Registered Nurse Multi-Drug Resistant Program Coordinator

Summary

The New Mexico VA Health Care System is looking for a Registered Nurse Multi-Drug Resistant Program Coordinator for our Quality and Patient Safety Service!

Duties

The Registered Nurse (RN) - MDRO (Multidrug-Resistant Organism) Prevention Coordinator (MPC) at the New Mexico VA Heath Care System (NMVAHCS) practices within the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) section of the Office of Quality and Patient Safety (QPS). This is a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary health care system-wide program designed to monitor, prevent, and control infections and their adverse effects on patients, employees, trainees, volunteers, and visitors. The incumbent will serve in a key position as part of the IPC and QPS teams and is organizationally responsible to the Chief of QPS. The incumbent has clinical oversight by the Hospital Epidemiologist and direct administrative oversight by the RN Supervisor, IPC. Duties and Responsibilities to include but not limited to: - Provides expert consultation and serves as a resource to all health-related disciplines on issues regarding MDRO prevention. This includes working directly with health care providers, support services, and local, state, and national public health agencies in coordinating patient care and providing guidance to the health care system in the prevention of infection. - Functions as a key staff member for the interpretation, coordination, implementation, and documentation of recommendations/standards issued by relevant professional organizations. The Joint Commission (TJC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Ensures compliance with regulatory agency standards, such as TJC, Office of Inspector General (OIG), and Office of Medical Inspector (OMI). - Manages local aspects of MDRO Prevention Initiatives in collaboration with the IPC program. Serves as the focal point and liaison for day-to-day operations, as well as for reporting and collecting MDRO data (e.g., MRSA, Clostridioides difficile, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae). Develops and evaluates local VA medical facility procedures related to the MDRO Prevention Initiative. Activities of this incumbent are distinct from those of the Infection Preventionists and serve as a supplement to the overall lPC Program at NMVAHCS. - Ensures appropriate measures/precautions are initiated in the care for patients as outlined in MDRO Prevention Initiatives. Collects and analyzes data to determine the potential reasons for the transmission of infection and develops appropriate interventions. Designs and implements focused studies to provide additional insight to identified problems/issues -Designs, participates in, and supports IPC/MDRO research activities, reviews recommended interventions proposed by research studies, and evaluates effectiveness of implementation. - Prepares healthcare system-wide memoranda on all aspects of MORO prevention, incorporating the latest guidance from VA, APIC, CDC, TJC, OSHA, and other relevant agencies and professional organizations. - Provides education on IP&C issues related to MDRO prevention for members of the clinical staff, administrative staff, volunteers, and patients/families on a routine basis utilizing a variety of methods. Develops and conducts special training sessions as necessary when emergent issues (e.g., outbreaks) are identified or when changes or new elements are added to MORO-related programs. - Prepares reports of activities relevant to MDRO Prevention Initiatives with recommended solutions and presents to the involved services and committees, as well as the IP&C Committee and healthcare system administration. Reports require analysis of epidemiological data, interventions, evaluation of effectiveness of interventions, and plans for follow-up. - Prepares and presents findings to appropriate internal committees and external agencies as required (e.g., MDRO Program Office). - Performs contact investigations and assists Infection Preventionists with outbreak management. This includes regular communication to involved services, administration, and local, state, or national health agencies. 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: 8:00am to 4:30pm M-F Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized This position requires 25% or less travel

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. Preferred Experience: - 5 years Nursing or other health related field. - 3 years Infection Prevention and Control experience preferred with Certification in Infection Prevention and Control preferred and required within 3 years of hire for highly qualified,