The Infection Prevention RN is responsible for developing, implementing, and monitoring the infection prevention and surveillance program across St. Peter’s Health. This role focuses on identifying trends, auditing practices, updating policies, ensuring regulatory compliance, and providing education to staff, patients, and families. The RN collaborates with leadership, clinical teams, and public health agencies to reduce infection risks and improve patient safety.
KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE: Hospital epidemiologic methodology, basic principles of general, clinical, and environmental microbiology in the prevention and control of infection among patients, employees, medical staff members, contract service workers, volunteers, students and visitors within the health care facilities. Principles used in sterilization, disinfection, and sanitation in health care facilities. Therapeutic and diagnostic measures, equipment, and procedures used in patient care as related to and impacting on infection control.
EDUCATION: BSN, or equivalent degree in epidemiology or microbiology education required.
LICENSE/CERTIFICATION/REGISTRY/additional qualifications: Certification in Infection Control preferred or within 1 years of start date.
Attributes:
*Demonstrated ability to work with difficult issues, such as risk management and patient safety, where harm may have occurred on a regular basis and maintain a healthy perspective: focusing on the need to change processes and embracing the concept of a fair and just culture. *Demonstrated ability to manage for results in key areas such as clinical quality, service excellence, people management, and financial management. *Demonstrated ability to create an environment of mutual trust and respect and two-way communication with all disciplines. *Demonstrated ability to build team spirit and excitement. *Demonstrated ability to actively pursue positive change, both personally and organizationally. Demonstrated ability to adapt to change. *Demonstrated willingness to serve key constituents, including patients, coworkers, physicians, the community, and the organization and to exceed customer expectations as a consultant. *Demonstrated ability to work in interdisciplinary team for the benefit of the organization as a whole. *Demonstrated ability to control limited healthcare resources by effectively managing the organization's human, financial, technological, and other key resources. *Demonstrated ability to organize the parts of a problem or situation by breaking it apart into small pieces, making systematic comparisons of different features or aspects and taking a step-by-step approach. Demonstrated ability to probe and ask questions, seeking first to understand before being understood. Conversely, the ability to see the “bigger picture” and understand system-wide implications of actions. *Demonstrates integrity by actions that are consistent with what she/he says, communicating ideas openly and directly, and welcoming openness and honesty from others. *Demonstrated ability and commitment to foster the growth and development of others. This includes the ability to be direct and clear; providing tools and assistance, while ensuring organizational leaders develop performance improvement skills to ensure organizational spread. *Demonstrated ability to create a shared mission and vision and to effectively direct the activities of individuals and groups towards the accomplishment of established goals. *Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing. *Demonstrated ability to manage multiple and conflicting priorities, stressors, deadlines, difficult situations and/or customers effectively.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Infection prevention and control:
Conducts systematic infection surveillance and trend analysis; reports findings to leadership and committees. Develops and updates policies and protocols in alignment with CDC, DNV-GL, and other regulatory standards. Provides hands-on coaching and education to frontline staff on infection control practices. Leads outbreak investigations and recommends corrective actions. Collaborates with Employee Health to manage occupational exposures and disease transmission. Completes Infection Control Risk Assessments (ICRAs) for construction and renovation projects. Maintains accurate infection-related records and reports communicable diseases to public health authorities. Participates in accreditation preparedness activities, including surveys and audits. Supports performance improvement initiatives aimed at optimizing infection prevention outcomes.