Quality Improvement and Infection Control Nurse

Duties

Serves as a Quality Improvement and Infection Control Nurse in the Health Services Department of a Bureau of Prisons (BOP) federal correctional facility.

Manage the local infection prevention and control program under the guidance of the national Infection Prevention and Control Officer, Office of Quality Management, Central Office, Washington, D.C., and performs quality improvement activities to improve health care outcomes.

Performs surveillance of infections and diseases, management of the tuberculosis prevention and control program, contact investigations and containment of infectious disease outbreaks, infection prevention activities including immunization administration and tracking for inmates and staff, education related to infection control practices, collection and analysis of data to reduce risk and improve health outcomes.

Notifies the national Infection Prevention and Control Officer and public health authorities at all levels of government about reportable infectious conditions.

Along with all other correctional institution employees, incumbent is charged with responsibility for maintaining security of the institution. The staff correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and are performed on a regular and recurring basis.

Qualifications

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements.

Basic Requirements:

Education: A graduate or higher level degree, bachelor’s degree, associate degree, or diploma from an accredited professional nursing educational program is required. This education must have been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.

Degree from Foreign Nursing School: Official certification from the Commission on Graduates on Foreign Nursing Schools is required for individuals who graduated from foreign nursing schools.

AND

Licensure: Applicants must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination. In addition, they must possess a current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a professional nurse from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.

NOTE: ALL applicants MUST electronically upload proof of current, active, full and unrestricted license or registration for verification at the time you apply.

All qualified referred candidates will undergo a credentialing process. This process includes validation of examinations, licensure, education, internship and residency. Please electronically upload these documents along with your required supporting documentation at the time you apply.

AND

In addition to the Basic Requirements:

Education/Work Experience:

The work experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. At the GS-09 and above grade level, many positions may require experience in a specialty area of nursing.

In addition to the above requirements, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

• Successful completion of a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree from a professional nursing educational program or related medical science field; OR
• At least one full year of professional nursing experience (equivalent to the GS-10 grade level) and possession of a diploma, bachelor’s degree, or master’s degree from a professional nursing educational program.

Some examples of this qualifying experience are:

• Knowledge of the principles, concepts, and methodology of nursing and infection prevention and control practices.
• Nursing knowledge that consists of, at a minimum, the anatomy and physiology of body systems, development of nursing care plans that include nursing assessments and diagnoses, prevention and control of infectious conditions and interpretation of laboratory test.
• Experience in a Medical Referral Center providing surveillance and consultations for the control of infections relating to hospital environment, including sanitation, sterilization, and disinfection.
• Experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating of policies and procedures relative to infection control.
• Experience in Monitoring all invasive procedures to include, but not, limited to, intravenous and hemodynamic lines, dental and outpatient procedures, and urology procedures.
• Experience in auditing clinical charts for pertinent data relating to infection control.

AND

Selective Placement Factor:

Applicants applying for this position MUST also possess the following Selective Factor. In the event you do not possess the Selective Factor, you will be found ineligible for the position.

• The applicant must have experience working in an infection control program as it relates to: Prevention of exposure to infectious diseases; administration of vaccinations; reduction in the transmission of infectious agents; containment of infectious outbreaks; and evaluation of infection control programs.

NOTE: All applicants must clearly address the Selective Factor in their resume to be found qualified.

If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as number of hours worked per week) spent in the activities.

**Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.**

Education

See Qualifications Section for education requirements, if applicable.

ONLY if education is a requirement/substitution for specialized experience, applicant MUST upload legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Additional information

This position IS included in the bargaining unit.

Special Conditions of Employment Section:

Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a pre-employment and panel interview, urinalysis, physical, and background investigation.

All applicants are subject to, and must satisfactorily pass all screening requirements in relation to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and credit check.

All applicants not currently working in an institution will be required to complete a qualification inquiry regarding convictions of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence in order to be authorized to carry a firearm.

The Core Value Assessment (CVA) is an in-person assessment that must be facilitated at a Bureau of Prisons Human Resource Servicing office. On the day of the scheduled interview, a CVA will be administered. The applicant assessment must be completed within a 70 minute time period and a passing score of 68 must be obtained. Further employment consideration will not be extended if the applicant fails to complete the examination or fails to achieve a passing score. Note: The Core Value Assessment will not be administered to current BOP employees.

Successful completion of the "Introduction to Correctional Techniques," three-week training course at Glynco, Georgia is required.