Reports To: Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)
FLSA Classification: Full Time, Non Exempt, Hourly $43.46 - $49.53
Essential Functions:
- Perform, coordinate, and direct the process of surveillance to identify healthcare acquired infections and other adverse outcomes to ensure safe patient care.
- Use the electronic medical record to review clinical and laboratory findings to identify infectious conditions that may require reporting or further action such as the implementation of precautions to prevent organism transmission.
- Conduct cluster and outbreak investigations and institute control measures, monitoring and evaluating incidents, trend, and threshold of information on various infections.
- Evaluate and reduce risk of transmission of infections.
- Serve as content expert in all infection prevention matters in support of clinical staff, quality improvement teams, and hospital committees.
- Develop and maintain hospital-wide infection control policies and procedures, ensuring that policies meet local, state, and federal requirements.
- Demonstrate knowledge of appropriate treatment for patients of all ages.
- Round in assigned inpatient units, outpatient areas, perioperative areas, and ancillary departments regularly and on an as needed basis for evaluating compliance with infection prevention practices, policies, and regulatory agency requirements.
- Recognize need and then develop and provide educational programs on infection prevention for all levels of personnel to improve their infection prevention knowledge base and practice.
- Conduct new employee education providing basic information, prevention principles, and practices.
- Assemble agendas, graphs, and materials presented and distributed to the Infection Control Committee, quality improvement teams, and others as requested.
- Acquire and maintain current knowledge of infection prevention professional society guidelines, best practices, and regulatory requirements as demonstrated by attending infection prevention conferences and workshops, maintaining active membership in the Association for Practitioners of Infection Control (APIC), reviewing current infection prevention literature, guidelines, and national standard and networking with external Infection Prevention Specialists.
- Understand and utilize universal precautions.
- Develop competency outcomes and design curricula that reflect the educational needs of the department/organization.
- Teach courses and provide Just-in-Time training to licensed nurses and unlicensed personnel.
- Engage in policy development and revisions through research, analysis, consultation, and synthesis of information.
- Incorporate evidence-based research into education plans, patient treatment plans, and nursing practices.
- Promote critical thinking among nurses and show commitment to professional development and lifelong learning.
- Evaluates practice in relation to professional standards, statutes, regulatory requirements, hospital and departmental policies, and standards of care.
- Serve as a role model for ancillary staff.
- Actively participate in seminars, conferences, in-services, committees, policy revision, and other duties as requested.
- Other duties as assigned.
Education and Experience:
- Graduation from an accredited school of nursing is required.
- Minimum 3 years of nursing experience required.
- Current, unencumbered RN license required.
- Previous experience in Infection Control and/or Nurse Educator preferred.
- BLS required within six (6) months of transfer or hire.
- Current BLS Instructor Certification or required within (6) months of transfer or hire.
- Current ACLS Instructor Certification or required within (12) months of transfer or hire.
- Current Certification in Infection Control or required within (24) months of transfer or hire.
- Knowledgeable of current nursing trends and evidence-based practices.
Skills and Expectations:
- Kind and professional demeanor.
- Professional and well-groomed appearance at all times.
- Communicate positively and effectively, both written and verbally, with patients, family, and staff.
- Demonstrate effective organizational skills in an evolving environment.
- Work with honesty, compassion and integrity at all times.
- Understand and adhere to the scope of service for the department and this position.
- Understand and adhere to all of PMC’s policies and procedures.
- Understand and adhere to PMC’s Code of Conduct.
- Adhere to the strictest confidentiality and HIPAA regulations.
- Demonstrate a commitment to building and sustaining a diverse, inclusive, and equitable working environment.
- Ability to remain calm and efficient in emergency situations.
- Demonstrate strong problem-solving skills.
- Demonstrate strong emotional intelligence.
Pioneers' history began in 1947 when Freeman Fairfield, a previous resident of this community, approached the County Commissioners about establishing a hospital. Over the next several years, Mr. Fairfield worked with the Commissioners and a group of local citizens to build a hospital for the Meeker community. Opening its doors in 1950, Pioneers began offering acute health care and surgical services to the community, licensed through the State of Colorado Department of Health and Human Services. We are Medicare and Medicaid-certified, accept private insurance, and, of course, self-pay. Financial arrangements may be set up through the Business Office.
In 1964, the Walbridge Memorial Convalescent Wing opened its doors for long-term care, made possible through the generosity of the wills of Carl and Adelaide Walbridge. Attached to the north side of the hospital, the Wing, with its 33 beds, brings skilled and intermediate nursing to residents who are unable to care for themselves. Through the Wing's rehabilitation services, exercise, and activity groups, each resident's care is individualized to meet his or her physical, emotional, nutritional, and spiritual needs. The Wing is licensed by the State of Colorado Department of Health and Human Services, and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private-pay residents.
First-line health care services are delivered through Meeker Family Health Center. The MFHC originated in 1990 as a rural health clinic, and its physicians, nurse practitioners, and staff continue to strive to meet our community's and visitors' healthcare needs.
