) and community IP programs; as well as local and state public health.
Emergency Preparedness & Specialty Expertise
- Coordinates and provides IP expert consultation for emergency planning, including high-consequence infection and pandemic preparedness.
Education, Training & Professional Development
- Seeks knowledge from professional organizations to enhance personal leadership and career growth.
- Mentors and supports the professional growth of IPC Program team members and nursing students and staff.
- Leads educational initiatives and contributes to professional development activities that advance IPC knowledge across the organization.
Evidence-Based Practice, Research & Quality Improvement
- Leads evidence-based practice and quality improvement initiatives to improve infection-related outcomes and disseminates findings to stakeholders.
- Supports and/or initiates IPC-related research.
Leadership, Professionalism, and Clinical Accountability
- Demonstrates advanced clinical judgment with the ultimate goal to improve Veteran experience, safety, and quality of care.