Registered Nurse Educator-Infection Prevention

River Place Behavioral Health offers competitive compensation, benefits and regular opportunities for development and advancement.  River Place Behavioral Health, a service of Ochsner Health System, provides state-of-the-art psychiatric care for adults and adolescents who are struggling with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and other mental health concerns. 

As a Nurse Educator at River Place you will participate in the development and implementation of patients' treatment plan by: 

• Assessing educational needs and develop/coordinate necessary education programs.
• Coordinating orientation programs for new clinical staff.
• Act a general resource for nursing staff.
• Working with hospital leadership and staff to assess current educational needs and develops a plan to satisfy those needs.
• Collaborating with medical practitioners and Director of Nursing to incorporate nursing processes into the plan of care for patients.
• Providing educational leadership to patients and care providers to enhance specialized patient care within established clinical protocol.
• Assisting patient and caregivers with education needs, problem solution and health management across the continuum of care.
• Implementing and delivering educational curricula as required by regulatory agencies such as Joint Commission, CARF, CMS and State agencies.
• Initiating clinical skills development programs for direct care staff.
• Educating direct patient care staff in the use of equipment, supplies, and coordinates in-service training for appropriate staff.
• Providing specialized nursing protocols for direct care staff.
• Developing training and implementation as needed.

The Infection Prevention duties of this position include:

• Conducting ongoing surveillance of infections.
• Gathering and interpreting data and keep accurate records of all infections.
• Compiling and presenting Infection Reports to the Safety/Infection Control Committee and the Performance Improvement Council at assigned intervals.
• Inspecting environment and observing personnel activities for the purpose of detecting infection hazards.
• Monitoring and evaluating compliance with standards set by facility policy and industry.
• Monitoring and updating all facility department supervisors on all area-specific policies and procedures important to infection prevention principles. Investigating all 'exposure incidents,' oversee post-exposure evaluation and follow-up process in order to recommend appropriate actions to be taken.
• Notifying designated medical, administrative staff and appropriate health department authorities all reportable communicable disease.
• Developing and providing in-service and orientation programs concerning prevention and control of infection, standard precautions, isolation techniques and education on current infectious disease.
• Training staff on infection prevention and control protocols.
• Assessing and re-enforcing infection prevention practices.

One of the most rewarding aspects of working as a Nurse Educator/Infection Prevention Nurse is providing excellent care, comfort, and security to patients and families you treat, at their most vulnerable times. Having the opportunity to grow, learn, and advance in your career. 

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

• Graduation from an accredited school of nursing, medical technology, microbiology, or epidemiology required. Bachelor's degree preferred.
• One or more years’ experience in infection control preferred.
• At least one year of working in Behavioral Health field highly preferred.
• Working knowledge of agents which cause disease, reservoir, knowledge of spectrum of disease, disease carriers, modes of transportation, host factors that enhance susceptibility, colonization of infection and approach to control infection required.
• Knowledge of the basic principles of epidemiology and the infectious disease process required.

LICENSES/DESIGNATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS:

• Current professional RN License as required by state for nurses in the role.
• Certification by the Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology preferred.