Clinical Nurse Specialist

The Hermitage Clinic is an acute care hospital with 110 inpatient beds, seven operating theatres, a 7 bed ICU, an Emergency Department, many outpatient services, and a wide range of modern technically complex medical diagnostic and treatment facilities, providing high quality patient care.

Job Title

Clinical Nurse Specialist - Infection Prevention and Control

Department

Infection Prevention and Control

Job Function

Nursing

Reporting to

ADON IPC

Location

Blackrock Health Hermitage Clinic

Job Purpose

The role is responsible for providing support and specialist advice to all disciplines of staff, patients and members of the public, regarding the prevention and control of infections. This role is help to contain and reduce the incidence of infections across the hospital through risk assessment, surveillance, audit, intervention, education and the development of specialised protocols, policies and guidelines. The position requires a strategic approach to the development of services and structures, embracing continuous quality improvement and the management of changes necessary to achieve organisational objectives.

Job Background/Context

Blackrock Health Hermitage Clinic is a private hospital providing a full range of medical and surgical care across a broad spectrum of specialities. Each Ward provides a range of services and this role is important in making a significant contribution, developing and maintaining best practice in nursing services at clinical areas.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical focus and operations

• Act as a role model through the provision of professional leadership and demonstration of best practices in infection prevention and control.
• Act as a resource in providing specialist knowledge, consultancy and expertise in collaboration with hospital management, nursing and all healthcare staff.
• Advise on the nursing care of individual patients with infectious conditions.
• Advise hospital management, bed management, medical and nursing personnel regarding the need for isolation facilities or transfer of patients to infectious disease/isolation units.
• Advise nursing and other healthcare staff on isolation techniques and supervise the introduction and progress of such techniques in specific situations.
• Maintain effective communication structures and interpersonal relations, which ensure that infection control information is conveyed quickly and effectively.
• Assist and investigate outbreaks of hospital infection with reference to their source and mode of spread and compile and report on root cause analysis.

Advise and support ward/department managers and staff in the implementation of infection control policies and guidelines.

• Implement an efficient infection control surveillance system to facilitate the prompt identification of patients and staff with infection.
• Regularly evaluate control of infection measures by means of inspection, audit, surveillance with a view to recommending improvements where required.
• Partake in accreditation processes.
• Participate as a member of the Infection Control Committee.
• Participate in the selection of waste, laundry and hygiene subcontractors in the HMC and participate in audit of same.
• Ensure that satisfactory structures are in place for the prevention and control of infection.
• Act as specialist resource in providing infection control knowledge and expertise to hospital management, nursing and all healthcare staff.
• Ensure that all infection control policies, guidelines and procedures are research/evidence based and that they are updated as required.
• Make recommendations for change and improvements in infection control practice.
• Plan, negotiate with and support staff to implement and changes necessary.
• Advise senior hospital management and the multi-disciplinary team on recent advances in infection control and prevention when and where appropriate.
• Advise and participate in the commission, tendering and purchasing of patient care and medical equipment as pertaining to infection prevention and control.
• Provide infection prevention and control advice to committees established to oversee capital projects, renovations and refurbishments within the hospital.
• Participate in the formulation of policies, guidelines, standards and procedures for infection control and prevention, with members of the Infection Prevention and Control team and other relevant staff, including defining areas of special risk.
• Advise committees on procedures, materials and techniques to control and prevention of infection.
• Participate in the development of the Infection Prevention and Control service.
• Produce reports/plans for infection prevention and control as required
• Liaise with the department of public health and other organisations in matters concerning infection prevention and control.
• Ensure that all infection control policies, guidelines and procedures are research evidence based.
• Act as a change agent in implementing research findings so as to enhance infection control practice and ensure safe patient care.
• Participate in and conduct research to improve infection standards, practices, quality and outcomes.
• Liaise with the staff of the Microbiology Department in organising and conducting microbiological and epidemiological surveillance.

Patient advocate

Provide education and advice to patients, relatives/carers on specific micro-organisms.

Act as an advocate for the patients, and/or staff on issues in the prevention and control of infection.

Promote a patient centred culture of openness and responsiveness to positive and constructive patient feedback and ensuring patient dignity, respect and choice is maintained in their care.

Education and Training

Advise on, participate in, and evaluate programmes of education to meet the infection control needs of all healthcare staff.

Demonstrate vision, innovation and flexibility in promoting research/evidence based practice and in developing awareness/education programmes for staff.

Participate in relevant in-service education and study days for all healthcare staff.

Undertake continuing professional development, availing of formal and informal educational opportunities thus ensuring continuing credibility amongst nursing, medical and allied health professionals

Maintain an awareness of current developments and research in infection control and nursing practice by reading relevant literature and attending seminars and conferences.

Quality Improvement, Risk Management, Audit and Research

• Ensure that there is compliance with all relevant Hermitage Clinic guidelines, policies, procedures and relevant legislation and regulatory requirements. This includes responsibility for dealing with regulatory or professional bodies and inspections.

Collate, record, and analyse relevant data and information for infection audits.

Conduct nursing research relevant to infection control issues with support from the nurse practice development team

• Collect relevant clinical data to assist the infection control team in epidemiology.
• Perform regular audits of infection control policies and procedures with the co-operation of departmental managers.
• Provide feedback by giving verbal and written reports to departmental and organisational managers.

Encourage continuous review and evaluation of policies, guidelines and existing practices through regular audit programmes and review engaging with the multi-disciplinary team where required.

Promote a culture of continuous quality improvement across the department involving the team in continuous improvement initiatives and encouraging innovation. 

Set and monitor core objectives, standards and key performance indicators for the service and monitor performance against these standards through internal and (where applicable) external audit.

• Lead out on the requirements of the hospitals accreditation process.
• Participate fully in the requirement of the hospital's risk management programme.
• Promote the delivery of a high standard of care to all patients. Encourage evidence-based practice and assist in the dissemination and implementation of research findings.

Work with members of the Multidisciplinary team in devising Standard Operating Procedures for the development of the Unit.

• Develop a culture of safety, promoting positive reporting of incidents and near misses; investigate and take remedial action on incidents or near misses involving patients and staff according to hospital policies, protocols and guidelines.

Consultant including leadership in clinical practice

Provide clinical nursing leadership in proactively addressing ethical and quality of service issues with multidisciplinary team members and hospital management.

Lead out on the requirements of the hospital's accreditation process.

Management skills in outbreak prevention and management.

Provide feedback by giving verbal and written reports to departmental and organisational managers.

Report and present to clinical governance and other relevant committees

Essential Criteria

Knowledge/

Experience

Be registered in the general division of the Register of Nurses maintained by NMBI

Must have a minimum of five years post registration experience in an acute hospital. 

A recognised Infection Control qualification or be in pursuit of same

Skills/ Competencies

Clinical Skills

Management skills

Leadership skills

Negotiating Skills

IT skills

Quality focus

Risk Management

Clinical audit

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Presentation skills

Budgetary skills

Change management skills

Desireable Skills

Knowledge/ Experience

Management course is desirable.

Why work at the Hermitage Clinic

The Hermitage Clinic are passionate about our people and believe in their development and growth. As a member of the Hermitage Clinic team you can benefit from: 

An Education Support Programme

Development opportunities

Opportunities for career progression

Access to a Pension Scheme

Subsidised Restaurant

Free staff car parking

Employee Assistance Programme

Life Assurance

The Hermitage Clinic is an Equal Opportunities Employer with a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion and equality at all levels of the organisation. If you require assistance due to a disability during the recruitment process, please email