INFECTION CONTROL NURSE, INFECTION CONTROL

1) GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Accountability for overseeing surveillance, analysis, and reporting of healthcare-associated infections, educating employees on infection prevention, developing policies in line with the organization's goals and objectives, and supervising hospital staff on infection control measures while fostering a learning environment through close working.

2) JOB DESCRIPTION

Organization and Management

• Monitor the adherence of infection control measures to the established Vision and Mission statements, goals, objectives, and values, in alignment with the scope of the PCI Service.

• Manage all scheduled and ad-hoc meetings in compliance with the Prevention of Control Infection (PCI) standard requirements as the liaison to the Prevention of Control Infection (PCI) Chairman.

• Participate in the planning, management, justification of the budget, and resource utilization of the services.

• Collaborate with hospital staff to audit evidence-based infection control practice policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure their effectiveness and efficiency.

• Participate in investigations and root cause analyses for any incidents in the services, take appropriate action, and ensure completion of incident reports within the stipulated time frame and shared with the Person in charge (PIC).

• Monitor, maintain, and analyze the appropriate statistics and records.

• Establish and maintain care standards that guide evidence-based practice, enhance quality of care, prioritize patient safety, and streamline infection control workflows.

• Collaborate with other hospital committees to recommend and evaluate procedures or policy statements related to infection control within KPJ Hospital.

• Produce informational materials relating to infection control that are suitable for the intended audience's level of understanding and their specific needs. 

Human Resource and Development

• Educate, guide, and supervise hospital staff on infection control measures in clinical practice according to predetermined objectives.

• Manage continuous education in Infection Control during orientation, and structure education programs including supervision to ensure that all team members understand their roles in preventing infections and follow best practices.

• Provide updates and demonstrate knowledge and skills through continuous education, and seminars, both internal and external.

• Organizing educational events, workshops, roadshows, and awareness campaigns within the hospital to reinforce infection control principles among staff and promote a culture of safety.

• Provide guide and supervise link nurses to ensure accurate data collection and adherence to infection prevention practices.

Policies and Procedures

• Produce, enforce, revise, and evaluate PCI guidelines and policies regularly to ensure accessibility for all staff.

• Monitor and assess compliance of the staff with infection control policies, including activities directly related to the audit.

• Plan and organize a regular environmental inspection.

• Participate in hospital procurement and building committee meetings to advise on infection control requirements during the purchase of equipment, building construction, and renovation.

• Monitor all new equipment that conforms to infection control requirements standards.

• Elaborate and update the isolation techniques and procedures following current standards, rules, and regulations. 

Facilities and Equipment

• Provide adequate and proper utilization of space and equipment for patient management and staff.

• Enforce all medical devices shall comply with the manufacturers’ instructions on Prevention Control Infection (PCI).

• Enforce all staff to comply with no reuse of any disposables of medical surgical instruments or equipment.

• Monitor the compliance with regulatory requirements for isolation facilities. 

Safety and Quality Improvement Activities

• Collaborate with the unit manager, and head of services to collect and evaluate clinical and administrative data, and participate in hospital-wide surveys like MSQH, JCI, IMS, etc. for continuous quality improvement efforts.

• Adhere to the Occupational Safety and Health Act and Regulations 1994, which mandate reasonable work care, employer cooperation, protective equipment use, patient safety goals, World Alliance recommendations, patient and family rights policies, standard people practice, and 5S activities.

Surveillance