Position title

Registered Nurse - Infection Control (FT) 8a-4p

Description

The Registered Nurse (RN) – Infection Control position assists with the facilitation of the infection control program at Gracedale Nursing Home. Work includes determining the presence and cause of infections, analyzing individual patient care, and facility patterns of care.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED
This position reports directly to the Infection Control Coordinator.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED
This position is not responsible for the supervision of other employees.

Responsibilities

Assists the Infection Control Coordinator with the development and revision of policies and procedures for facility staff on issues such as universal precaution and isolation care. Uses and adapts Federal agency and other guidelines, insuring goals and objectives are still met, and submits plan for review to higher level nursing and administrative staff, then implements revisions. Explains approved policies and procedures, and answers questions from affected personnel.

Makes random visits throughout the facility to observe activities, storage of materials, and how work is being carried out. Prepares notes and submits reports of findings.

Receives notices of any patient receiving antibiotics. Investigates each case, identifying the nature of infection, location, and other relevant facts. Determines any apparent systemic issue to be addressed, and prepares reports of these findings, and the conclusions.

Receives culture reports and records the presence of any infections. Traces the source of the specimen to determine the source of the infection. Takes corrective measures or refers for medical or other action. Coordinates facility response to major outbreaks of infections, and arranges testing of all patients, visitors, employees, and others who may have been exposed. Advises applicable State agency of reportable situations, responses, and results.

Required to cover for the Clinic Coordinator as needed, and to supplement the nursing administration team.

Processes forms and miscellaneous documents as necessary.

*An employee assigned to this title shall perform a majority, but may not perform all, of the duties listed in this job description. Conversely, minor level duties performed on the job may not be listed. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

Qualifications

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE – Graduation from an accredited school of nursing; AND

Three (3) years of practical nursing experience, with an emphasis on infection control procedures; AND

Possession of licensure as a Registered Nurse issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; AND

Completion of the 23 modules of the CDC Infection Prevention Training preferred.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS - Applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and present valid proof of vaccinated status, in order to be eligible for hire at Gracedale Nursing Home. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), people are considered fully vaccinated two (2) weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series (such as Pfizer or Moderna vaccines), or two (2) weeks after a single-dose vaccine (such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine).

Upon hire employee must have a drug screening and COVID-19 testing. Employees may also be periodically tested for COVID-19 as required or recommended. In addition, Gracedale Nursing Home will follow The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements with regard to booster(s) needed for workers in health care settings.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Thorough knowledge of Federal and State infection control requirements.

Thorough knowledge of professional nursing principles, practices and standards.

Knowledge of quality improvement process and data analysis.

Knowledge of methods and techniques used in medical care documentation.

Knowledge of nursing methods and techniques commonly employed in clinics and/or outpatient medical offices.

Ability to identify the presence, track the course, and recommend corrective action to ameliorate the effect of infections on the facility.

Ability to monitor patients' records, maintain relevant documentation, and issue required reports and notifications.

Ability to assess extent of medical condition and/or need for medical care on the part of those with conflicting motivations.

Ability to operate a personal computer and secure information from established data processing, spreadsheet, word processing, database and graphics programs.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with medical and nursing staff administrative personnel, associates, volunteers, representatives from community groups and other agencies, and patients and their family members.

Ability to work with teams, staff administration to ensure good clinical outcomes and best practices.

Ability to read, write, speak, understand and communicate in English to perform the duties of this position.

General Ino

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
Telephone, scheduling charts and blood pressure equipment, thermometers, patient record charts, syringe needles, blood glucose meter, surgical instruments, stethoscope, oxygen equipment, suction equipment, wound dressings, wound vac, specialty support surfaces, positioning devices, medication cards, machinery for inhalation therapy, calculator, personal computer, fax machine, and copy machine.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit, talk or hear.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty-five (25) pounds.

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.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job

While performing the duties of this job, the employee works primarily in patient care. The noise level in the work environment is moderately loud in patient care or other areas.

SELECTION GUIDELINES
Formal application, rating of education and experience, oral interview and reference check as well as job related tests may be required.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

FLSA STATUS: FLSA NON-EXEMPT (ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME)
DESIGNATION: CAREER SERVICE
PAY GRADE: CS-26
UNION STATUS: NON-UNION

Job Benefits

Full-time employees of the County of Northampton are afforded a package of benefits which includes the following:

Medical Insurance
Vision and Prescription
Dental
Life Insurance
Retirement

I. Medical Insurance

Coverage begins for the employee the first of the month following full-time employment for employees and their eligible dependents. Cost to the employee to participate in the plans varies by the coverage selection and number of dependents; and may be subject to collective bargaining, if a union member. The employee may also elect to opt out of the County's medical insurance if proof of coverage through the spouse's employer is provided. Under this arrangement, the employee is provided with an annual $1,500.00 opt out payment.

II. Vision and Prescription

Coverage begins for the employee the first of the month following full-time employment for employees and their eligible dependents. Copayments may vary, subject to collective bargaining, if a union member. Coverage under the vision plan varies and depends upon the employee's choice of doctor and frame selection.

III. Dental Coverage

IV. Life Insurance

A life insurance policy is afforded to full-time employees beginning on the first day of employment, unless specified differently in a collective bargaining agreement. It remains in effect as long as the employee is actively employed and terminates upon resignation or retirement. $20,000 is afforded to all eligible employees.

V. Retirement

All full-time employees and part-time employees working more than 1000 hours per year qualify for County of Northampton retirement benefits, in which employees must contribute 5% of their earnings, and employees may choose to add additional voluntary contributions, not to exceed an additional 10%. Additionally, employees may participate in an optional deferred compensation plan [457(b)] which may provide present tax advantages and future retirement savings. Such arrangements are made directly with the providers and the County will administer payroll deductions only.

Hiring organization