Advanced Practice Nurse Specialist (Infection Preventionist/Site Safety)
- Summary
THE POSITION
This unique Advanced Practice Nurse Specialist position will be responsible for infection prevention and safety at all our Isolation and Quarantine Sites (I&Q), and the Assessment Centers/Recovery Centers (ACRC). This position includes: Managing an Infection Prevention Program that addresses detection, prevention and control of infections among clients and personnel. This employee evaluates the infection prevention measures impacting client care delivery and outcomes to decrease the possibility of healthcare-associated infections; presents infection data and makes recommendations for actions; monitors employee compliance in use of barriers and infection prevention measures; prepares and presents educational offerings for the staff and serves as a resource for all staff working at these specific sites. This position will also assess, and problem solve safety issues as they arise r/t both clients and personnel. Coordinates with staff in the Environmental Health Services Division to provide technical support and guidance on site environmental health issues, including but not limited to solid and biomedical waste management, pest management, indoor air quality, food safety, hygiene and sanitation, and general site safety. Internal resources for Infection Prevention and Safety will be available as needed.
WHO MAY APPLY: This full-time 1.0 FTE, 1 year term-limited temporary service position and is open to all qualified applicants.
Interviews for this position will be conducted on August 26, 2020.
WORK SCHEDULE: Work schedule is 40 hours a week; variable shifts, including some weekends and evenings.
CONTACT: For information about the duties of this position please contact Amy Curtis at amy.curtis@kingcounty.gov
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES- Plans, develops, implements, directs, and evaluates infection prevention and control activities within Public Health specifically at I&Q and ACRC sites.
- Assures that staff are educated and updated with regard to all infection prevention protocols. May advise and supervise the work of staff.
- Arranges special teaching sessions for staff and for specific group of clients pertaining to infection control and prevention.
- Maintains compliance with regulatory and accreditation requirements.
- Evaluates and consults with members of the health care team regarding the client/healthcare worker's plan of care where contact, enteric, droplet, or airborne precautions are integral to that care plan.
- Assesses clients / staff for risk of transmission or exposure to infections and implements appropriate safety precautions and follow up procedures.
- Utilizes and integrates all available pertinent data in developing Infection Control/Employee Health Plan that meets the needs of all customers.
- Interprets data to determine when clients or employees are at acute risk for infection and takes appropriate measures including notifying Chief of Nursing, Physician and/or Department Director.
- Follows established guidelines for reporting a significant medical error or an unanticipated outcome in a client's care, which results in client harm. Uses Quality Improvement processes to improve client safety.
- Conducts clinical audits to assure a high standard of care is in place with regard to infection control and prevention.
- Collaborates with the Employee Health Nurse Manager, the PHSKC Infection Prevention APNS, and the Communicable Disease and Epidemiology section on communicable disease outbreaks or contact investigations.
- Make educational presentations to workforce members and community partners regarding occupational safety and health issues; and provides expert advice and council to internal and external customers regarding occupational health and safety.
- Observe and inspect the workplace to detect potential hazards.
- Counsel and educate workforce members on occupational safety procedures.
- Coordinate with management to implement health safety programs for workforce members.
- Respond to, manages and documents workforce member exposures to blood and communicable diseases.
- Ensure compliance of all workplace guidelines in executing occupational health nurse duties.
- Works in collaboration with site management on a variety of safety issues and develops protocols and guidelines.
- Demonstrated substantial knowledge of Infection Control & Epidemiology; disease processes; surveillance and epidemiologic investigation; preventing / controlling the transmission of infectious agents; employee / occupational health and health promotion and disease prevention principles and practices.
- Demonstrated knowledge of OSHA/WISHA, contract compliance, and applying standards.
- Demonstrated knowledge of the specific conditions, diseases, and treatment therapies for the specific client/health care worker population of the organization.
- Demonstrated knowledge of the occurrence reporting system. Uses system to report potential client safety issues.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze complex data and draw conclusions needed to inform public policy; write persuasive policy papers; establish work priorities and manage multiple projects simultaneously; communicate and maintain working relationships with diverse populations; facilitate group discussion and consensus; make public presentations, and develop training materials for healthcare providers and community partners.
- Demonstrated ability to work with community organization; multicultural and interdisciplinary coalition building strategies and techniques; needs assessment process at the systems and community level; and data analysis and display techniques.
- Working knowledge of Washington State law relating to nursing care (WAC 18.79) and federal health care regulations; professional ethics related to delivery of nursing and allied health services; adult learning and education techniques and principles; health status indicators and variability within populations; community, professional and educational resources; leadership practices; historical development, structure, and interaction of public health and individual health.
- Computer proficiency to include experience in word processing, spreadsheets and databases.
- The selected candidate must pass a security clearance and/or background check to secure access to the correctional facilities.
Requirements:- Current Washington State license as a Registered Nurse.
- Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from a school of nursing
- Current BLS-CPR for Healthcare Providers
- Washington State Driver's License or the ability to travel to work locations with limited or no public transportation services.
- Letter of Interest
Desired Qualifications:- Master's degree in Nursing or a related field preferred.
- Extensive training and experience in infection prevention with specialty certification from the Certification Board of Infection Control & Epidemiology (CBIC) / CIC designation within the last 5 years. If expired, you will be required to pass the Self Achievement Recertification Examination (SARE) within 90 days of employment.
- COHN desired but not required.
- Clinical audit experience.
- Electronic charting experience.
- Knowledgeable in Quality Improvement processes.
- Two years recent employment as an Infection Preventionist, preferably in an Ambulatory Care setting.
- Knowledgeable in employee health concepts including OHSA/WISHA standards and CDC guidelines.
Staff may be required to play an active role in the event of a public health emergency, which may include changes in responsibilities and working hours.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION Your application materials must validate your answers to the supplemental questions. If your answers can not be validated, you will not proceed to the next steps of the process.
The selected candidate will be required to pass a thorough background investigation.
Positions in this classification are represented by the Washington State Nurses Association.
This selection process may include but is not limited to: evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, testing and interviewing. For more information on our selection process, please refer to http://www.metrokc.gov/health/about/hiring.htm
Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
Staff may be required to play an active role in the event of a public health emergency, which may include changes in responsibilities and working hours.
If you need a disability accommodation in the application or testing process, please call the contact number listed on the job announcement.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite gyms and activity centers
- Employee giving program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
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01Have you used an electronic health records system? If so, what systems are you proficient in using?02Have you ever been subject to review, challenges, and/or disciplinary action, formal or informal, by an ethics committee, licensing board, medical disciplinary board or related professional association?
- Yes
- No
03Have you ever been involved, as a health service provider, in a malpractice claim or suit?- Yes
- No
04Have you ever had your license to practice nursing in any jurisdiction revoked, denied, suspended, reduced, or relinquished?- Yes
- No
05Do you have knowledge of any action pending before any licensing board(s) which could affect your license or ability to practice?- Yes
- No
06Are you willing to provide pregnancy options counseling to women and possibly administer Plan B?- Yes
- No
07Are you willing to accept a term-limited temporary (TLT) position?- Yes
- No
08Seattle & King County Public Health has a strong commitment to equity and social justice. All staff are given training in Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) as well as Trauma Informed Care (TIC). Please describe why working for an agency that values ESJ and TIC is important to you.09Do you possess BLS CPR for Healthcare Providers? If so, please attach documentation of your current BLS/CPR certification. If you do not, please describe how you would obtain certification by time of job offer. Failure to obtain this BLS/CPR certification will result in job offer being delayed or rescinded.10Please describe the aspects of your education, training, and experience that you feel most align with the needs of this position.Required Question