The New Mexico VA Health Care System is seeking a Registered Nurse for (Infection Control) in the of the Office of the Medical Center Director. Located In Albuquerque VA Health Care System. This position is being announced as an Health Science Specialist also. Selection could be made from either.

Duties

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards The Infection Preventionist (IP) is a professional registered nurse in Quality and Patient Safety Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) program. The IP, in collaboration with the IP team and the Hospital Epidemiologist, is accountable for multiple facets of the NMVAHCS IPC Program. The IP is responsible for ensuring that the IPC program is developed and implemented in accord with VHA and VAMC policy and guidance. The IP demonstrates initiative and leadership in consulting, evaluating and improving patient care. Responsibilities Duties include but are not limited to: Serves as an administrative and clinical expert in IPC, including but not limited to IPC aspects of blood-borne pathogens, multi drug resistant organisms, communicable diseases, water safety and the prevention of Legionella, and other infectious processes. Actively involved in continuously and systematically evaluating the quality and effectiveness of the IPC Program, based on established professional, community, or regulatory standards, such TJC, OIG, APIC and others. Actively participates in committees and projects, as assigned, at the service, facility, VISN or national level. Collaborates with local public health officials to coordinate disease prevention efforts in the community. Integrates relevant public health issues into practice. 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. Ensures surveillance design is consistent with selected internal and external comparative data bases. Utilizes a systematic approach to surveillance to identify and analyze data and monitor effectiveness of prevention and control strategies that are consistent with the organization's goals and objectives. Tracks/monitors lab reports and other data sources to identify trends in infection occurrences. Uses appropriate statistical techniques to describe data, calculate rates and critically evaluate significance of findings. Designs, develops and implements educational plan to NMVAHCS employees across service lines. This will include both orientation at the time of hire and ongoing IPC in services as requested or as need is identified. Performs daily rounds in acute care units to ensure compliance with appropriate placement of patients who require Transmission-Based Precautions in addition to Standard Precautions. Researches and develops/updates IPC related MCPs and SOPs for the NMVAHCS and its catchment areas (i.e., Community Living Center, Ambulatory Care settings, etc.) Identifies and implements the standard operating procedures for response to IPC related events. Demonstrates ability to function in the consultant role, under the direction of the RN Supervisor for IPC, Medical Center Epidemiologist, in Emergency Management planning, exercises and actual events. Obtains, trends, and analyzes data and information, including surveillance for infections utilizing nationally recognized methods and definitions. Intervenes directly to prevent infections and/or develops a collaborative team approach in identifying, analyzing and resolving IPC issues. Uses standard epidemiological principles and practices to observe, investigate, and implement control measures through the organization when an outbreak or cluster of infections is noted. Participates in environment of care rounds with emphasis on IPC related findings and opportunities. Contributes to an assessment of resources needed to accomplish the annual Infection Prevention and Control risk assessment and plan; communicates any resource variance to IPC and administration and modifies program plan in collaboration with teammates when required. Identifies a database-driven process for collecting, inputting, analyzing, interpreting, and reporting data from various sources, data banks, and local programs to assure compliance with standards and performance improvement. Efficiently utilizes computer software applications such as Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Visio, PowerPoint. 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 thru Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc. Virtual: Not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. 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: National Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC) and Master's degree in Nursing, Master's Degree in Public Health, ASCP Board of Registration certification as MT/MLS (ASCP), or relevant field preferred. 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. For foreign education equivalency the only certifying body the VA recognizes is CGFNS and its' subsidiary, International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Without certification of BSN-equivalency, the VA can only consider the degree at the associates level and pay will be determined accordingly. 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: Heavy lifting (45 lbs and over); Heavy carrying (45 lbs and over); Straight pulling and pushing; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking and standing up to 8 hours; repeated bending; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; hearing aid permitted.

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

Contacts

• Address Raymond G Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1501 San Pedro Drive, Southeast Albuquerque, NM 87108 US
• Name: Heidi Orehek
• Phone: 5055194348
• Email: [email protected]