Infection Prevention/Quality Assurance Nurse - Full Time, Minnewaska Lutheran Home

Description
TITLE: Infection Prevention/Quality Assurance Nurse
REPORTS TO: Director of Nursing
Job Summary: This position is responsible for assuring the timely completion of accurate assessments involving resident, and staff infections, interviews, and interdisciplinary needs involving infection control and antibiotic stewardship that meets Federal and State guidelines. Included is identifying resident and staff acuity and needs, helping to determine specific care needs as it involves diagnostics, anti-infectives, antibiotics and infections as well as communicating needs to responsible parties. Participate in nursing home committees and department management meetings as needed. Be competent and transparent with interpreting numerical outcome data and presenting it visually (e.g. Excel/PowerPoint). This position will take direction from the Administrator.
Qualifications: Must have a current/active RN license with the State of Minnesota and be a certified infection preventionist. Must keep up with CEU's for license renewal. Must have the ability to communicate and comprehend in order to gather information from residents and their families. Must be able to educate and train employees about infection control and antibiotic stewardship. The IP/ QA Nurse must be generally familiar with regulatory readiness. The IP/QA Nurse will need to possess excellent organizational skills, a proactive approach, and an ability to collaborate across roles and disciplines. The IP/QA Nurse should be able to interact effectively with all levels of staff, discuss negative events with others in a supportive and non-punitive way, and inspire others around him or her toward a goal of continual improvement. The IP/QA nurse is also required to have an ability to read, write and speak English. Complete and pass a state required background study form which checks for certain criminal convictions or serious/recurring maltreatment.
General Responsibilities:

• Develops, implements and maintains an infection prevention program with input from DON and/or Administrator
• Performs surveillance and investigations to prevent, to the extent possible. The onset and the spread of infection
• Prevent and control outbreaks and cross-contamination using transmission based precautions
• Use records of infection incidents to improve its infection control processes and outcomes by taking corrective actions as indicated
• Implement hand hygiene practices consistent with accepted standards of practice to reduce the spread of infections and prevent cross contamination
• Monitoring and documenting infections, including tracing and analyzing outbreaks of infection as well as implementing and documenting actions to resolve related problems
• Develop immunization program
• Complete TB screening evaluation and annual risk assessments
• Follow antibiotic stewardship guidelines
• Follow McGreer's and Lobes Criteria
• Read and comprehend quality reports (QM,QI,Caspers)
• Evaluate current practice and identify improvement areas to target
• Implement and evaluate QIPP'S, PIPP's and quality improvement efforts
• Maximize efficiency and optimize care by implementing improvements
• Remain up to date on relevant MN SNF standards
• Conduct staff trainings in conjunction with interdisciplinary leadership
• Develop protocols and procedures as needed with guidance from the DON and/or Administrator
• Perform chart reviews and audits to ensure quality care
• Train staff across various departments as needed on infection control and quality assurance
• Conduct root cause analysis and PDSA cycle for clinical adverse events and near miss events
• Develop action plans to reduce risk of reoccurrence and follow the progress
• Identify areas of potential risk and develop systems within the Lutheran Home to minimize risk of adverse events or negative quality outcomes
• Works collaboratively with all departments
• Complies with established standard described in facility policies and procedures, code of conduct, corporate compliance plan, employee handbook and other company documents or publications.
• Works the floor as Charge Nurse providing direct nursing care to the residents, and supervisor the day to day nursing activities performed by nursing assistants.
• Provides RN supervisory coverage as needed to meet state and federal regulations.
• Other duties as assigned by DON and/or Administrator

In keeping with federal, state and local laws, Minnewaska Community Health Services policy forbids employees and associates from discriminating against anyone based on race, religion, color, creed, gender, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, familial status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Minnewaska Community Health Services is committed to establishing and maintaining a workplace free of discrimination. We are fully committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not tolerate unlawful discrimination in the recruitment, hiring, termination, promotion, salary treatment or any other condition of employment or career advancement. Minnewaska Community Health Services also provides reasonable accommodations to disabled employees and applicants as required by law.