Infection Control Nurse

Quality Management - Acute

Consistently named best hospital, Lexington Medical Center dedicates itself to providing quality health services that meet the needs of its communities. Ranked in the Columbia metro area by U.S. News & World Report, Lexington Medical Center is the only hospital named one of the Best Places to Work in South Carolina.

The 607-bed teaching hospital anchors a health care network that includes six community medical centers and employs more than 8,700 health care professionals. The network includes a cardiovascular program recognized by the American College of Cardiology as South Carolina's first HeartCARE Center and an accredited Cancer Center of Excellence affiliated with MUSC Hollings Cancer Center for research and education. The network also features an occupational health center, the largest skilled nursing facility in the Carolinas, an Alzheimer's care center, and nearly 80 physician practices. Its postgraduate medical education programs include family medicine and transitional year.

Job Description

The Infection Control Nurse (ICN) functions closely in collaboration with the Infectious Disease Medical Staff and under the direct/indirect supervision from the Infection Control Manager who directs the overall strategy and implementation of the Infection Control activities. He/she is responsible for the surveillance and reporting of nosocomial infections, investigation of infection or clusters of infections, microbiological monitoring of the healthcare environment and remediation as warranted, targeted education, consultation, research, administration, and continued professional development. ICN efforts impact nearly all hospital departments, services, and disciplines in order to control the spread of nosocomial infection as well as costs associated with such infections.

Requirements

• Minimum Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Minimum Years of Experience: 5 years of experience in a combination of Acute Care Nursing, Epidemiology, or Infection Prevention and Control. At least 2 years must be in Infection Prevention and Control.
• Required Certifications/Licensure: Currently licensed as a Registered Nurse by the South Carolina State Board of Nursing; Certification in Infection Control and Epidemiology (or attainment within 2 years of entry date into role).
• Required Training: Experience in EPIC or Healthcare Databases, and Data Abstraction Experience.

Essential Functions

• Perform surveillance of nosocomial infections, as well as targeted surveillance in problem areas, such as targeted environmental microbiological events.
• Use surveillance data, federal and professional guidelines, peer-reviewed journals, etc. to review, revise and develop effective policies in order to minimize the impact of nosocomial infections on LMC patients and staff members.
• Analyze and distribute monthly and quarterly surveillance data to the Infection Control Committee and quarterly unit-specific and service-specific infection reports to the medical staff, nursing staff, and the quality, safety, and innovations department.
• Routinely interact with personnel from all departments which provide direct or indirect patient care or whose responsibilities impact on materials utilized by patients.
• Drive educational efforts aimed at heightening awareness of nosocomial infection.
• Plan and participate in ongoing applied research, in conjunction with the Medical Staff and other members of the Infection Control team.
• Provide physician-specific lists of patients with nosocomial infection and surgeon-specific surgical wound infection rates to appropriate medical staff leadership for review and analysis regarding clinical practice.
• Monitor trends in unusual or resistant organisms for evidence of spread to other patients, visitors, or employees.
• Assume responsibility for pursuing necessary updating of computerized surveillance and isolation systems.
• Assist other departments, agencies, and personnel to develop appropriate patient care protocols and guidelines.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Cooperate with public health agencies in order to provide them with pertinent patient information necessary for epidemiologic investigations.
• Help develop and implement plans to achieve departmental and organizational goals and objectives.
• Monitor compliance of personnel with isolation technique and other infection control procedures.
• Assure adherence to infection control standards of external agencies such as DNV, DHEC, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Integrate infection control into the LMC Quality Improvement Program.
• Remain current regarding changes in authoritative guidelines which impact upon the control of infection.

Benefits

• Day ONE medical, dental, and life insurance benefits
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
• Employees are eligible for enrollment into the 403(b) match plan day one. LHI matches dollar for dollar up to 6%.
• Employer paid life insurance - equal to 1x salary
• Employee may elect supplemental life insurance with low cost premiums up to 3x salary
• Adoption assistance
• Employer paid short-term disability and long-term disability coverage after 90 days of eligible employment
• Tuition reimbursement
• Student loan forgiveness

Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of LMC to provide equal opportunity of employment for all individuals, and to remain compliant with applicable state and federal laws and regulations. LMC strives to provide a discrimination-free environment.