Provides programmatic oversight of the Infection Prevention and MDRO programs in consultation with the Infectious Disease Service. Ensures the medical center programs comply with regulatory agency requirements. Consults and assists in the design of the Infection Control Program across all service-lines and departments. This position reports to the Director of Quality, Safety, and Values.

Duties

Duties and responsibilities are but not limited to the following: Integrates surveillance findings into the organization's plan for improvement of practice and patient outcomes. Reviews, analyzes and applies existing regulations, standards and/or guidelines of applicable professional organizations and government agencies. Recommends new or revised practices or procedures based on currently accepted, evidence-based infection prevention and control strategies. Reviews, analyzes and applies pertinent information from current scientific literature and publications. Integrates relevant public health issues into practice. Identifies populations who are at high risk for infection, utilizing the principles of human growth and development to assess patient's requirements relative to age-specific needs. Applies epidemiological principles and statistical methods, including risk stratification, to identify target populations, analyze trends and risk factors and design and evaluate prevention and control strategies. Conducts investigations by using epidemiological principles. Uses appropriate statistical techniques to describe data, calculate rates and critically evaluate significance of findings. Uses a systematic approach to surveillance to monitor the effectiveness of prevention and control strategies that are consistent with the organization's goals and objectives. Develops a surveillance plan based on the populations served, services provided and previous surveillance data if available. Ensures surveillance design is consistent with selected internal and external comparative data bases. Selects indicators based on the projected use of the data. Uses standardized definitions for the identification and classification of events, indicators or outcomes. Analyzes surveillance data utilizing internal and external benchmarks. Reports epidemiological significant findings to the appropriate customer. Periodically evaluates the effectiveness of the surveillance plan and modifies as necessary. Systematically evaluates the quality and effectiveness of the infection control program appropriate to the practice setting. Develops and annually reviews a program plan with measurable objectives. Determines appropriate resources needed to accomplish the proposed plan. Communicates any resource variance to administration and modifies program plan if needed. Periodically evaluates the effectiveness of the infection control program. Serves on varied medical center committees to communicate, educate and consult about infection prevention and infectious disease. Reports operationally to Infection Prevention physician and professionally to the Director Quality, Safety, and Values. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards 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: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Telework: On an adhoc basis, at the discretion of the hiring manager. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), 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 the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited 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); OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program. Upon achievement of a State license, the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program. (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 to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program. Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). 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. Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification. Grade Determinations: The following Scope, Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade. The Dimension requirements (Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12588217. Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I, Level I Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies. An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional professional nursing required. Nurse I, Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex. An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required. Nurse I, Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning. Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations. An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I, Level 2; OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I, Level 2; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience. Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience. Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting. MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III. *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees. Preferred Experience: Master's degree preferred Minimum 5 years RN experience in an inpatient hospital setting Minimum 2 years Independent leadership role in a complex hospital setting Minimum 3 years full time experience in Infection Prevention/Control in a Medical Center National certification in Infection Control (CIC) highly preferred Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over, Straight pulling (6 hours), Pushing (2 hours), Walking (6 hours), Standing (2 hours), Repeated Bending (6 hours), Ability to distinguish basic colors, Hearing (aid may be permitted).

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Note: The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission/NLNAC changed its name to ACEN in May 2013. ACEN's website may be utilized to verify accredited programs using automated inquiry processes; however, for verification of any nursing program's accreditation prior to 1998 an automated inquiry cannot be used and ACEN must be contacted directly via their email contact information on the ACEN website to verify.

Note: In order to grant credit towards an appointment based on foreign nursing education higher than the associate degree level, formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized degree equivalency agency accepted by VA, such as the International Consultants of Delaware (ICD), must be obtained.

Contacts

• Address VA Puget Sound Health Care System 1660 South Columbian Way Seattle, WA 98108 US
• Name: Laura Wallace
• Phone: 5414401000 X40529
• Email: [email protected]