Infection Prevention/Employee Health Nurse - 0.8FTE

Job description

OMC Core Behavior Standards:
Create Teamwork● Lead with Honesty & Integrity● Convey Compassion● Show Respect● Pursue Quality
Osceola Medical Center is committed to implementing these behavior standards as a foundation for how we hire, develop, and retain our team members. By intentionally selecting candidates whose values and behaviors align with these standards, we ensure that our mission is lived out every day, creating an environment where patients feel valued, respected, and confident that OMC is the place for all their healthcare needs.
Work Schedule: Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday
Job Summary:
The Infection Control Nurse is responsible for coordinating, implementation, oversight, and evaluation of Osceola Medical Center’s Infection Prevention and Control Program to promote a safe environment for patients, employees, and visitors. This position provides leadership for infection prevention activities and works collaboratively with medical staff, nursing leaders, department leaders, and frontline workforce members to reduce healthcare-related infections, ensure regulatory compliance, and promote a culture of patient and employee safety. The Infection Control Nurse leads infection surveillance activities, coordinates infection prevention initiatives, supports antibiotic stewardship efforts, and ensures compliance with DNV accreditation standards, CMS Conditions of Participation, Wisconsin regulations, and CDC guidelines. The role also coordinates Employee Health activities, including employee health screenings, immunizations, occupational infectious exposure follow-up, confidential health records, and support for respiratory protection and infection-related work restrictions, in collaboration with Human Resources and Occupational Health providers.
Qualifications:
• Graduate of an accredited Registered Nursing program; BSN preferred
• Minimum three years of clinical nursing experience
• 1 year of experience in leadership, preferred
• Current, unrestricted Wisconsin Registered Nurse license
• a-IPC (Associate-Infection Prevention and Control) certification within two years
• CIC (Certification in Infection Control) certification preferred or willingness to pursue when eligible
• Active BLS

Responsibilities include:
Infection Program and Surveillance
• Collaborates with other healthcare professionals and the Quality committee to develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive Infection Prevention and Control Program.
• Conducts an annual Infection Prevention Risk Assessment and develops the Infection Prevention Plan.
• Conduct surveillance, investigate, track and report healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and identified infection risks.
• Monitor infection trends and implement evidence-based program goals, objectives, and performance measures.
• Serves as the organization's infection prevention resource and consultant.
• Investigates and manages infection prevention concerns, exposures, and outbreaks.
• Engages in regional infection prevention programs in the state of Wisconsin
• Directs and assists in preparing reports and statistical data for the quality and compliance committee, medical staff committees, medical executive committee, administration and other committees as needed.

Regulatory Compliance and Quality Improvement
• Supports and ensures compliance with DNV, CMS, OSHA, CDC, Wisconsin DHS, and other regulatory requirements.
• Develop, review and maintain infection prevention policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Conduct infection prevention audits, environmental rounds, and risk assessments.
• Identify opportunities for improvement and collaborate with leadership to implement corrective actions.
• Participates in organizational quality improvement, patient safety and regulatory/accreditation readiness and survey activities.
• Maintain required infection prevention documentation and reporting
• Serves as a subject matter expert during surveys.

Education and Staff Support
• Provides infection prevention education and competency validation.
• Serve as a clinical resource regarding infection prevention practices, isolation precautions, and communicable disease exposure management.
• Collaborates with Occupational Health providers and Human Resources to coordinate employee exposure follow-up, communicable disease management, and infection-related work restrictions as outlined in the Employee Health responsibilities.
• Promote staff accountability and adherence to established infection prevention standards.
• Collaborates with physicians and pharmacists to support antimicrobial stewardship.

Employee Health
• Coordinates Employee Health activities in collaboration with Human Resources, Occupational Health providers, and department leaders, within nursing scope of practice and established policies and protocols.
• Coordinates pre-placement and ongoing employee health screenings, reviews required health documentation, and arranges follow-up evaluation or referral as indicated.
• Coordinates employee immunization services, reviews vaccination and immunity documentation, administers vaccines under authorized orders or protocols, and tracks completion of applicable requirements.
• Coordinates timely assessment, documentation, referral, and follow-up for occupational infectious exposures, including blood and body fluid exposures; facilitates access to indicated testing, counseling, and postexposure treatment through authorized providers.
• Coordinates employee communicable disease reporting, symptom monitoring, and infection-related work restrictions and return-to-work guidance in consultation with Occupational Health providers and organizational policies.
• Supports the respiratory protection program by coordinating required medical evaluations, respirator fit testing, training, and related documentation with designated program personnel.
• Maintains confidential employee health records with access limited to authorized personnel; communicates only necessary clearance or restriction information to Human Resources and department leaders.
• Provides employee education on immunizations, exposure prevention and reporting, communicable illness reporting, and safe work practices.
• Monitors employee health screening and immunization completion, occupational infectious exposure trends, and follow-up activities; provides aggregate reports and recommends improvements while protecting employee confidentiality.

Collaboration and Program Leadership
• Collaborates with nursing leadership, medical staff, Environmental Services, Laboratory, Employee and Occupational Health, and other departments.
• Participate in and provide infection prevention reporting to designated organizational committees.
• Assist with emergency preparedness planning related to infectious disease outbreaks and emerging health threats.
• Promote a culture of safety, continuous improvement, and infection prevention throughout the organization.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Knowledge of infection prevention principles, epidemiology, and healthcare-associated infection surveillance.
• Understanding of applicable CMS, DNV, CDC, OSHA, and Wisconsin regulatory standards.
• Strong data collection, analysis, and interpretation skills.
• Strong communication, education, and interdisciplinary collaboration skills.
• Ability to analyze infection prevention data, identify trends and implement improvements.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to work independently.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information appropriately.
• Ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities and meet deadlines in a dynamic healthcare environment.
• Ability to lead interdisciplinary teams and facilitate quality improvement initiatives.
• Ability to function effectively in a rural healthcare environment where collaboration, flexibility and cross departmental support are essential to achieving organizational goals.
• Proficiency with electronic health records and infection prevention documentation.

Physical Requirements for the Role:
• Mobility & Stamina: Walking and standing across the hospital
• Strength & Lifting: Ability to occasionally lift, pull, and push up to 50 pounds.
• Fine Motor Skills: Frequent use of hands to complete data entry.
• Sensory Abilities: Visual capability for extensive computer data entry, chart review, and monitoring detailed clinical operations.

Work Environment:
This position is required to work on-site and is primarily stationed in a temperature-controlled environment. There is the potential for exposure to infectious patients, harmful physical agents, and hazardous or toxic substances.
Behavior-Based Leadership Expectations:
Successful candidates will:
• Treat every patient, visitor, and team member with dignity and respect
• Take ownership of their actions and follow through on commitments
• Adapt positively to change and support new initiatives
• Contribute to a culture of trust, collaboration, and accountability
• Consistently act in ways that support OMC’s mission and values

Why Join OMC?
At OMC, we don’t just hire for skills—we hire for behaviors that align with our mission. We invest in team members who are committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of our patients and in the communities we serve.
Osceola Medical Center is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.