Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board Hiring For Infection Prevention & Employee Health Nurse at Rapid City, SD, United States Full Time

Job Description

GPTLHB IS A MANDATORY VACCINATION ORGANIZATION THE EMPLOYEE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING PROOF OF INOCULATIONS BEFORE EMPLOYMENT
Job Summary:
This position is responsible for providing a comprehensive program of nursing education and manage the employee health aspect of Infection Control. When necessary, the incumbent may be assigned to another nursing unit to ensure safe patient care is provided to Oyate Health Center (OHC) patients.
Essential Functions and Professional Behavior Expectations:

• Plans, develops, creates, establishes, evaluates, and monitors clinical and non-clinical nursing programs.
• Ensures each RN, LPN, and Nursing Assistant is competent to provide patient care, consistent with licensure and certifications and to ensure maximum utilization of nursing staff.
• Plans and evaluates the educational needs for the nursing program and develops an annual nursing educational needs plan; Assists nursing staff to identify learning needs and plans activities to meet those needs
• Evaluates educational programs for achievement of objectives and to ensure safe patient care.
• Establishes a systematic process to communicate educational offerings and announcements to the nursing staff.
• Establishes a monthly and an annual educational calendar; Coordinates, manages, and schedules BLS/CPR, ACLS, PALS and other related programs for the OHC; Ensures that all certification cards are provided to those who have successfully passed the course; Assists with remedial correction for those who do not successfully pass certification requirements.
• Establishes and implements effective nursing educational indicators to reflect nursing education performance improvement activities: Performs a baseline assessment of nursing education annually.
• Manages the general nursing orientation program and ensures all orientation is provided to all nursing departmental employees; validates competencies of new and existing employees; Ensures orientation processes are completed and established for all levels of staff.
• Serves as the OHC point of contact coordinating student experiences within the OHC; Ensures that preceptors have validated competencies for precepting students; Ensures OHC attains and maintains certification as a clinical enrichment site through the South Dakota State Board of Nursing.
• Ensures the Employee Health program complies with current established regulatory requirements and that annual immunization and Infection Control requirements as related to Employee Health are in compliance for the OHC.
• Completes Employee Health QAPI activities, which include managing the performance indicators, collecting and reporting employee health data, benchmarks, and performs data analysis; Submits reports to QAPI monthly
• Participates in quality improvement activities such as GPRA, PI, IPC, nursing audits/peer review, infection control, case management and nursing care conferences.
• Must comply with federal laws and regulations as required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

• Will be required to establish and implement infection control and employee health programs
• Responsible for policies and procedures within the organization related to infection control and employee health.
• Supports administration with employee health databases, maintains complete and accurate employee health records.
• Ensures compliance with state and federal requirements, accreditation bodies, and policies and clinical responsibilities.
• Participates as an integral team member, collaborating with various departments and colleagues, including Safety Officer, Human Resources, Quality and Compliance, as needed to advocate for employee health and safety.
• Will develop, alongside Human Resources, policies and procedures for pre-employment and on-boarding processes for employees.
• Will be responsible for all pre-employment testing and vaccination processes, annual N95/TB/ Influenza testing and/or vaccinations, and the management of potential blood exposures, employee illnesses and disease outbreaks.
• Responsible for coordinating the infection control program which includes surveillance; analysis of data; developing reports, policies and procedures.
• Provides consultation and education to staff in respect to Infection Prevention & Control.
• Evaluate effectiveness of the Infection Prevention and Control Plan annually.
• Conduct risk assessments at least annually and as needed with consideration of served populations, regional vulnerabilities, relevant statistical data, and new and emerging infectious diseases.
• Develop and implement continuously improved patient care procedures and control mechanisms relating to quality, compliance and infectious diseases.
• Develops and implements infection prevent and control education of all employees during orientation and annually thereafter, including classes in infection prevention and control practices and employee health.
• Organize Infection Prevention and Control Committee meetings and maintain all meeting minutes.
• Participate in quality/performance improvement activities by assessing, monitoring, and infections and evaluating outcomes on a continuous basis.
• Organize Infection Prevention and Control Committee meetings and maintain all meeting minutes.
• Performs related duties.

Professional Behavior

• Effectively plan, organize workload and schedule time to meet the demands of the position.
• Work in a cooperative and professional manner with OHC and GPTCHB staff.
• Treat Great Plains tribes and collaborators with dignity and respect.
• Utilize effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Advance personal educational development by attending training sessions and seminars as appropriate.
• Exemplify excellent customer service with tribal stakeholders, health board colleagues, program partners, service recipients, visitors and guests.
• Foster a work environment of wellness, courtesy, friendliness, helpfulness and respect.
• Relate well and work collaboratively with coworkers and all levels of staff in a professional manner.
• Consistently demonstrate respect for and acceptance of differing capabilities, cultures, gender, age, sexual orientation and/or personalities.
• Maintain and ensure organizational privacy and confidentiality.
• Handle crisis and tolerate stress professionally.
• Be self-directed and take proactive initiative to assist others.
• Resolve issues with other departments and coworkers without direct supervision if needed.
• Exercise flexibility to alter plans/routines when situations require and continue to perform without projecting stress/frustration that would adversely affect the work environment.
• Promote an alcohol, tobacco and drug-free lifestyle.
• Embrace modes of appearance and attire that reflect a professional presence.
• Adhere to GPTCHB policies and procedures.

Knowledge Required

• Knowledge of federal, state and local regulations affecting areas of responsibility.
• Knowledge of professional nursing principles, practices, procedures and techniques, including community and public health.
• Knowledge of group dynamics and facilitation techniques.
• Knowledge of Benner’s theory of Novice to Expert, and the ability to interpret the theory for applicability when establishing and validating competencies for nursing staff that perform patient care.
• Knowledge of adult learning theory.
• Knowledge of various educational and career development programs.
• Knowledge of professional organizations that provide information/assistance for development and sustainment of nursing and healthcare educational programs.
• Knowledge of cultural practices and beliefs and their inter-relationships with the current health care delivery system.
• Knowledge of the unique needs, clinical skills and client care standards appropriate to the age ranges served: child, adolescence, young, middle and late adulthood and geriatrics.
• Knowledge of a variety of interrelated or non-standard assignments requiring licensure as a registered nurse.
• Knowledge of the Health Information and Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Privacy Act and ability to apply that knowledge in all patient care situations.
• Knowledge of back safety and principles of ergonomics.
• Knowledge of Safety and Infection Prevention Standards as related to Nursing Education and Employee Health.
• Knowledge of diversity and cultural difference of Native American populations, and the ability to appreciate cultural differences and their effect on healthcare delivery.
• Knowledge of infectious disease, prevention and exposure; including blood borne pathogens and respiratory protection protocols.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, using tact and sensitivity, with the multidisciplinary health care team, patients, visitors, and outside services.
• Skill in presenting or setting up courses such as Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Neonatal Resuscitation Program.
• Skills to review and appraise the effectiveness of the total hospital education program.
• Skill in comprehensive nursing assessment, problem identification and care plan development.
• Skill in oral and written communication.
• Skill in interpersonal relations.
• Skill in the provision of customer service.
• Skill in use of job related equipment and tools.
• Skill in use of personal computer and a variety of job related software applications.

Supervisory Controls

The supervisor assigns work in terms of very general instructions. Work is reviewed in terms of effectiveness in meeting appropriate standards, performance improvement standards, program objectives, initiatives taken, and soundness of judgment exercised.

Guidelines

Guidelines include federal and state law including but not limited to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), AAAHC, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); Nursing standards of practice; GPTCHB, OHC, and department policies and procedures. These guidelines are clear and specific and require some judgment.
Complexity/Scope of Work

This position consists of instructional, administrative, and clinical duties. The combination of infection prevention, employee health and clinical education contribute to the complexity of the position.

Successful performance helps ensure compliance, employee health and safety, and overall effective and efficient Nursing Services and OHC resulting in improved patient outcomes.
Contacts

Contacts are typically with clinical providers, patients, employees, other agencies, and the general public.
Contacts are typically to exchanging and provide information, provide education, provide patient care, and provide assistance.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

The work is typically performed standing or sitting. The work is typically performed in a clinic setting which requires normal safety precaution for infection control and environmental safety measures. The work environment is usually moderate.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and sit, talk, and hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to walk and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must regularly lift and/or move light objects, and occasional lift heavier objects. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Supervisory and Management Responsibility

This is a non-supervisory position that may provide functional guidance and direction to other employees.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and five (5) years of progressively responsible experience sufficient to understand the major duties of this position. An Associate’s Degree or Diploma of Nursing and four (4) years of experience may be considered.
• Licensed as a Registered Nurse by any US State or Territory.
• Current BLS, ACLS and PALS certifications.
• Current BLS, ACLS and PALS Instructor certifications or ability to obtain within 3 months of employment
• Must successfully pass a criminal and background check and a pre-employment drug screen.

Native American/American Indian Preference in hiring will be applied as defined in title 25 usc 44-46 &474.