Infection Preventionist I, Winston Salem

JOB SUMMARY:  Under supervision, supports the implementation of the Infection Prevention Program and facilitates compliance with related policies and procedures for designated healthcare facilities and services. This role combines the clinical expertise required to change practice with the leadership skills to influence clinical processes, systems, and outcomes. Key duties include infection surveillance and identification, data collection and reporting, implementing and monitoring compliance with infection prevention and control strategies, consulting on issues related to infection prevention and control, and providing education related to infection prevention and control.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:  Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing.  Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN) preferred.

LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION, and/or REGISTRATION:  Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the state of North Carolina. Certified in Infection Control (CIC) per the eligibility requirements by the Certification Board of Infection Control (CBIC) required within 2.5 years of employment date. In lieu of CIC one of the following certifications will also be considered to meet qualification requirements: CRCST - Certified Registered Central Service Technician (HSPA formerly IAHCSMM), CSPDT - Certified Sterile Processing Technician, CFER - Certified Flexible Endoscope Reprocessor, CSPM - Certified Sterile Processing Management.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Demonstrates and maintains knowledge of clinical and professional nursing practice standards, hospital epidemiology, clinical microbiology, clinical infectious diseases, and performance improvement methodologies.
2. Conducts surveillance for healthcare-associated infections as outlined in the Infection Prevention Program plan. Completes accurate and timely data collection; compiles, analyzes and disseminates accurate surveillance data.
3. Utilizes a variety of health information systems, databases, and software applications or platforms, including government and regulatory agency web-based systems (e.g. electronic health records, NHSN).
4. Reports routine and significant epidemiological findings from surveillance activities to department leadership and the Medical Director. Provides data and summary reports to key stakeholders, including clinical and administrative leaders, patient care units/departments/clinics, health system committees, regulatory agencies and other healthcare facilities as appropriate.
5. Consults with department leadership, administrators and clinicians to develop and implement infection prevention strategies aligned with the Infection Prevention Program plan. Collaborates with leadership to identify issues and make recommendations for improvements based on data analysis, review of current literature, and comparison of observed practices to professional standards.
6. Assists with the investigation and follow-up of outbreaks and patient or employee exposures to infectious or communicable disease. Initiates exposure work-up protocol if an exposure occurs in an assigned area.
7. Recommends the indicated isolation precautions and management of communicable diseases. Assesses patient clinical/infectious status to ensure appropriate precautions are implemented. Assesses the suitability of patient rooms for the type of isolation being recommended. Conducts unit and departmental rounds on a routine basis to monitor appropriate implementation of isolation precautions.
8. Participates in infection prevention and control educational programs, including employee orientation, in-service training to meet departmental continuing education needs, and annual required training and education to meet regulatory requirements (e.g. OSHA).
9. Incorporates infection prevention and control standards into healthcare facility and departmental infection prevention policies and procedures. Serves as a liaison to ensure that approved infection prevention policies and procedures are integrated into the delivery of services. 
10. Assists with routine risk assessment and collaborates with department leadership on recommendations for mitigation or corrective action. Conducts unit and departmental rounds to assess physical environment and clinical practice patterns. Measures compliance with the Infection Prevention Program plan and related policies and procedures. Assists with the evaluation of new equipment or products.
11. Serves as a resource for infection prevention and control issues. May serve on a variety of committees related to infection prevention, patient safety, accreditation and regulatory preparedness, and quality and performance improvement (e.g. Infection Prevention Committee).
12. Serves as a consultant related to federal, state and local regulatory agency infection prevention requirements, including but not limited to Blood borne Pathogens, Communicable Disease Rules, Sanitation Rules and NC rules for licensure of hospitals.
13. Effectively communicates and interacts with patients, families, staff, and members of the community from diverse backgrounds. Considers age-specific needs when interacting with patients and families and providing care.
14. Promotes and delivers safe, high-quality, patient-centered care; advocates for patients, visitors and healthcare workers throughout the continuum of care. Adheres to infection prevention and control policies, procedures and standards of practice. Serves as a role model and coach for patients, visitor and staff.
15. May assist with research projects and other duties as assigned.

SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Good presentation skills, including classroom presentation
• High level of motivation, initiative and ability to take team-driven approaches
• Intermediate to advanced computer skills, including word processing, spreadsheets, and preparing data/reports
• Knowledge of Microbiology, biostatistics, and basic principles of hospital epidemiology preferred
• Ability to analyze and interpret data
• Ability to identify, research and solve problems
• Project management skills

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Clean, comfortable, office environment
• Subject to many interruptions and stressful situations
• Occasionally subject to irregular hours
• Ability to take after hours and weekend calls
• Some travel to affiliates required

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist is a pre-eminent academic health system based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist is part of Advocate Health, which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is the fifth-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, created from the combination of Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Health. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist's two main components are an integrated clinical system - anchored by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, an 885-bed tertiary-care hospital in Winston-Salem - that includes Brenner Children's Hospital, five community hospitals, more than 300 primary and specialty care locations and more than 2,700 physicians; and Wake Forest School of Medicine, the academic core of Atrium Health Enterprise and a recognized leader in experiential medical education and groundbreaking research that includes Wake Forest Innovations, a commercialization enterprise focused on advancing health care through new medical technologies and biomedical discovery.

Wake Forest Baptist Health, Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Atrium Health have joined forces in a strategic combination that will enhance care, transform medical education and create economic opportunity for countless lives in North Carolina and beyond. As a part of that combination, the two health systems will be integrating technology and platforms, including our career sites.

This means that although you are applying on the Wake Forest Baptist Health Career Site, you receive communications from the Atrium Health Recruitment Team. Please know that this is an expected process, and thanks in advance for your flexibility.