Nurse Specialist (Quality Improvement and Infection Control Nurse)

Duties

The incumbent serves as a Quality Improvement and Infection Control Nurse in the Health Services Department of a Bureau of Prisons (BOP) federal correctional facility. They 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. The primary duties are 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, and notification to 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: Degree or diploma from a professional nursing program approved by the legally designated State accrediting agency at the time the program was completed by the applicant.

If applicable, applicants will undergo a credentialing process. This process includes validation of medical examinations, education, internship and residency. Please submit these documents along with your required supporting documentation at the time you apply.

NOTE: ALL applicants MUST submit legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. Transcripts 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. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, Click Here. Transcripts MUST be received by the Consolidated Staffing Unit by the closing date of the vacancy announcement. (If you are selected for this position, you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty.)

For information regarding foreign education requirements, please see Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition at the U.S. Department of Education website: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.

Registration: Applicants must have active, current registration as a professional nurse in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth or Puerto Rico, or territory of the United States. An applicant who has graduated from an approved nursing educational program within the past 12 months may be appointed pending State registration as a professional nurse within 6 months of appointment. No person appointed pending registration may be retained beyond 6 months, or promoted, if registration has not been attained.

NOTE: ALL applicants MUST submit proof of current, active registration for Nurse verification. Your documentation MUST be received by the Consolidated Staffing Unit by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

AND

In addition to the Basic Requirements:

Education:

Completion of all requirements for a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education.

Graduate-level education must have been in nursing with a concentration in a field of nursing (e.g., teaching, a clinical specialty, research, administration, etc.) or in a closely related non-nursing field directly applicable to the requirements of the position to be filled.

NOTE: If you are using education to qualify, you MUST provide legible transcripts to receive consideration. Transcripts 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. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, Click Here. Transcripts MUST be received by the Consolidated Staffing Unit by the closing date of the vacancy announcement. (If you are selected for this position based upon your education, you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty.)

OR

Experience:

You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level in federal service. To be creditable, this experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular qualifications to perform successfully the duties of the position.

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.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience:

Have a combination of education and experience. This experience must have equipped you with the qualifications to perform the major duties of this position as described above.

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.

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.