JOB DESCRIPTION – INFECTION CONTROL NURSE-ICN

  • Provides information, training, guidance and support for prevention and control of infection within the hospital.
  • Responsible for the surveillance, analysis, and reporting of Hospital Acquired infections; educating employees about infection control and ensuring the implementation of various infection control policies in the hospital.
  • Assisting environmental control through surveillance of water supply systems as needed
  • Plan, organize, develop and implement educational programs for all hospital employees including administrative and ancillary services and skills to increase employee awareness of existence of HAIs, techniques for avoidance and preventive measures to provide a safe environment for hospital employees and patients.
  • Supervises the maintenance of the established protocols for infection prevention e.g. isolation procedures, hand washing techniques used, the use of hand rub, change of IV set, change of central line dressing, availability of supplies, terminal cleaning of a unit and disinfection of equipment etc. in the hospital.
  • Corrects and teaches staff whenever the need arises during rounds. E.g. proper use of gloves, improper handling of equipment, practice of aseptic precautions etc.
  • Participates in the formal teaching programmes during the orientation of new staff.
  • The staff should be informed about the steps to be taken in case of an accidental needle stick injury and the availability of hepatitis vaccination.
  • Tracks down the source of an organism such as in the case of an outbreak of salmonella or MRSA infections. This includes environmental and personnel monitoring when appropriate.
  • Carries out surveillance through regular contact with all hospital departments, particularly those providing patient care.
  • Collects data-pertaining to c/s reports from microbiology department.
  • During ward rounds, should collect data related to
    • Admission from home, nursing home etc.
    • Surgery
    • Culture sample and reports
    • Invasive procedures
  • Keeps track of all patient with
    • Intravascular catheters
    • Urinary catheters
    • Medical/surgical wounds
    • Instrumentation of respiratory tract (ET tubes, tracheotomy tubes)
  • Co-ordinates between different departments and the hospital s
  • Compiling records of infected patients from ward notifications, case notes, laboratory reports and information collected in routine visits and discussions.
  • Checking by inspection that infection control and aseptic procedures are being carried out in accordance with the hospital policy.
  • Liaison between lab and ward staff, informing heads of department and giving advice on medical, nursing, domestic, catering and other grades of staff, Monitoring and surveillance of Bio-Medical Waste Management practices & protocols.
  • Assistance in the vaccination of employees.
  • Participation in teaching and practical demonstration of control of infection techniques to all categories of staff.
  • Informing the administration Nursing Superintendent & Head of Infection control of practical problems and difficulties in carrying out routine procedures related to infection control.
  • Attending relevant committee meetings, seminars, workshops or infection control update the knowledge.
  • Conferring with the sterile supply manager about certain infections in the hospital.
  • Conducts clinical audit to make sure that, the high standard of care in place in relation to the infection control and prevention.
  • The microbiology department in turn maintains patient wise, department wise and data wise record of the culture and sensitivity reports. Following data is then analysed and interpreted together with the microbiologist. Thus able to establish:
    • An antibiotic susceptibility pattern
    • The rate of infection and the number of isolates grown
    • Intravenous line related infections
    • Wound sepsis rates
    • Urinary tract infection rates and
    • Respiratory tract infection rates
  • Be in constant touch with the consultant microbiologist in order to get an idea and for a possible solution.
  • Any other task assigned by the NS/ management.
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