The Nursing and Patient Care Services in the VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS), Infection Prevention and Control Nurse (RN) vacancy primarily located at La Jolla, California.

Duties

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards The Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) Nurse assumes the following roles and responsibilities: Participates in performance improvement efforts related to Infection Prevention & Control (IPC). Able to manage problems safely and effectively, recognizing their scope of practice. Strong interpersonal skills for problem solving with all levels of management and staff, consultants, and outside agencies. Strong analytical & critical thinking skills to determine interventions & apply effective solutions. Demonstrates organizational & project management skills, with the ability to lead a team, prioritize tasks. Participates as a member or assumes a leadership role on formal service level committees, councils, or performance improvement teams. Assesses staff members and/or patient's learning needs, learning preference, & readiness to learn. Modifies teaching approach based on knowledge of human behavior, motivations, and reactions to situations. Assists the UPC, and the NM in the development, maintenance, & implementation of Unit Score Cards, addressing processes related to the feedback from All Employee Survey. Initiates, leads and evaluates performance improvement efforts related to Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) programs. Leads IPC surveillance, consultation & risk assessments and promotes quality outcomes. Organizes and leads IPC educational activities. Reviews, analyzes and incorporates current regulations, standards and/or guidelines of applicable professional organizations, accrediting or regulatory bodies into practice & policies. Expert in data management and analysis. Presents accurate IPC data analytics with recommendations; reports to the IPC Committee, Quality Council and others as required. Formulates IPC outcomes for groups of patients, staff and the organization. Initiates and leads interdisciplinary groups promoting decisions that positively impact patient and programmatic outcomes, services, and/or medical center. Functions as a change agent, actively participating in assisting peers through the change process. Demonstrates leadership skills in effectively coordinating interdisciplinary teams to meet the Joint Commission/ other regulatory bodies, VHA National Infectious Disease Program requirements and VHA,VASDHS strategic initiatives. Applies epidemiologic principles and statistical methods, including risk stratification, to identify target populations, analyze trends and risk factors to design and evaluate prevention and control strategies. Develops and coordinates strategies with nursing leadership, the chief of infectious disease and other sections or services to evaluate and manage complex events and unexpected situations such as exposures, outbreaks and environmental emergencies. Provides consultation in planning construction and renovation projects that could impact patient care utilizing risk assessment criteria in consultation with the infectious diseases section. Co-facilitates the performance of an annual risk assessment and periodic evaluation and enhancement of the facility's infection control plan specific to practice settings, populations served and continuum of care. Actively participates in service level, hospital wide, ad-hoc, VISN committees as well as the Association of Professionals in Infection Control and/or other professional organizations. Discloses public health information via the Privacy Officer and ensures protection of patient information in accordance with VASDHS and VHA guidelines. Evaluates and recommends equipment/products that promote prevention of infections and/or a safe environment. Applies knowledge of the Environment of Care and the implications on patient health & safety to participate in evaluation, prevention and/or mitigation/remediation of actual or potential hazards. Provides consultation in planning construction and renovation projects that could impact patient care utilizing risk assessment criteria in consultation with the infectious diseases section. Collaborates with informatics colleagues to develop and/or enhance tools for data tracking, trending & reporting for effective use. Performs other duties as assigned. Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: flexibility in schedule and assignment, as this is a 24/7 facility. Telework: N/A Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidate's graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such consideration. In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6) OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Preferred Experience: At least 2 years of experience in the Infection Prevention & Control Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience. Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: Lifting maximum of 35 pounds for patient care (animate); non patient care (inanimate objects) maximum lifting is 50 pounds. Pulling, pushing and reaching above shoulder may be required; use of fingers, both hands required, walking and standing for the duration of your tour; repeated bending; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination. Safe patient handling and management modalities are required at all times.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address San Diego VA Medical Center 3350 La Jolla Village Drive San Diego, CA 92161 US
• Name: GeeHan Chua
• Phone: (925) 372-2334
• Email: [email protected]