Infection Prevention Nurse (LVN) – Full-Time

Willow Creek Health Care Center
Pay Range: $35.00–$39.00 per hour

Lead Infection Prevention and Resident Safety

Willow Creek Health Care Center is seeking a knowledgeable, organized, and proactive Full-Time Infection Prevention Nurse (LVN) to lead our facility’s infection prevention and control program.

Reporting to the Director of Nursing, this position monitors infection trends, promotes evidence-based practices, provides staff education, supports regulatory compliance, and collaborates with every department to protect residents, employees, and visitors.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Infection Prevention and Surveillance

• Plan, implement, coordinate, monitor, and evaluate the facility’s infection prevention and control program.
• Promote compliance with applicable CDC, OSHA, public health, and facility requirements.
• Conduct surveillance to identify, investigate, document, and report resident and employee infections.
• Maintain accurate infection logs, exposure records, line listings, and surveillance data.
• Review laboratory reports, clinical documentation, and resident conditions for signs of infection.
• Analyze infection patterns and prepare monthly reports, summaries, and recommendations for the Administrator and Director of Nursing.
• Investigate healthcare-associated and community-acquired infections and recommend corrective action.
• Report communicable diseases to appropriate public health agencies as required.
• Monitor isolation precautions, hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, and aseptic practices.
• Make regular rounds to evaluate infection prevention, environmental sanitation, and isolation procedures.
• Ensure contaminated materials, sharps, infectious waste, laundry, and equipment are handled and disposed of safely.
• Assist with outbreak investigations, exposure management, contact tracing, and response planning.
• Maintain current infection prevention policies, procedures, educational resources, and reference materials.

Clinical and Interdisciplinary Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Director of Nursing, physicians, laboratory providers, and the interdisciplinary team.
• Assist with developing and updating care plans for residents on isolation or infection control precautions.
• Review nursing documentation to ensure infection-related care and resident responses are recorded accurately.
• Explain isolation and infection prevention precautions to residents and families.
• Monitor medication passes and treatments for appropriate hand-hygiene and infection prevention practices.
• Obtain culture samples and provide direct nursing care when necessary and within the LVN scope of practice.
• Assist with admission and discharge planning for residents with infectious or communicable conditions.
• Collaborate with Environmental Services, Laundry, Maintenance, Dietary, Rehabilitation, and other departments.
• Participate in quality assurance, performance improvement, safety, and survey-readiness activities.

Employee Health and Education

• Assist with employee health surveillance, exposure reporting, and required testing.
• Support TB screening, vaccination education, and bloodborne-pathogen programs.
• Provide confidential counseling and follow-up related to employee exposures.
• Educate new employees regarding hand hygiene, standard precautions, personal protective equipment, and infection prevention responsibilities.
• Develop and conduct ongoing infection prevention in-services and competency training.
• Assist with annual OSHA, TB, hazard communication, and bloodborne-pathogen education.
• Identify performance concerns and collaborate with department leaders on corrective education.
• Maintain accurate employee training and infection prevention records.

Committee and Administrative Functions

• Participate in Infection Prevention, Quality Assurance, and other assigned committee meetings.
• Present infection data, trends, investigations, corrective actions, and recommendations.
• Recommend policy, practice, equipment, supply, and environmental improvements.
• Assist with facility surveys, inspections, and plans of correction when applicable.
• Prepare required reports, evaluations, studies, and clinical documentation.
• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident, employee, exposure, and health information.
• Perform additional infection prevention and nursing duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited vocational nursing program required.
• Current California Licensed Vocational Nurse license in good standing required.
• Current CPR certification required.
• Two or more years of nursing experience preferred, ideally in skilled nursing or long-term care.
• Infection prevention experience in a healthcare environment strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of epidemiology, microbiology, infectious diseases, surveillance, isolation precautions, and aseptic technique.
• Formal infection prevention education, training, or certification preferred.
• Knowledge of employee health, TB management, bloodborne pathogens, and exposure-control practices.
• Experience with PointClickCare or another electronic health-record system preferred.
• Strong clinical assessment, documentation, communication, and analytical skills.
• Ability to educate employees and communicate effectively with residents, families, physicians, and facility leadership.
• Ability to organize surveillance data, identify trends, and recommend corrective action.
• Must maintain all required continuing education and licensure.

Supervisory Responsibilities

The Infection Prevention Nurse is delegated the authority and accountability necessary to administer the facility’s infection prevention program. This position reports to the Director of Nursing and provides education and direction to employees regarding infection prevention practices.

Physical Requirements

This position requires the ability to move throughout the facility, perform clinical rounds, communicate effectively, and respond to resident and employee health concerns. The employee must be able to push, pull, move, or lift at least 25 pounds and may be exposed to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals.

The employee may assist during emergency evacuations when necessary. Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Why Join Willow Creek Health Care Center?

• Competitive pay of $35.00–$39.00 per hour
• Full-time employment
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Continuing education and professional-development opportunities
• Supportive facility and regional leadership
• Collaborative interdisciplinary team
• Opportunity to lead initiatives that directly protect residents and employees

Benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and facility policy.

If you are an experienced LVN who is passionate about infection prevention, education, and resident safety, apply today and join Willow Creek Health Care Center!

Willow Creek Health Care Center is an equal opportunity employer.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status.