Infection Control Nurse

Job Description

Overall:

• Assists in the review and implementation of the facility's Infection Prevention and Control Annual Workplan.
• Works closely with the Infection Control Manager to plan, prioritise and deliver an effective and efficient infection control service.
• Works under areas of responsibility and to Infection Control Nurse Core Competencies.
• Develops and delivers an annual delivery plan for area of responsibility in relation to the overall annual planned programme.
• Acts as a role model and mentor, providing effective leadership, advice, and support.
• Assists in the development and revision of ICP policies procedures and guidelines.
• Chairs the Infection Control Champion meetings and supports the required activities.
• Assists in IPC risk assessment.
• Makes decisions and follows through in relation to infection control issues in the absence of the Infection Control Manager.

Surveillance:

• Collects data for all IPC-identified KPIs and reports findings to the Infection Control Manager.
• Reports all notifiable and communicable diseases as mandated by the regulatory bodies.
• Performs surveillance and audits collates and records relevant data and information and presents progress reports on an ongoing basis.
• Participates in quality improvement activities and projects.
• Participates in the Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) during any renovation, construction, and demolition activities.
• Assists with product evaluation as appropriate.

Clinical:

• Participates in the staff immunization and post-exposure program including provision of immunization, counselling, and data management.
• Liaises with the Employee Health Nurse regarding relevant staff member health issues.
• Identifies as promptly as possible potential infection hazards in patients, staff, equipment, and the environment, including outbreak management.
• Determines the infection control care required for individual patients and groups of patients with communicable diseases and alert organisms.
• Provides professional advice on the specialist area of infection prevention and control in conjunction with national and local recommendations, policies, and guidelines.
• Provides specialist infection control advice, support, and information to healthcare workers, patients, and visitors in order that the spread of infection is minimised.
• Informs and liaises with healthcare providers when infected patients are discharged from other hospitals.
• Provides advice on patient placement of patients with suspected/confirmed alert organisms and conditions, or patients highly susceptible to infection.
• Reports on and evaluates the efficacy of intervention to inform future practice.
• Carries out the root cause analysis of infection utilising both clinical and nursing notes to establish any areas of improvement when necessary.
• Follows up daily microbiology results.
• Assists and educates patients and families on hygiene and best infection control standards where appropriate.
• Demonstrates expertise in Standard and Transmission Based Precautions.