Registered Nurse - Infection Preventionist Consultant

<p>The IP Consultant position reports to the Manager, Infection Control and works collaboratively with the Infection Control Committee/Infectious Disease physician to create a safe and clean environment for patient care. Quality management duties shall include engaging in investigative and/ or audit functions, i.e., TJC, Sentinel Events, OIG, Fact Findings, etc.</p><h3>Major Duties</h3><p>The Infection Preventionist (IP) Consultant is a registered nurse who is accountable for multiple facets of the Hines Infection Control Program, aligned under the Quality and Patient Safety (QPS) Service. Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Identifying and implementing infection prevention and control activities that are specific to the setting, population and care provided. Applying epidemiologic principles and statistical methods to identify target populations, analyze trends and risk factors, and design and evaluate prevention and control strategies. This includes outbreak and exposure incidents. Obtaining and managing critical data and information; including a systematic approach to infection surveillance to monitor the effectiveness of prevention and control strategies. Educating and training healthcare workers and patients for infection prevention and control and healthcare epidemiology. Preventing and controlling infections between employees and patients; including collaborative activities with employee health. Providing expert knowledge and consultation in infection prevention and control and healthcare epidemiology-related issues. Identifying and participating in performance improvement opportunities based on indicators, process and outcome measures, and other findings/observations. Integration of pertinent regulatory requirements, accreditation standards, professional guidelines, and current infection control practices into developing and recommending policies and procedures. Reporting and collaborating with local and state. health departments of communicable diseases and related conditions to assist with control of infectious diseases in the community. Participation in the infection prevention and control issues of the facility's Environment of Care, Emergency Preparedness, and construction projects. Applying relevant research findings to infection prevention and control practices and/or participates in infection prevention and control-related research independently or collaboratively. Considering financial implications when making recommendations for changes in infection control prevention and control practices. Collaborating and providing care of patients seen in the Infectious Disease Clinic. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: Up to 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: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM- 4:30 PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized</p><h3>Requirements</h3>U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.<h3>Education</h3>IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: All Registered Nurses must be a 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. 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).