This position is located in the Division of Quality Management at the Gallup Indian Medical Center in Gallup, NM. The primary purpose of the position is to serves as an Infection Control Specialist. Manages and implements the Infection Control Program, provides clinical leadership, develop plans for the service and provides a primary interface between the organizational managers, and clinicians within the Gallup Service Unit and Indian Health Service hospital/clinics within the Navajo Area.

Duties

This position is being announced concurrently under Direct Hire Authority procedures. Please review vacancy announcement number IHS-23-GA-12133936-DHA; for eligibility requirements. NOTE: Applicants must apply separately for each announcement in order to be considered for Direct Hire. Directs a comprehensive Hospital-wide Infection Control Program to prevent, identify, and to control infection acquired in the hospital or brought into the hospital from the community. Develops new policies and procedures utilizing current literature and in compliance with federal, state and other regulatory standards. Uses relevant research finding in the provision of Infection Control services by initiating, conducting and disseminating the findings of locally based research in infection prevention practices, treatments, and disease management. Adapts and applies related scientific research to Infection Control and Prevention/services and management. Monitors and documents surveillance/performance improvement activities to ensure compliance with the standards by making regular scheduled and impromptu rounds in addition to the tracer rounds to assure staff is up-to-date and compliant with infection prevention issues, observe aseptic techniques/standard precautions, checks quality control programs in each area and assures engineering control are in place and in working order. Conducts surveillance of patients to determine the incidence of infection to identify hospital and community-acquired infections and to identify persons who are at high risk for infections. Participates on clinical/patient rounds, and completes medical records reviews when necessary. Works with the unit nurses in the follow up of any hospital-acquired infections. Reports infectious or communicable diseases, to the state health department or other government agencies as required. Informs the Employee Health Department of any TB, communicable disease, or vaccine preventable exposures. Consults with the Microbiology Department on any presumptive or conformed antibiotic­ resistant organisms and/or any other organism of epidemiologic importance.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. BASIC REQUIREMENT(S): Education: A graduate or higher level degree, bachelor's degree, associate degree, or diploma from an accredited professional nursing educational program is required. This education must have been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education, or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. Degree from Foreign Nursing School: Official certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools is required for individuals who graduated from foreign nursing schools. Licensure: For all grade levels and positions, applicants must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination. In addition, they must possess a current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a professional nurse from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States. In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: GS-12: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Working knowledge of regulatory agency standards on Infection Control and Prevention issues, including The Joint Commission standards, Centers of Disease Control (CDC) guidelines and Nursing Professional recommendations from organizations. This includes knowledge of educational and training principles, techniques and practices related to the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of infection control in-services, annual infection prevention training, employee orientation programs and must communicate, verbally and in writing to conduct presentations and prepare written reports. Time In Grade Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP). You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

Education

This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer.

Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.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 Gallup Service Unit 516 E Nizhoni Blvd P O Box 1337 Gallup, NM 87301 US
• Name: Navajo Area IHS Human Resources
• Email: [email protected]