Registered Nurse - Infection Control

Responsible for IP&C in all inpatient areas I outpatient clinics and serves as the Infection Preventionist consultant to the

Branch Clinics.

Consults with local authorities and national organizations in regard to command IP&C activities. Serves as consultant for other base services as requested (base schools, dental, etc.)

Works closely with the Environmental Health Officer, Public Health Emergency Officer, and Command Emergency Management Officer to determine the need for, devise, and execute control measures to contain and control outbreaks, endemics or epidemics as applicable.

Exercises computer skills for correspondence, infection control program software design/evaluations, and record keeping.

Responsible for all command quality improvement activities that pertain to IP&C. This includes responsibility for meeting Joint Commission (JC) accreditation IP&C standards and adherence to requirements and recommendations from applicable regulatory agencies (e.g. BUMED, CDC, OSHA, and state agencies, etc.)

Collaborates with the Chairperson of the Infection Prevention and Control Committee (physician) in planning, instituting, evaluating and revising the infection prevention and control program plan; assists in determining conditions, resources, and policies essential to deliver}' of health care services.

Coordinates and performs on-going inspections of all inpatient areas and outpatient clinics for basic IP&C standards compliance.

Serves on various command level committees and performs as an advisor in hospital IP&C issues.

Initiates the IP&C risk assessment for hospital construction or maintenance and permits projects prior to the start of construction or maintenance.

Prepares and gives oral and written reports of findings and recommendations relating to issues of IP&C to include reports to leadership groups that include, but are not limited to, the governing body and executive committee of the nursing and medical staff. Reports to leadership must be detailed and specific and must provide appropriate content and recommendations to allow valid decisions to be made at command level.

Assists in conducting Root Cause Analysis and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis. conducts ongoing tracers throughout the enterprise to ensure compliance with JC and other regulatory standards.

Surveillance Manages critical data and information. Reviews microbiology cultures and sensitivity data and admission diagnoses and instructs personnel when unusual, unexpected, or significant findings with implications for nosocomial infections or communicable diseases are uncovered.

Education

Independently designs and delivers informal teaching and didactic lectures to physicians, nursing staff and other command personnel regarding IP&C, communicable diseases, isolation procedures, standard precautions and other related infection prevention and control subjects.

Alerts and educates staff on emerging infection control and infectious disease issues.