Quality/Infection Control Nurse

Description

The Quality and Infection Control Nurse is responsible for overseeing infection prevention and control programs across home health and hospice operations, while also supporting clinical quality improvement initiatives. This role ensures compliance with regulatory standards, promotes best practices in infection prevention, and provides education to staff to maintain a safe environment for patients, families, and employees.

Requirements

Licensure/Education: Current, active Registered Nurse license in the state of Oklahoma, in good standing.

• Certification: Must maintain current BLS

Experience:

• Minimum of 2–3 years clinical nursing experience in home health or hospice (preferred).
• Experience in quality improvement, infection control, or public health nursing (preferred).
• Knowledge of federal, state, and accrediting body regulations (CMS Conditions of Participation, etc.).
• Strong analytical, documentation, and communication skills.
• Ability to train, educate, and support staff at all levels of the organization.
• Computer proficiency, including EMR systems and Microsoft Office.

Key Responsibilities:

Infection Prevention & Control

• Develop, implement, and monitor infection prevention and control policies and procedures in compliance with CMS, CDC, OSHA, and state guidelines.
• Conduct infection control risk assessments and surveillance for home health and hospice patients, facilities, and staff.
• Investigate and document infection-related incidents, exposures, and outbreaks, including root cause analysis and corrective action planning.
• Maintain records of infections, exposures, and interventions for reporting and compliance audits.
• Serve as the resource nurse for infection control issues and provide consultation to leadership, clinical staff, and patients/families as needed.

Quality Improvement

• Participate in the agency’s Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program.
• Collect, analyze, and report clinical data related to infection control, patient outcomes, and quality measures.
• Support development and monitoring of performance improvement plans.
• Assist with chart audits, compliance reviews, and preparation for state/federal surveys and accreditation visits.
• Collaborate with leadership to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improving patient care and safety.

Education & Training

• Provide ongoing education to staff regarding infection prevention, standard precautions, and best practices.
• Train new employees on infection control procedures during orientation.
• Conduct competency checks, in-services, and annual updates for clinical and non-clinical staff.
• Educate patients and families on infection prevention techniques when appropriate.

Collaboration & Communication

• Work closely with clinical leadership, medical directors, and interdisciplinary teams to ensure alignment of infection control and quality initiatives.
• Communicate audit findings, infection data, and quality outcomes to leadership and staff.
• Participate in interdisciplinary team (IDT) meetings and committees as assigned.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Ability to travel frequently to agency offices, patient homes, facilities, and meetings as required.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, stoop, squat, and reach for extended periods.
• Frequent lifting, transferring, and positioning of patients, including those weighing up to 50 pounds independently and up to 100 pounds with assistance.
• Ability to push, pull, and maneuver medical equipment, wheelchairs, and therapy devices.
• Fine motor skills to perform therapeutic interventions and operate medical/office equipment.
• Adequate visual and auditory acuity to assess patient condition, provide treatment, and respond to emergencies.
• Ability to drive for extended periods and tolerate variable weather and environmental conditions when traveling to patient homes.
• Stamina to manage a flexible schedule that may include evenings and weekends, as patient needs dictate.