89,000-102,000 per year Salary based on experience | 2201 Bay Ave, Ocean City, NJ 08226, USA | Salary | Full Time Day

RN - Infection Preventionist Nurse

Full Time Days

UMC has been certified A Great Place to Work for the 7th year in a row! 87% of our teammates say they feel they make a difference in the work that they do at UMC!

UMC is currently seeking an Infection Preventionist for The Shores, our Senior Care Community located in Ocean City, NJ within picturesque Cape May County.

Ocean City was recently recognized by the HomeSnacks data website as "New Jersey's happiest town" based on lower cost of living and unemployment rates and shorter commute times in a recent study. UMC, a seven-time Great Place to Work certified organization, has many opportunities to get you happy in your work and home life in our family-friendly town!

The Infection Preventionist has oversight over all infection control and prevention related activities within the community. The responsibilities encompass compliance with regulatory agencies, CMS, OSHA, state regulations, outbreak investigation, and overall direction of the infection prevention and control program within the community. The Infection Preventionist assists with prevention of healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) by isolating sources of infections and limiting their spread; systematically collects, analyzes and interprets health data in order to plan, implement, evaluate infection control practices. This position is also responsible for screening, tracking, follow-up and recordkeeping of relevant health, safety and exposure data for all stay in compliance with all employment and regulatory standards. As a community resource, the IP also has routine interaction with outside individuals from public health disciplines who seek information, advice or provide guidance in solving problems related to the control of infection within the community. The Infection Preventionist (IP) is responsible for the surveillance and reporting of nosocomial infections, investigation of infection or clusters of infections as warranted, microbiological monitoring of the healthcare environment. Provide education to associates aimed at heightening the awareness of nosocomial infections, advise on isolation techniques, and how to minimize infections among residents and minimize the spread of inf ections within the community.

Requirements for an Infection Preventionist:

• Graduate of an accredited school of Nursing

• Hold a current and unencumbered NJ RN license from the NJ State Board of Nursing

• Certificate of completion of the CDC Nursing Home Infection Prevention training (23 modules).

• BS Degree preferred

• C.I.C. certification or must obtain certification within one year of hire

• Competently use MS Office and Outlook

  Responsibilities for an Infection Preventionist:

• Maintains current knowledge of federal, state and local regulations and ensures that the community leaders are informed of appropriate issues. Understands and complies with infection control, safety and OSHA procedures. Interacts with the necessary public health authorities as needed and required.

• Maintain annual flu prevention campaign and ongoing infection prevention initiatives such as Pneumonia vaccine, TB testing of residents prior to admission.

• Detects, records, and monitors nosocomial infections/communicable diseases and reports to the Director of Resident Living. Performs surveillance and monitors adherence to infection prevention and control practices.

• Participates in the national collaboratives and external reporting to CDC NHSN system, and other post-acute-care specific quality organization.

• Provides Infection Control surveillance for the assisted living and healthcare and accountable for surveillance of healthcare acquired and community acquired infections.

• Conducts surveillance of infection for areas outlined in the annual Infection Risk Assessment. Develop, implement and evaluate annual infection prevention goals and action plan. Investigates clusters/outbreaks; designs, implements, and coordinates strategies to control clusters/outbreaks in collaboration with the medical director, executive director, DON, and local DOH.

• Ensures that education and counseling on infection prevention is available for staff, volunteers, and residents. Support and participate in interdisciplinary quality assurance and performance improvement.

• Collaborate with the facility leadership and the medical director to develop, implement, and evaluate the annual infection prevention goals and action plan.

• Partner with facility leaders, physicians, and local, state, and national agencies on activities related to infection prevention.

• Establish a facility-wide system for the prevention, identification, investigation, and control of infections of residents, staff, and visitors, including surveillance designed to identify possible communicable diseases or infections before they spread and conduct outbreak investigations.

• To meet UMC objectives of caring excellence and high standards of quality care and State and Federal guideline requirements. To maintain compliance with State and Federal regulations and OSHA guidelines.

• Maintain a system for reporting possible incidents of communicable diseases to local, state, or national in agencies as required.

• Oversee the antibiotic stewardship program and monitor residents' antibiotic use.

• Assess the need for, develop, and present IPCP in-service education for individual departments, general orientation, and annual review as needed.

• Develops and coordinates the infection prevention and control program throughout the facility. Performs an annual assessment and develops action plans from the prior year activities.

• Utilize nationally recognized surveillance criteria such as but not limited to CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) or Revised McGeer criteria to track trends and identify opportunities for improvement based on data analysis.

• Participate in interdisciplinary performance and quality improvement process. Serve as a member of the quality assurance and improvement committee (QAPI) and report to the committee on the infection prevention control program on a regular basis.

• Environmental rounding to observe infection control and prevention compliance of general maintenance, water management/ventilation, laundry collection/cleaning, infectious waste collection/disposal, housekeeping/cleaning, disinfection/sanitation, and equipment cleaning.

• Reviews the risk of blood borne pathogens, OSHA standards, and exposure control plan to ensure implementation of best practice for occupational health to decrease the likelihood of exposures to infectious diseases.

• Apply work restrictions and recommendations related to communicable diseases or following an exposure consistent with CDC and public health guidance.

  About UMC:

• Our Mission is: Compassionately serving in community so that all are free to choose abundant life

• Certified A Great Place to Work for the last 7 years, we continue to grow and innovate to meet the needs of our residents while building upon our rich history of over 115-years of dedication to the communities we serve. Over 80% of our teammates say they feel good about the ways UMC contributes to the community!

• According to the 2024 Great Place to Work Survey, 87% of our teammates:

• Feel they make a difference and their work has special meaning

• Indicate they are able to take time off work when necessary

• Feel their workplace is physically SAFE!

• We offer 4 Full-Service Communities, 5 Affordable Housing Communities and HomeWorks throughout the State of NJ, offering a variety of options from Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Long Term Care, Short Term Rehab, home care and more!

• Our company culture at UMC is built on our values of Compassion, Respect, Stewardship and Service.

  Benefits offered by UMC for our Teammates:

• Employer-subsidized Medical and Dental Coverage (eligible at 30-hours per week)

• 403(b) Retirement Savings Program with Employer Match

• Daily Overtime Available

• Employee Assistance Program

• Tuition Assistance, Professional Development and E-Learning

• Employee Discount Program

• Generous Paid Time Off Program

• Group Life Insurance (No Cost to YOU!)

• 9 Paid Holidays/Premium Pay when working holidays

• Free uniform items & additional uniform allowances

• Additional great benefits like Vision coverage, Health Savings Account, Voluntary Life Insurance & so much more!

  UMC is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, disability status or any other status protected by laws and regulations.