Infection Control Coordinator jobs in Kansas

Reports to:  Director of Nursing

Position Summary of Infection Control:  Provides surveillance throughout the facility for infection control purposes.  Identifies, investigates and records data concerning hospital acquired infections.  Actively participates in the Infection Control/Safety Committee, relaying information to the facility’s pathologist.  Initiates control measures as deemed necessary with the approval of the Infection Control Committee and pathologist.  May designate other employees to help with surveillance measures.

Position Summary of Education Coordinator: Directs functions and activities of hospital wide educational/training services.  Plans and implements a variety of vocational, supervisory and management training programs, seminars, and courses to provide educational growth in the hospital.  May instruct patients concerning their condition, general health management and nutrition, and home discharge planning.

Qualifications:  Sufficient previous experience as a staff nurse. Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.  Registration and current RN licensure in the State of Kansas.  CPR certification required.

Duties of Infection Control:

• Instructs and coaches nursing staff in appropriate isolation techniques
• Completes a 10% chart audit (acute, swing-bed, OR, observation stay and Long-Term Care) to monitor:
  • Presence of infection
  • Identifies potential Hospital Acquired Infections
  • Monitors for inappropriate antibiotic usage based on culture/sensitivity results
  • Evaluates staff effectiveness in maintaining proper infection control practices

• Maintains intermittent monitoring throughout the facility for compliance in infection control including but not limited to the following:  handwashing, patient unit cleaning, handling of trash, glove usage, Central Sterile protocols, housekeeping protocols, dietary and food handling, surgery best practices and appropriate management of the sick entering the facility for outpatient services.
• Coordinates on specific infection control issues, problems or concerns with managers/departments.
• Ensures Long-Term Care residents are given PPD within 7 days of admission using the two-step process, provides flu and/or pneumonia vaccinations as needed.
• Organizes the annual facility-wide PPD/flu/pneumonia vaccination clinic in cooperation with County Health.  LTCU residents are also included in this clinic.
• Participates in the county-wide immunization clinics at Senior Sites in both Satanta and Sublette.
• Reports designated infections to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and/or CDC as required by law.
• Monitors and tracks infections among facility personnel.
• Serves as a liaison between facility and local/state health departments as needed.
• Provides and educates staff on the use of personal protective equipment.
• Available for emergent infection control breakouts or questions at all times. 
• Prepares and presents a quarterly IFC report to the Medical Staff.
• Prepares and presents a quarterly IFC report to the IFC/Safety Committees.
• Participates in SHERT infection control program for Southwest Kansas and ensures that staff receive appropriate training in decontamination, biohazards
• Annually submits NIMS Compliance Tool to Kansas Hospital Association.
• Maintains manager volunteer walk-through's of the facility to identify potential IFC risks

Duties of Education Coordinator:

• Coordinates and directs facility-wide training in-services.
• Provides staff in-servicing and training on patient care equipment.
• Plans and organizes programs/classes to provide continuing education to staff
• Plans/organizes/teaches classes to maintain certifications of nursing and ancillary staff, i.e. CPR, ACLS, PALS, TNCC and other continuing education programs
• Participate in the new employee orientation and annual staff training
• Provide education to patients and their families
• Develop patient teaching guides that can be incorporated with education follow-up post-discharge.
• Consults with departmental managers regarding their educational needs.
• Offers education and teaching to public as need arises, provide classes and educational material.
• Offers educational and teaching materials at the County Health Fairs.
• Maintains documentation and attendance records of facility-wide education.
• Coordinates with managers to identify needs and assistance with implementing standards/systems/processes to standardize work practices.
• Meet with patients to clarify questions and to provide teaching regarding specific disease processes and conditions.
• Serves on the Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee.
• Participates in Medical Staff, Utilization Review, Safety and Infection Control meetings.

Working Conditions:

• Handles emergency or crisis situations
• Subject to numerous interruptions
• Normally works in an office environment

(This list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary.)