Infection Preventionist

NYU Langone Health is a world-class, patient-centered, integrated academic medical center, known for its excellence in clinical care, research, and education. It comprises more than 200 locations throughout the New York area, including five inpatient locations, a children’s hospital, three emergency rooms and a level 1 trauma center. Also part of NYU Langone Health is the Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, a National Cancer Institute designated comprehensive cancer center, and NYU Grossman School of Medicine, which since 1841 has trained thousands of physicians and scientists who have helped to shape the course of medical history. At NYU Langone Health, equity, diversity, and inclusion are fundamental values. We strive to be a place where our exceptionally talented faculty, staff, and students of all identities can thrive. We embrace diversity, inclusion, and individual skills, ideas, and knowledge. For more information, go to nyulangone.org, and interact with us on LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Indeed, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

Position Summary:
We have an exciting opportunity to join our team as an Infection Preventionist. 

In this role, the successful candidate Under the guidance of the Director of Infection Prevention and Control, the Infection Preventionist (IP) is responsible for providing a safe environment where risks for infection are identified and minimized for patients, employees and visitors at all NYU Langone Health patient care delivery sites. The IP collaborates with teams and individuals to implement prevention and control measures based on best practices and the outcome of surveillance activities. Consistently and reliably demonstrates understanding of high reliability principles and professional expertise. Utilizes improvement methodology to lead or support multiple projects. Works on a broad and diverse portfolio of infection prevention projects.

Job Responsibilities:

• Conduct surveillance using established definitions, to detect clusters and outbreaks
• Collect and aggregate data; perform on-going monitoring; accurately reports “reportable diseases” to the appropriate public health departments and responds to public health department inquiries, as needed. 
• Implements infection prevention policies and guidelines by making rounds in nursing units/clinical areas, ambulatory and in support areas to identify deficiencies, and ensure compliance.
• Routine monitoring of microbiology reports for culture results that may represent HAI. 
• Participates in apparent cause analysis to identify modifiable risk factors and other infection prevention opportunities. 
• Reviews patient charts for evidence of HAIs and applies National Health and Safety Network (NHSN) definitions to identify and report HAIs through the use of an electronic surveillance system. Documents appropriate information in patient electronic record. 
• Assists with investigations of clusters of infections, outbreaks, unusual infections or exposures as these events arise and participates in epidemiologic studies, as needed. 
• Assists with reviewing construction plans and designs and with completion of Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRAs), as needed. 
• Serves as a member of the Infection Prevention and Control Committee. 
• Conducts routine environmental rounding, as assigned. 
• Consults with HCPs to answer infection prevention and control questions or concerns from staff, patients, and/or families. Advises staff on appropriate isolation practices and use of personal protective equipment.
• Assess learning needs of those served and deliver education as needed. 
• Assists with the review of infection prevention and control policies and procedures and with risk assessments to identify gaps in infection prevention and control and areas of priority. 
• Maintains compliance with regulatory and mandatory reporting requirements at the local, state, and federal levels, facilitates compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards, and stays current on infection prevention and control regulatory and accreditation standards. Participates in Joint Commission, Department of Health and other regulatory readiness. 
• Reviews, analyzes, and implements regulations, standards, and/or guidelines of applicable governmental agencies, accreditation bodies, and professional organizations. Conducts activities to maintain continuous regulatory readiness. 
• Identifies opportunities for improvement based on observations, process and outcome indicators and other findings and utilizes performance improvement methodology to create and implement interventions using current scientific literature. 
• Collaborates in the development and delivery of educational programs that relate to infection prevention, control and epidemiology, while evaluating the effectiveness of educational programs and learner objectives. 
• Conducts ongoing infection control surveillance, prevention, and control program activities within a health care setting to identify early and/or suspected outbreaks of infections and communicable diseases, and to control and reduce the risk of exposure and avoid transmission by using epidemiologic principles. 
• Leads outbreak investigations and projects to reduce infection, and participates in performance improvement initiatives to prevent healthcare associated infections. 
• Effectively creates and maintains strong relationships with colleagues from key departments, as well as leaders within the System. 
• Mentors and audits the work of junior infection preventionists. 
• Effectively collaborates with community health organizations, departments of health and other system infection preventionists.
• Participates in the preparation of the annual Infection Prevention Program Risk Assessment and Plan. 
• Supports patients, families, administration, committees, healthcare providers and ancillary staff in infection prevention, control and epidemiology issues, as needed. 
• Provides feedback to regulatory, advisory, and accrediting agencies regarding opportunities for improvement in standards and guidelines. Consults on the development of policy, procedures, protocols and standard work. 
• Serves as subject matter expert on various committees as well as providing consultative services to internal and external customers. 
• Serves as a strategic partner to guide, direct, and implement appropriate infection prevention and control measures directly related to the program and assists in the overall strategy of the program, representing the department. 
• Contributes to knowledge of leading practice through research, publication, and presentation at conferences. Evaluates research and evidence-based practices and incorporates appropriate findings into routine practice, policies, protocols and educational strategies; disseminates best practices to appropriate departments and leadership. 
• Participates in creating educational goals, objectives and strategies for ongoing targeted infection prevention and control educational programs and initiatives following evidence-based guidelines and regulatory requirements. 
• Participates in the preparation of the annual Infection Prevention Program Risk Assessment and Plan. 
• Performs related duties, as assigned, which may include periodic responsibility for responding to urgent infection prevention questions after hours or on weekends. 
   

Minimum Qualifications:
To qualify you must have a Holds and maintains CIC; AND
BS in Nursing with current NYS licensure and Masters degree from an accredited college or university in Nursing, Epidemiology, Public Health or related discipline and four years of clinical experience or experience working in infection prevention and control or related field; OR
BS in Nursing with current NYS licensure and five years of relevant clinical experience.
NOTE: Current CIC can be substituted for two years of qualifying experience.

Required Licenses: Certification in Board of Infection Control

Preferred Qualifications:
Master’s Degree In Nursing, PublicHealth or Allied Field. Membership in the Association for Professional in Infection Prevention and Epidemiology Inc. Solid body of knowledge of microbiology, epidemiology, principles of adult education.

Qualified candidates must be able to effectively communicate with all levels of the organization.

NYU Langone Health provides its staff with far more than just a place to work. Rather, we are an institution you can be proud of, an institution where you’ll feel good about devoting your time and your talents.

NYU Langone Health is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of recruiting and employment. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender dysphoria, national origin, age, religion, disability, military and veteran status, marital or parental status, citizenship status, genetic information or any other factor which cannot lawfully be used as a basis for an employment decision. We require applications to be completed online.
If you wish to view NYU Langone Health’s EEO policies, please click here. Please click here to view the Federal “EEO is the law” poster or visit https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/ofccpost.htm for more information.

NYU Langone Health provides a salary range to comply with the New York state Law on Salary Transparency in Job Advertisements. The salary range for the role is $85,940.89 – $143,234.83 Annually. Actual salaries depend on a variety of factors, including experience, specialty, education, and hospital need. The salary range or contractual rate listed does not include bonuses/incentive, differential pay or other forms of compensation or benefits.

To view the Pay Transparency Notice, please click here