Preventionist, Infection Intermediate

Make an Impact Where It Matters Most - Infection Preventionist
Hutchinson Health & HealthPartners

Ready to grow your career in infection prevention while making a real difference? Join a collaborative, mission-driven team where your work directly protects patients, visitors, and colleagues every day.

As an Infection Preventionist (IP), you will:

• Lead key elements of the infection prevention program
• Conduct surveillance and turn data into actionable insights
• Partner with clinical and operational leaders to improve practice
• Support investigations, guide response efforts, and reduce risk
• Educate teams and drive evidence-based improvement initiatives

This role is perfect for someone who enjoys collaboration, critical thinking, and continuous learning-while influencing meaningful change across the organization.

Be part of a team where infection prevention is everyone's priority-and your expertise drives safer care.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Infection Preventionist (IP) is a professional with demonstrated experience and increasing responsibilities in infection prevention and control. In this role, the IP applies foundational knowledge and growing expertise to guide practice while advancing skills in more complex concepts. The IP is responsible for implementing strategies to reduce the risk of infection transmission among patients, visitors, and colleagues by working collaboratively with leadership, nursing, medical, and ancillary staff to achieve optimal outcomes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Coordinating designated components of the infection prevention and control program.
• Conducting surveillance for infections using standardized protocols.
• Managing, analyzing, and interpreting critical infection-related data.
• Providing consultation and guidance on infection prevention practices.
• Leading projects or representing infection prevention on committees, work groups, and performance improvement teams.
• Conducting exposure investigations and recommending appropriate actions.
• Researching evidence, applying critical thinking, and supporting data-driven decision-making.
• Developing and delivering infection prevention-related education and training

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education, Experience or Equivalent Combination:

  • Bachelor's degree in nursing, clinical laboratory science, microbiology, public health, or a related field, OR

  • Or associate's degree in nursing, clinical laboratory science, microbiology, public health, or a related field, AND certification from the Certification Board of Infection Control & Epidemiology (CBIC) may be considered in lieu of a bachelor's degree

• Licensure/ Registration/ Certification:

  • Current Minnesota professional license (e.g., Registered Nurse) or other applicable healthcare license, certification, or registration consistent with professional background.

• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

  • Effective collaboration skills with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

  • Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive data and information.

  • Excellent organizational, time management, and prioritization skills with the ability to manage multiple responsibilities.

  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.

  • Ability to evaluate and apply evidence-based guidelines to practice.

  • Conflict management and negotiation skills.

  • Proficiency in data collection, analysis, interpretation, report writing, and presentation.

  • Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).

  • Foundational knowledge of microbiology, epidemiology, infection prevention and control principles, and infectious disease transmission (preferred).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education, Experience or Equivalent Combination
  • Two (2) years of experience in acute care, ambulatory care, clinical laboratory science, microbiology, or public health.
  • Prior experience in infection prevention and control.

  • Master's degree in nursing, clinical laboratory science, microbiology, public health, or a related field.

• Licensure/ Registration/ Certification:

  • Current certification in infection prevention and control from the Certification Board of Infection Control & Epidemiology (CBIC).

• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Experience with CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) for surveillance, data management, analysis, and reporting (preferred).
  • Experience using Epic and the Bugsy Infection Control module (preferred).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

1. (10%) - Program Leadership

   1. Administers ongoing programs and initiatives for continuous risk assessment, quality improvement, and infection risk reduction.

   2. Implements and monitors IPC programs, policies, and practices.

   3. Collaborates to ensure IPC program goals align with organizational priorities.

   4. Identifies opportunities to improve quality, efficiency, and effectiveness.

   5. Provides mentorship to Infection Preventionists (IPs) while seeking guidance from experienced colleagues.

   6. Applies epidemiologic principles and benchmarks to assess IPC program performance.

   7. Interprets surveillance and investigation findings to recommend evidence-based improvements.

2. (25%) - Infection Prevention and Control Program Operations

   1. Applies epidemiologic principles and benchmarks to guide decision-making.

   2. Uses fundamental statistical tools to detect clusters, trends, and outbreaks.

   3. Evaluates surveillance findings and recommends corrective actions.

   4. Reviews and modifies surveillance plans based on effectiveness and outcomes.

   5. Collaborates to assess communicable disease exposures, occupational risks, work restrictions, and related IPC policies.

   6. Conducts IPC assessments and rounding; communicates findings with actionable recommendations.

   7. Identifies and addresses deficiencies in cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization practices.

   8. Collects and aggregates data to support outbreak detection and response.

   9. Supports antimicrobial stewardship by analyzing surveillance and resistant organism data.

   10. Performs clinical rounding and compliance audits to assess ongoing risk and reinforce best practices.

   11. Participates in construction and renovation planning to minimize infection risks and ensure a safe environment of care

3. (25%) - Surveillance and Informatics

   1. Performs comprehensive surveillance for infections and significant organisms using standardized methods.

   2. Leverages surveillance technology to identify illness patterns and emerging trends.

   3. Validates surveillance systems to ensure data accuracy and integrity.

   4. Utilizes applicable reporting systems (e.g., NHSN, CMS) as required.

   5. Performs data management, statistical analysis, and visualization to support decision-making.

   6. Conducts targeted surveillance for high-risk populations, procedures, or events identified through risk assessment.

   7. Ensures compliance with public reporting and public health reporting requirements.

   8. Conducts focused studies in response to clusters, sentinel events, or emerging concerns.

   9. Applies epidemiologic and statistical methods appropriate to the issue under investigation.

   10. Investigates and responds to exposures, clusters, and outbreaks.

   11. Communicates infection risks and trends to providers, leadership, and frontline staff.

4. (15%) - Performance Improvement

   1. Leads or contributes to interdisciplinary quality improvement initiatives as an IPC subject matter expert.

   2. Participates in system analyses to identify process failures and improvement opportunities.

   3. Uses data and statistical techniques to calculate risk-adjusted rates, establish benchmarks, and monitor outcomes.

   4. Critically evaluates findings to make actionable recommendations for improvement.

   5. Conducts risk assessments and develops action plans with measurable goals and objectives.

   6. Reviews and applies scientific evidence to integrate best practices into IPC programs.

   7. Critically evaluates research findings to determine applicability and recommend implementation where appropriate.

5. (15%) - Education, Communication and Consultation

   1. Advocates for safe practices and policies aligned with current evidence and best practice.

   2. Adheres to ethical and professional standards in all IPC activities.

   3. Supports fiscal responsibility through product evaluation, vendor collaboration, and business case development for new technology and products.

   4. Partners with internal and external stakeholders to promote health and improve outcomes.

   5. Collaborates with public health agencies, healthcare facilities, and community organizations on IPC matters.

   6. Influences behavior change through targeted communication and education strategies.

   7. Develops and maintains IPC education programs and resources for healthcare workers.

   8. Designs education initiatives tailored to diverse learning needs and styles.

   9. Provides timely consultation to departments on infection risk reduction, including isolation, PPE use, and environmental cleaning/disinfection practices.

6. (10%) - Regulatory and Accreditation

   1. Supports compliance with all applicable regulatory and accreditation requirements, including:

      1. State requirements (e.g., MDH, MN OSHA, WDHS)

      2. The Joint Commission standards

      3. CMS Infection Control Conditions of Participation

Additional Expectations:

• Complies with safety instructions, observe safe work practices, provides input on safety issues, and promotes a safe work environment.

• Maintains regular and timely attendance.

• Protects confidentiality.

• Demonstrates participation in and support of the organization's Corporate Integrity Program by participating in compliance-related education and training and complying with the organization's policies and procedures.

• Timely completion of all mandatory education and organizational requirements (i.e., licensure/certification, Employee Health and Wellness requirements, annual training, etc.

*This is an onsite position at our Hutchinson facility.