Infection Prevention & Control Nurse

An outstanding employer located in County Dublin is actively seeking a Infection Prevention & Control Nurse.

Recruiting nurses and healthcare assistants for nursing homes and private hospitals is the business of Hollilander Recruitment, a healthcare staffing agency. For a great organisation headquartered in County Dublin, we are now employing PIN holders or DL holders.

The position is in charge of offering a high-quality service in accordance with national and international standards for infection prevention control. The candidate will serve as a vital member of the frontline team, offering support and specialised guidance to all staff members, patients, and members of the public about the prevention and management of infections.

By controlling and lowering the prevalence of transmissible illnesses and infections linked to healthcare, this function will contribute to patient safety. Using all available surveillance and audit data, the candidate will use his or her specialist knowledge to ensure that a thorough risk assessment of procedures is conducted throughout the hospital. He or she will also put in place risk-reducing measures including training and specific protocols, rules, and guidelines.

Duties and Responsibilities include:

• Set an example by exercising professional leadership and exhibiting the most effective infection prevention and control techniques.
• In conjunction with hospital management, occupational health nurses, nurses, and all other healthcare professionals, serve as a resource by offering specialised knowledge, consulting, and expertise.
• Provide nursing guidance for certain patients who have infectious diseases or are at risk of contracting an infection, such as immunocompromised individuals.
• Describe the need for isolation facilities or the transfer of patients to infectious disease/isolation units to hospital management, bed management, medical, and nursing staff.
• Provide nursing and other healthcare workers with advice on isolation procedures, and oversee the application of these techniques in certain circumstances.
• Maintain communication channels and interpersonal relationships that are efficient in getting infection control information to the right staff members.
• Inform patients, their loved ones, and carers about particular infection risks and treatments.
• In matters involving the prevention and control of infection, act as an advocate for the patients and/or employees.
• Assist in the investigation of hospital infection outbreaks, paying close attention to the sources and means of transmission, and gather and present the results of the root cause analysis.
• Provide ward/department management and employees with guidance and assistance as they implement infection control policies, guidelines, and clinical practises. Follow the hospital’s rules, regulations, and standards.
• Uphold the Health and Safety at Work Act’s requirements for a safe workplace.
• Respect any private information gathered during professional practise.
• Know the UPMC Mission Statement and uphold the UPMC’s guiding principles and patient charter.
• Ensure that the multidisciplinary team has a productive learning environment.
• Participate in the establishment of the Scope of Practise, adhere to the Nurses’ Code of Professional Conduct, and provide strong, competent leadership and guidance for the Infection Control nursing services.
• Encourage the expansion of professional knowledge and see to it that it is applied in practise.
• Through routine audit programmes, review, and upholding hospital policy, encourage ongoing assessment and evaluation of policies, recommendations, and current practises.
• Make sure that all records are kept up-to-date and accurate, and that the proper staff has access to them.
• Install a reliable infection control surveillance system to make it easier to quickly identify patients and workers who are infected.
• By conducting regular inspections, audits, and surveillance, review the infection control mechanisms in place and, if necessary, provide recommendations for improvement.
• With the assistance of departmental managers, conduct routine audits of infection control policies and procedures.
• Inform and draw attention to any new pathogens that the WHO or HPSC have identified.
• Make suggestions for modifying and enhancing infection control procedures.
• Plan modifications to clinical practise, discuss them with personnel, and get their support.
• When and where appropriate, advise the multidisciplinary team and senior hospital administration on new developments in infection control and prevention.

Learning and Education:

• Give recommendations and take part in commissioning, tendering, and purchasing decisions for patient care and medical supplies with regard to infection prevention and control.
• Give committees established to oversee capital projects, building renovations and refurbishments inside the hospital information on infection prevention and control.
• When preparing for any maintenance, repairs, and upgrades, consult closely with the facility management team.
• Take part in the service’s development for infection prevention and control.
• As needed, create reports or plans for infection control.
• Encourage a patient-centered culture that is receptive to both negative and positive patient feedback and ensures that patients are treated with dignity, respect, and freedom of choice.
• Engage in ongoing professional development by taking advantage of official and informal training opportunities to maintain your credibility among allied health, nursing, and medical professionals.
• By reading pertinent material, going to seminars, and attending conferences, you can keep up with the latest advancements and research in infection control and nursing practise.
• Maintain and upgrade a portfolio for your personal development.
• Make sure to attend such lectures and to be familiar with the policies on moving and handling, infection control, waste disposal, risk management, major incident, and cardiac arrest procedures in order to stay up to date with health and safety requirements, fire regulations, and radiation safety and protection.

Quality Improvement & Risk Management:

• Make sure that all applicable hospital policies, guidelines, and procedures, as well as any applicable legal and regulatory obligations, are followed. This includes having to deal with professional or regulatory organisations and inspections.
• Encourage regular audit programmes, review engagement with the multidisciplinary team where necessary, and ongoing review and evaluation of policies, guidelines, and current practises.
• Encourage innovation and include the team in ongoing quality-improvement projects to foster a culture of continual quality improvement throughout the department.
• Establish and monitor the service’s core goals, benchmarks, and key performance indicators. Internal and (where appropriate) external audits will be used to check performance against these standards.
• Introduce the criteria for the IPC accreditation procedure for hospitals.
• Participate fully in the risk management program’s requirements at the hospital.
• Encourage the provision of top-notch care to all patients. Support the dissemination and use of research findings while promoting evidence-based practise.
• Create Standard Operating Procedures with the Multidisciplinary team in order to develop the Unit.
• Assist interdisciplinary team members, hospital administration, and clinical nurses in proactively addressing ethical and service quality issues.
• Create a culture of safety that encourages the reporting of events and near-misses; on occurrences or near-misses involving patients or staff, investigate and take corrective action in accordance with hospital policies, procedures, and guidelines.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Be listed in the Register of Nurses, general section, kept by NMBI.
• Have at least five recent years of relevant post-registration nursing experience (full-time or equivalent part-time hours), at least two of which should have been spent working in infection prevention control,
• Have completed or be enrolled in a recognised higher diploma or post-graduate degree in infection control for nurses.

Possess the following skills:

• Clinical Skills
• Management skills
• Leadership skills
• Negotiating Skills
• IT skills
• Quality focus
• Risk Management
• Clinical audit
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Presentation skills
• Change management skills