At Powell Valley Healthcare, providing quality healthcare to our community is our top priority. We are located in the heart of Powell, Wyoming; just 25 miles outside of Cody. We believe in creating positive and safe environments for both our patients and our staff. Being part of our organization means becoming a cornerstone in the patient experience and their care. 

Here at PVHC, we offer a wide array of benefits in a way that allows you to choose options and build a package that works best for you. Some of the benefits we offer to our full-time and part-time staff include: 

  • Health, dental and vision insurance 
  • Life insurance 
  • Long term disability coverage 
  • PTO – New employees accrue the equivalent of up to twenty days of PTO withing their first calendar year 
  • EIB (Extended Illness Bank) – Our version of accrued sick leave 
  • Nine paid holidays which includes two personal holidays 
  • Tuition Savings Plan 
  • Opportunities to cash out PTO for personal use, student loan payments, and in-house medical bills 
  • Tuition reimbursement – up to $5,000 per year 
  • Fun to be Fit program and Club Dauntless Membership Discount 
  • HRA – Flex spending accounts 

POSITION SUMMARY:

Current Opening: One full-time position with on-call shifts required.

Responsible for the implementation and review of the facility’s infection prevention program. Ensures that existing standards and guidelines of applicable professional organizations and regulatory and governmental agencies are incorporated into the program. The IP reviews relevant public health issues to integrate into practice, serves as a consultant and resource person regarding infection prevention issues for all facility personnel, collaborates with other healthcare professionals within and outside of the facility, and implements infection prevention education programs. Systematically collects and analyzes healthcare-associated infection data using epidemiological principles and statistical methods to identify trends and risk factors. Additionally, it is often the responsibility of the IP to perform the reporting of HAI and quality data for the various facility, county, state, and federal reporting requirements. The IP incorporates the principles of fiscal responsibility into practice and promotes the standards of advanced professional practice. Also responsible for overseeing all quality related activities of the Care Center. Ensures that quality standards are developed and achieved. The IP/QAPI Nurse guides staff, interdisciplinary, and care center leadership team towards the fulfillment of all quality objectives and goals established by the company.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

  • Making recommendations regarding the prevention and control of infection on a 24-hour basis
  • Providing advice for all staff members regarding the management of infectious patients/residents and other infection prevention issues
  • Coordinating the annual infection control risk assessment in conjunction with the Infection Prevention Committee (IPC)
  • Developing and implementing the annual infection prevention plan in conjunction with the IPC
  • Evaluating the annual plan for goal achievement in conjunction with the IPC
  • Conducting surveillance of infections
  • Ensuring the completion of audits regarding the implementation of and compliance with selected policies
  • Providing education and training for all staff members and independent practitioners regarding the prevention of HAIs
  • Liaise with the Employee Health Nurse regarding relevant staff member health issues
  • Liaise with clinical teams regarding the development of standards, audits, and research
  • Presenting/providing the infection prevention annual report to the IPC, Quality Assurance department, Chief Executive Officer, and Board of Trustees (as applicable to the institution); this report is to include results of infection prevention program goal achievements and matters of concern
  • Cooperating with the county and state department of health regarding infectious and communicable disease reporting
  • Collaborate with staff, interdisciplinary team, department and organizational leaders in the development, implementation, and monitoring of quality assurance performance improvement plans.
  • Analyze results of data collection methods and make adjustments for system and process improvement to increase and maintain the overall satisfaction of residents, families, employees.
  • Explores new or improved test methods to ensure the accuracy of measurements and data; and makes recommendations for procurement of same. Ensures that all equipment and tool measurements are traceable to the appropriate national, state, local, or regulatory governing body requirements.
  • Ensures that there is a regular audit frequency for processes, procedures, and systems to ensure continued compliance to internal and external customer and regulatory requirements. Develops plans to ensure continuous improvement activities are identified and acted upon.
  • Ensures that appropriate and timely actions are initiated to address internal and external customer requirements. Ensures that improvement actions are effective in meeting established standards and/or requirements.
  • Works closely with facility infection preventionist as well as Director of Quality/Risk Director.
  • Provide hands on care as per nursing floor assignment when needed.
  • Assumes 24-call responsibilities as assigned.
  • Other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

  • Registered Nurse licensed in the State of Wyoming. Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
  • 1-2 years’ experience in clinical setting preferred. Past experience in Infection Prevention and Quality Assurance preferred.
  • Experience with Lean / Six Sigma, Customer, Internal and External Audits, People and System / Process Management
  • Microsoft Office: MS Excel, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Outlook – Mail, Contact, and Calendar
  • Use personal judgement and initiative to develop effective and constructive solutions to challenges and obstacles in day-to-day activities.
  • Certification in Infection Control (CIC) should be achieved within two years in the position

SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

  • Add, subtract, multiply, and divide, compute rate, ratio, and percent in order to accurately determine medication dosages and establish accurate intravenous rates.
  • Knowledgeable in metric and appropriate measurements and can convert from one system to the other as needed.
  • Interpret documents such as laboratory and x-ray reports, physician orders, history, physical, and medication list
  • Competency in basic computer skills through the capacity to learn and apply electronic applications.
  • Communicate effectively orally and in written form in English. Also being able to detect language barriers and adjust information through translators, etc.
  • Effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.
  • Speak and document clearly and concisely. 
  • Problem solving capability in the duties assigned and changes occurring in workload and staffing patterns.  
  • Comprehend instructions in written, verbal, or diagram form and carry them out.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/REQUIREMENTS: 

  • Long hours at a computer keyboard.
  • Long hours of reading.
  • Able to lift up to 30 pounds. 
  • Reaching, handling, feeling, talking, hearing, stooping, bending, crouching, walking, standing, and working with equipment. 
  • Subject to inside and possibly outside weather conditions.
  • The employee is also subject to exposure to blood and body fluids, proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical shock, exposure to burns and radiant energy, exposure to explosives, exposure to toxic chemicals and biological agents. 
  • Posted on: January 19, 2024