Job Overview: This position is a Registered Nurse who maintains currency in knowledge of nursing education as well as infection prevention. Develops and maintains skills lists to ensure consistency with competencies that are in alignment with scope of practice and facility policy and procedure. The incumbent will work in a classroom and practice setting, and will be responsible for continuing education and mentoring of staff. The nurse will act as a role model in providing the leadership needed to implement evidence-based practice and be on the forefront of Infection Control. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring that the facility is in compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations relative to infection control.

Benefits Overview:

Essential Functions (Major Duties or Responsibilities):

• Develops and maintains infection prevention and control practices specific to the population served by all services provided at MMHNCC.
• Develops and implements appropriate infection control policies and procedures and trains staff on them.
• Monitors and documents infections including tracking and analyzing outbreaks of infection as well as implementing and documenting actions to resolve related problems.
• Serves as a nursing facility liaison to work with local and State health agencies.
• Performs antibiotic review including reviewing data to monitor the appropriate use of antibiotics in the patient's population.
• Provides education to staff, patients, families, and the public.
• Provides consultation and guidance in infection prevention, control, and epidemiology to all departments within the organization.
• Oversees all aspects of patient immunization and reporting as recommended by the CDC and the Infection Control Committee.
• Develops strategies to address transmission of disease to providers and staff.
• Develops and implements systematic surveillance to monitor the effectiveness of strategies.
• Evaluates effectiveness of programs and contributes to performance improvement efforts.
• Utilizes performance improvement to promote optimal outcomes.
• Ensures compliance with Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) standards and other rules and regulations; develops and updates plan as needed.
• Monitors the facilities waste management system, procedure, and policy to ensure its effectiveness and safety, and develops, evaluates, and monitors any upgrades which may be required to meet appropriate standards.
• Ensures policies and practices are in place to safeguard patients from cross contamination.
• Develops a system for monitoring of infection control rates, including developing and monitoring performance and clinical indicators.

B. Employee Health (20%)

• Oversees all phases of the management of occupational blood exposures.
• Implements employee health programs, goals, and policies that have been established by the medical and administrative directors.
• Responsible for the quality assurance program of the employee health service, such as monthly statistics on screening and exposure to tuberculosis, communicable diseases, and blood borne pathogens.
• Responsible for developing and implementing a wellness program for the employees of MMHNCC as appropriate and for coordinating the activities of such programs.
• Maintains the privacy of the employee and the confidentiality of their employee health record.
• Responsible for employee immunizations as recommended by the CDC and the Infection Control Committee.

C. Other duties as assigned (10%)

• Provide nursing coverage when applicable

Physical and Environmental Demands: This position is exposed to unconventional behaviors by residents with mental illness. The ability to engage and work with often volatile individuals, make critical decisions is required. May be exposed to blood borne pathogens. Walking, standing, and sitting for variable periods of time. May occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Behaviors):

Required for the first day of work:

• Knowledge of nursing, medications, and treatment planning.
• Knowledge of patients’ rights regarding medical treatment.
• Ability to identify problems, develop and implement solutions.
• Ability to remain calm when being confronted.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.