Summary

The Infection Prevention and Control Nurse is a professional registered nurse who is accountable for the multiple facets of the Puget Sound VA Healthcare System Infection Prevention Program. The nurse utilizes effective prevention and control activities that are specific to the practice setting - the population served - and the continuum of care.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program
• Upon achievement of a State license - the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program
• (Reference VA Handbook 5005 - Appendix G6)
• OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing - possession of a current - full - active - and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program
• Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)
• Current - full - active - and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State - Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) of the United States - or the District of Columbia
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements - but do not possess the required licensure - may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification
• Grade Determinations: The following Scope - Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates - and if appropriate - the level within a grade
• The Dimension requirements (Practice - Veteran/Patient Driven Care - Leadership - Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12965773
• Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I - Level I Delivers fundamental - knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies
• An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing - with no additional professional nursing required
• Nurse I - Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts - cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required
• Nurse I - Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning
• Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
• A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting
• MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to: Reviews and analyzes existing regulations - standards - and/or guidelines of applicable professional organizations and government agencies and ensures medical center programs comply with regulatory agency requirements as related to Infection Prevention and Control
• Applies epidemiological principles and statistical methods - including risk stratification - to identify target populations - analyze trends and risk factors - and design and evaluate prevention and control strategies
• Uses a systematic approach to surveillance to monitor the effectiveness of prevention and control strategies that are consistent with the organization's goals and objectives
• Identify and implement infection prevention and control strategies according to specific topics such as hand hygiene - cleaning - disinfection & sterilization - direct and indirect patient care settings - therapeutic and diagnostic procedures and devices - use of isolation precautions - patient placement - environmental hazards - use of patient care products and medical equipment - construction & renovation - and influxes of patients with communicable diseases
• Uses standardized definitions for the identification and classification of events - indicators - or outcomes
• Performs medical record reviews - data abstraction - and data collection to identify HAI and determine if HAI prevention measures were adhered to
• Performs routine audits of professional practices related to infection control
• Identify barriers to compliance with procedures and involve HCWs within the organization
• Uses appropriate statistical techniques to describe data - calculate rates and critically evaluate the significance of findings as compared to internal and external benchmarks
• Utilizes findings to implement and evaluate infection prevention strategies
• Reviews and analyzes current scientific literature and publications and recommends new or revised practices or procedures based on currently accepted - evidence-based infection prevention and control strategies
• Use data from surveillance findings to identify the need for change and propose intervention/improvement projects
• Provides consultation to administration - committees - staff - and managers on issues regarding infection prevention and control
• Serves as an educational resource for all employees and clinical staff on all infection prevention & control related topics
• Participates in the organization's multidisciplinary performance improvement strategies
• Understands adult education principles - can design educational programs - and has effective presentation skills
• Routinely assesses the educational needs of the organization and develops educational objectives and strategies to meet those needs and continuously evaluates the effectiveness of educational programs and learner outcomes
• Monitors labs and can identify positive multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) for immediate review/investigation and implement appropriate isolation precautions as needed
• Conducts surveillance and investigations by using epidemiological principles
• Identify clusters of hospital-associated infections (or other unusual events) through contacts with clinical units and laboratories - through alerts - or through systematic analysis of microbiological laboratory testing
• Collaborates with local and state health departments as needed
• Reports epidemiologically significant findings to appropriate committees - governmental agencies - etc
• as applicable and integrates relevant public health issues into practice
• Review and update policies to improve infection prevention processes and procedures
• Serves on medical center committees to communicate - educate - and consult about infection prevention and infectious disease
• Acquires and maintains current knowledge and skills in infection prevention and control and epidemiology
• Preferred Experience: Certified in Infection Control (CIC) Previous experience as an Infection Prevention and Control Nurse
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing or bachelors degree in related field such as Microbiology
• MSN degree highly preferred
• 3 years RN experience in an inpatient hospital setting VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary - regular salary increases - potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Mon-Fri - 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Adhoc Only Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.