Infection Preventionist

Urban Institute

National (OA)

National Occupational Frameworks

Documents

Individual state requirements may vary. Please contact your local apprenticeship office to ensure this version is suitable to your state’s requirements.

Work Process Schedule

Work Process Content

On the Job Training

Anonymous

Skills

Conducts risk assessments and develops surveillance plans for epidemiologic investigation

Demonstrates risk assessment concerning surveillance plans, populations served, and other regulatory requirements
Integrates surveillance across multiple settings as applicable
Develops a work plan, including surveillance to be conducted, based on risk assessment
Establishes a notification system within surveillance plans for epidemiologically significant findings
Identifies when and to whom possible incidents of communicable disease or infections should be reported in alignment with local, state, and national regulatory requirements
Uses standardized definitions within the field in all reporting activities
Monitors and tracks pathogens of significance to the setting, including but not limited to multidrug resistant organisms and emerging pathogens, and participates in antimicrobial stewardship
Collaborates with the appropriate persons to review and interpret the relevance of findings related to pathogens of significance to the setting
Differentiates between prophylactic, empiric, and therapeutic uses of antimicrobials
Implements and evaluates infection prevention and control measures through ongoing surveillance
Interprets the relevance of diagnostic and laboratory reports as they apply to surveillance definitions and isolation

Investigates outbreaks and exposure

Establishes processes to identify the potential existence of an infectious disease outbreak or demonstrates how to verify an outbreak versus endemic disease
Follows (or can state how to follow) the steps of an outbreak investigation based on their institution’s policy
Directs multidisciplinary team to establish the case definition, period of investigation, and case-finding methods for outbreak investigations
Prepares and disseminates reports to multiple stakeholders with the use of appropriate graphs, tables, charts, and other visuals, regarding surveillance and outbreaks
Formulates hypothesis on source and mode of transmission using time, place, person, and risk factors
Develops and implements outbreak mitigation action plans

Analyzes and interprets data and builds infectious disease knowledge

Applies established definitions; collects, verifies, and reports denominator data for infection trends appropriate to the setting, such as patient days, central lines days, ventilator days, and indwelling urinary catheter days
Calculates and analyzes infection data, including specific infection rates or ratios (e.g., stratified by risk factors such as provider-specific, location-specific, device-specific, procedure-specific, standardized infection ratio)
Demonstrates understanding of epidemiology and statistical techniques to describe data (e.g., mean, standard deviation, rates, ratios, proportions, sensitivity, and specificity)
Organizes, manages, and interprets data in ways that can be shared with colleagues, leadership, regulatory agencies, residents, staff, etc.
Identifies appropriately when new epidemiologic patterns merit further investigations
Evaluates surveillance and data analysis techniques for practical improvements based on published data, input from stakeholders, and effectiveness of conducted surveillance
Correlates clinical signs and symptoms with infectious disease processes to track and monitor health care–associated infections and proper isolation needs for patients
Differentiates between colonization, infection, and contamination
Demonstrates proficiency in microbiology, including basic understanding of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. (e.g., organism recovery sites, basic knowledge of testing modalities, and interpretation of results)

Prevents and controls the transmission of infectious agents and health care–associated infections (HAIs)

Implements, and sometimes develops, evidence-based infection prevention and control policies and procedures
Provides education, training, and plans for tracking and controlling infection and communicable diseases
Consults with appropriate stakeholders regarding practices for specimen collection, transportation, handling, and storage to avoid contamination (IP practices)
Facilitates or participates in root cause and apparent cause analyses of infection events to identify processes for improvement
Outlines the situations in which isolation of a patient is required
Creates plans for isolation that include type and duration of isolation dependent upon the infectious agent involved
Collaborates with responsible parties (e.g., occupational health, human resources) on staff work restriction policies related to communicable diseases
Collaborates with others to select and evaluate environmental disinfectant products for appropriate cleaning and disinfection practice
Collaborates with their faculty stakeholders, relevant groups, and agencies in planning community or facility responses to biologic threats and disasters (e.g., public health, pandemics, novel influenza, bioterrorism, etc.)
Identifies and implements evidence-based IPC strategies, including but not limited to hand hygiene; standard and transmission-based precautions; respiratory hygiene; cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization; environmental cleaning; dialysis (optional); linen and laundry; food safety; infection risks associated with therapeutic and diagnostic procedures and devices; and recall of potentially contaminated equipment, food, medications, and supplies
Consults or educates staff on principles of safe injection practices
Facilitates appropriate implementation of infection prevention isolation precautions, including appropriate selection, use, and disposal of personal protective equipment (PPE); criteria and process for patient or resident placement into any specific isolation; establishment of processes for safe transfer and discharge; and disinfection of shared medical equipment and spaces
Educates, measures compliance, and provides feedback on IPC policies to staff, patients, and other impacted parties
Develops guidelines and institution plans for responding to multidrug resistant organisms, including screening, clearance, isolation, and disinfection

Collaborates with key stakeholders to guide and improve infection prevention and control within the institution

Assesses institutional needs and makes recommendations for specific products, services, equipment, personnel, and resources for the IPC program
Recommends changes in practice, processes, or built environment based on current evidence, clinical outcomes, and financial implications
Incorporates business modeling to assign value to the prevention of or presence of HAIs (e.g., cost-benefit analysis, return on investment)
Prepares and presents communications, both verbally and in writing, of IPC findings, recommendations, and supporting rationale to appropriate stakeholders
Evaluates accreditation and regulatory requirements and facilitates compliance accordingly
Develops, monitors, measures, evaluates, and reports performance indicators to drive performance improvement initiatives

Infection Prevention Leadership and Communication

Demonstrates the ability to communicate succinctly and effectively both verbally and in writing (e.g., email, reports, educational materials, presentations/public speaking)
Leads or facilitates performance improvement activities aimed at reducing the risk of infection transmission
Demonstrates the ability to build collaboration and effective relationships across the organization to influence change positively
Demonstrates leadership in providing executive reports to senior professionals
Demonstrates flexibility, resilience, and tolerance of ambiguity concerning the scope of work, feedback, and surveillance results
Demonstrates diversity, equity, and inclusion and health equity awareness
Demonstrates professional email, text, and phone etiquette, including responding in an appropriate and timely manner
Maintains accountability for surveillance of health care–acquired infections for residents, staff, volunteers, and visitors
Approaches sensitive situations with respect and empathy in dealing with a patient, coworker, or stakeholder needs
Communicates to different audiences’ needs in providing education, guidance, and feedback around the IPC plan or guidance during an outbreak
Demonstrates active listening

Practices safe care environments and sterilization procedures

Recognizes and monitors elements necessary for a safe care environment (e.g., heating, ventilation, and air conditioning; water management standards; construction)
Articulates issues of concern and provides recommendations for improving safety regarding safe care environments
Assesses infection risks of design, construction, and renovation that impact patient care settings and environments where air, water, supplies, medications, or food contamination could occur
Participates in risk assessments to mitigate construction-related infection risks
Provides recommendations to optimize infection prevention as part of the design, construction, and renovation process of the environment
Collaborates with staff on the evaluation, monitoring, and optimization of environmental cleaning, disinfection practices, and utilization of supplemental technologies
Collaborates with others to select and evaluate high-level disinfection and sterilization products and processes for appropriate cleaning, transport, high-level disinfection, and sterilization practices
Identifies and evaluates critical steps of cleaning, high-level disinfection, and sterilization
Partners with colleagues (including sterile processing and endoscopy) on assessing and mitigating infection prevention risks, plans for recalls of sterilized instruments, and tracking of medical devices that undergo high-level disinfection
Uses guidelines, such as those of the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), for cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization

Provides guidance for occupational safety of workers around communicable diseases

Assesses risk of occupational exposure to infectious diseases, provides recommendations, and reviews and educates others on occupational safety measures regarding communicable diseases (e.g., tuberculosis exposure and Bloodborne pathogen plans)
Collaborates regarding counseling, follow-up, and work restriction recommendations related to communicable diseases or exposures
Coordinates with occupational health to evaluate infection prevention–related data and provide recommendations
Collaborates with occupational health, human resources, and leadership on policies for health care personnel employee screening and vaccination requirements to mitigate transmission risks to patients, coworkers, and communities
Provides consultation and recommendations for sick policy and work restrictions for employees with communicable diseases

Conducts continuing education, performance improvement, and ongoing evaluation of research for prevention

Demonstrates effective use of industry terminology and current issues or hot topics within the field
Analyzes, shares, and implements new research, guidelines, and best practices in the field as needed
Incorporates changes in best practices in plans appropriately as they are released and facilitates organization-wide adoption
Provides infection prevention and control (IPC) education to various audiences (as needed) and amends material and methods accordingly to evaluate the effectiveness of the education provided and learner outcomes
Facilitates effective education of patients, families, and others regarding prevention and control measures (e.g., written materials, signage, videos)
Implements strategies to engage patients, family and others aimed at preventing infection
Improves patient care through infection prevention practice using performance improvement methodology
Acts as a principal investigator or participating author in a study that advances IPC

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