Summary

The Infection Prevention and Control Professional (IPCP) RN is responsible for implementing the Infection Control Program (ICP) and MDRO program - ensuring high-quality practices to prevent and control the transmission of infection across all sites and services - outlined in VHA directive 1131. The ICP is a comprehensive - multidisciplinary - system-wide program designed to monitor - prevent - and control infections and their adverse effects on patients - employees - trainees - volunteers - and visitors.

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/12987480
• 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: Infection control
• Project and quality improvement
• Three years of RN experience
• Salary for this position ranges dependent upon applicant qualifications Grade 1 - Levels 1-3: $153 -887-$204 -663 annually Grade 2: $176 -969-$228 -000 annually Grade 3: $194 -665-$228 -000 annually Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• The position requires potentially - long periods of combined walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable or working effectively in stressful situation - able to shift priorities based on needs of the organization
• The incumbent may be required to travel occasionally
• This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments
• Telework is position dependent and appropriate approvals are required
• telework is not guaranteed and incumbent must comply with all regulations relevant to telework agreements - policies - and processes
• If a position requires driving - incumbent is required to maintain compliance with all relevant policies and processes.

Duties

• The IPC RN serves as a subject matter expert in epidemiology - infection surveillance - outbreak management - and regulatory compliance while promoting a culture of patient safety and quality care throughout the VA Healthcare System
• Duties and Responsibilities include: Reviews and analyzes existing regulations - standards - and guidelines issued by professional organizations and regulatory agencies to ensure that all medical center Infection Prevention and Control programs maintain full compliance with applicable requirements
• Applies epidemiologic principles and statistical methods - including risk stratification - to identify target populations - analyze trends and risk factors - and design - implement - and evaluate effective infection prevention and control strategies
• Uses a systematic - evidence-based approach to surveillance to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of infection prevention and control strategies - ensuring alignment with the organization's goals and objectives
• Identifies - develops - and implements infection prevention and control strategies across key focus areas - including hand hygiene
• cleaning - disinfection - and sterilization
• direct and indirect patient care practices
• therapeutic and diagnostic procedures and devices
• isolation precautions and patient placement
• environmental hazards
• safe use of patient care products and medical equipment
• construction and renovation activities
• and preparedness for surges of patients with communicable diseases
• Performs medical record reviews - data abstraction - and data collection to accurately identify hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and assess adherence to established HAI prevention measures
• Performs routine audits of professional practices to assess compliance with established infection prevention and control standards and identify opportunities for improvement
• Uses appropriate statistical techniques to describe data - calculate rates - and critically evaluate the significance of findings against internal and external benchmarks
• Applies these insights to develop - implement - and evaluate targeted infection prevention strategies
• Reviews and analyzes current scientific literature and publications - recommending new or updated practices and procedures based on the most current - evidence-based infection prevention and control strategies
• Uses surveillance data to identify the need for practice changes and to propose targeted intervention or performance-improvement projects that enhance infection prevention and control outcomes
• Provides expert consultation to administration - committees - managers - and staff on matters related to infection prevention and control - offering guidance on best practices - regulatory requirements - and evidence-based strategies
• Understands adult learning principles - designs effective educational programs - and demonstrates strong presentation skills
• Provides orientation to new employees - medical students - and residents
• Monitors laboratory reports to identify patients with positive multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) for immediate review and investigation - initiates appropriate isolation precautions as needed - and conducts surveillance and investigations using epidemiological principles to prevent and control transmission risks
• Collaborates with local and state health departments
• Review and update policies and procedures
• Serves on medical center committees to consult and educate about current infection prevention and control data
• 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: Full-time
• 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Available Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized