Infection Preventionst

The Infection Preventionist (IP) works closely and collaboratively with the Director of Infection Prevention & Control, the Hospital Epidemiologist, members of the Infection Prevention team and staff and leaders throughout UVA Health.
The IP is responsible for the development and implementation of evidence-based clinical practices that focus on infection prevention and enhance the infection control program for UVA Health. This includes: implementation of healthcare-associated infection reduction strategies for patients and personnel, LIPs, APPs, and students through assessment and risk identification; researching current literature and practice; study development and publication; development, implementation, monitoring and reporting prevention strategies; routine and focused surveillance; policy and procedure development; training and education program development; and collaboration with personnel in all job categories in the Health System.

• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:  

• Demonstrates knowledge of disinfection and sterilization practices used in all settings.
• Familiar with the clinical and operational issues in infection control, including policies, regulatory requirements, patient care and related nursing issues, progressing to advanced knowledge of the clinical and operational issues in infection control, including policies, regulatory requirements, surveillance and investigation methodologies, data collection, epidemiology, microbiology, patient care, and related nursing issues.
• Skills in data analysis, research, reporting, and documentation methods. Ability to contribute to studies, investigations, reports, presentations, and the development of new infection control protocols and policies progressing to in-depth knowledge of data management, analysis, research, reporting, and documentation methods used in infection control, with the ability to contribute to studies, investigations, reports, presentations, and the development of new infection control protocols and policies.
• Detail oriented, with proven organizational skills and the ability to effectively manage time, prioritize tasks, and see projects through to completion on deadline progressing to advanced organizational and project management skills, and ability to lead a team, prioritize tasks, and see projects through from inception to completion on schedule.
• Demonstrates interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate effectively using verbal and written communication skills, provide education, training, and resources, and to develop positive working relationships with patients, families, employees, and outside personnel progressing to advanced interpersonal skills, with the ability to participate in the development of informational materials, to provide education, training, and resources, and to develop positive working relationships with patients, families, employees, and outside personnel.
• Ability to work with management and staff across departments and to serve as an information resource, providing advice and recommendations on moderately complex issues of functionality, clinical quality, efficiency, and program development progressing to strong ability to collaborate effectively with management and staff across departments and to provide counsel and guidance on highly-complex issues of functionality, clinical quality, efficiency, and program development in all aspects of infection control.

• Technical Knowledge:  

• Competency in MS Office - Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point (create, edit and present PowerPoint slideshows).  
• Ability to manipulate and extract database information, and basic descriptive statistics e.g., Chi square, frequency analysis; preferably knowledgeable about multi-modal communications strategies (e.g., applications use, voicemail, text, social media).  
• Prior experience with electronic health records systems; prefer experience with EPIC and the TheraDoc Infection Prevention module.

Position Compensation Range: $36.73 - $58.77 Hourly

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Experience: 3 years of relevant experience.
 

Education: One of the following programs required depending on specialty: Graduate of an accredited nursing program, Bachelor's of Sciences in Nursing preferred, Medical tech program (MT - ASCP) or Masters in Public Health (MPH).
 
Preferred

·Bachelor’s degree in Nursing or comparable related healthcare field

·3 years recent infection control experience in an acute care facility, preferably in an academic medical center.  

·Masters preparation

·Clinical experience in critical care, emergency or perioperative fields

·Currently certified in Infection Control (CIC certification) or equivalent

·Completion of a hospital infection control course, e.g., APIC or SHEA fundamentals course 

·Competency in Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, Powerpoint (create, edit and present PowerPoint slideshows), enter, manipulate and extract database information, and basic descriptive statistics e.g., Chi square, frequency analysis

Licensure: One of the following options depending on specialty: RN: Licensed to Practice as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Virginia, MT (ASCP), MPH: None required.

Certifications Required: BLS certification (if working with patients). Must successfully obtain Certification in Infection Control (CIC) from the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology within two years of hire.
 

Recommended

National and local APIC membership

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work is primarily sedentary in nature, but does require frequent walking throughout UVA Health. The job involves extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and clinic rounds.

 

The University of Virginia, i ncluding the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff.  We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences.  We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.