Massachusetts Jobs

The Lemuel Shattuck Hospital operated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), is seeking an experienced nurse and dynamic individual to serve as the hospital’s Infection Preventionist. The incumbent is responsible for a system for preventing, identifying, reporting, investigating, and controlling healthcare associated infections (HAIs) and communicable diseases for all patients, staff, volunteers, visitors, and other individuals providing services under a contractual arrangement within the hospital. The Infection Preventionist serves as a member of the hospital Quality Improvement Committee. In consultation with the Infectious Disease Specialist, the selected candidate prepares infection surveillance reports and annual reports and presents to the Infection Control, Medical Executive Staff, and Senior Executive Staff Committees and Maintains current knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations and ensures that the facility leaders are informed of appropriate issues. /_Please Note_//:/The hours for this position are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., (40 Hours), Monday-Friday. Days off are Saturday and Sunday. /_Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):_/// * Conducts outbreak investigations/trends, including contact tracing; collaborates with hospital clinical leaders and staff to implement infection control mitigation strategies. * Partners and consults on infection prevention and control for patient care. * Participates in various rounds/audits such as environmental safety rounds, targeted rounds and tracers designed for compliance monitoring to assess adherence to infection prevention and control policies and procedures. * Maintains a system for reporting incidents of communicable diseases to local, state, or national agencies; provides data analysis and reporting as addressed in the facility Infection Prevention and Control and Hospital Quality Program. * Develops and implements written standards, policies, and procedures for the program in accordance with state and federal standards and regulatory requirements. (e.g., Standard or transmission-based precautions). * Implements policies prohibiting staff with communicable diseases from direct contact with patients or other healthcare personnel. * Assesses the educational needs and provides competency-based training and education to staff regarding infection prevention and control guidelines, policies, and procedures. * Collaborates with the facility leadership and the medical director (responsible physician) to develop, implement, and evaluate annual infection prevention goals and plans. * Ensures the infection prevention and control program is in collaboration with the hospital-wide quality assessment and performance improvement (QAPI) programs. /_Required Qualifications:_/// * Knowledge of the principles and practices of nursing including the terminology and standard abbreviations used. * Experience with the problems in providing nursing services to special client groups such as the mentally, physically, and/or emotionally handicapped. * Demonstrated knowledge of the methods used in the preparation of charts, graphs, and tables. * Familiarity with sanitation and sterilization methods, techniques and procedures followed in nursing. * Ability to participate in multi-disciplinary health care team. /_Preferred Qualifications:_/// * Two (2) years’ experience in the field of infectious diseases. * Knowledge and ability to communicate effectively with staff and other disciplines and to create and write accurate reports. * Ability to motivate staff and to maintain a calm manner in stressful and/or emergency situations. * Capacity to maintain current knowledge of infection control trends, methodologies, and employee health/safety practices. * Experience with nursing and medical practices and procedures, as well as laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to pediatric/patient care. * A thorough working knowledge of the principles and practices of Acute Care Infection Prevention and Control. * Strong familiarity with regulatory framework as it relates to the Joint Commission, CMS, Department of Public Health and OSHA standards. * Capacity to demonstrate collaboration and consultation with other departmental staff. * Thoroughness, independence, and excellent written and oral communication skills. * Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, and Word. /_About the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital:_/ Lemuel Shattuck Hospital is a fully Joint Commission accredited teaching facility that provides acute, subacute, and ambulatory care to patients referred by public agencies and private sector providers. Shattuck Hospital’s services help economically and socially disadvantaged patients to get high quality, cost-effective care from a staff that respects their dignity. Located in the heart of Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood, the Shattuck Hospital includes 248 inpatient beds including 95 Psychiatric beds and 29 Correctional Health beds. In addition, the Shattuck has a full outpatient clinic with many specialties that offers treatment to patients of the Department of Mental Health as well as Department of Correction and House of Correction inmates and community patients. The Shattuck hospital is on the forefront of substance use disorder treatment including a Suboxone clinic serving 200 patients. In addition to direct medical services LSH hosts and supports an array of services located on the campus, serving patients struggling with addictions and homelessness. /Learn more about Shattuck Hospital:/https://www.mass.gov/locations/lemuel-shattuck-hospital /Relocation information:/https://www.mass.gov/service-details/dph-renovation-for-shattuck-hospital-replacement-building /Learn more about/ what it’s like to work as a DPH nurse /_Pre-Hire Process:_/ / / A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori Education, licensure, and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website, http://www.mass.gov If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the Reasonable Accommodation Online Request Form For questions regarding this requisition, please contact Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Human Resources at 1-800- 510-4122 Ext. #4 First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days. MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least (A) three years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, experience as a registered nurse in a recognized hospital, clinic or medical facility and (B) of which at least two years must have been in a supervisory, administrative, or managerial capacity, or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below. Substitutions: I. A Graduate degree with a major in Nursing may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required (A) experience.* No substitutions will be allowed for the required (B) experience. Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL LEVELS IN SERIES: Current and valid registration as a professional nurse under the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing . Recent graduates from an approved school of nursing must have applied for the first available registered nurse examination. Special Requirements: Based on assignment, possession of a current and valid Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Operator's license may be required. _Comprehensive Benefits_ When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future. Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards! Title 101 CMR 23.00 (“Regulation”) requires certain agency staff to have received the COVID-19 vaccination and Influenza vaccination, or have taken required mitigation measures, to prevent viral infection and transmission in State Hospitals and State Congregate Care Facilities. The Regulation applies to this position. Successful candidates will be required to acknowledge and attest to your vaccination status for both COVID-19 and Influenza. *An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role. Job: Medical Services* *Organization: Department of Public Health *Title: *Infection Preventionist - Registered Nurse V Location: Massachusetts-Boston-170 Morton Street Requisition ID: 240006UM