JOB DESCRIPTION FOR INFECTION CONTROL NURSE

JOB SUMMARY:

The infection control nurse is Infection control nurse plays an important role in
assessment of infection in the hospital. ICN collaborates with medical and nursing staff to
investigate the spread of infection. ICN is responsible for monitoring the infection rate for entire
hospital to control Nosocomial infections and provide relevant information. ICN identifies
problem related to infections and reports to infection control committee and management.

BASIC FUNCTION:

Responsible for the training of new staff in infection control principles and the yearly in
servicing of current employees, monitoring compliance with infection control policies and
practice. ICN is also responsible for keeping records of trends in outbreak illness.

QUALIFICATION:

The education requirement to become an infection control nurse is to earn a Bachelor’s of

Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Although a nursing diploma or an Associate’s Degree in
Nursing has been the minimum requirement, many employers prefer graduate nurses to obtain a
bachelor’s degree in nursing. A BSN degree typically takes four years to complete in a university
or college.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBJECTIVES:

 The ICN will act as a resource person to staff around specific infection control issues
concerning specific patients.
 The ICN will be responsible for reviewing and updating infection control policies in
conjunction with the Infection Control Task Force.
 The ICN will identify need areas for education of staff and work with staff Development
Coordinator to implement in servicing.
 The ICN will act as a resource person during the admission and / or readmission
process.
 The ICN will track rates types and infection through surveillance systems and report
Information to the Infection control committee, Administrator, Nursing superintendent
and Medical director.

SUPERVISION AND ADMINISTRATION:

 Daily visit to all ward and patient holding units.

 Collection and tabulation of daily data of incidence of hospital infection and record data
of all infections which include the identification and location of the patient, the data of
admission and onset of infection, the type of infection, the cultures taken and results, any
antibiotic administered and identifies the physician responsible for the care of the patient.
 Ensuring the sample of blood, stool, sputum, urine, swabs are collected and dispatched to
the laboratory in time.
 Active surveillance of Nosocomial infection among patients on urinary catheter, central
venous line, ventilator and after surgery.
 Compilation of ward wise, department wise or procedure wise statistics related to drug
resistant organisms.
 Daily visit to the laboratory to ascertain result of pervious day samples.
 Monitor and supervise infection control practice among hospital staff.
 Ensure vaccination for all employees.
 Needle stick injury report and mercury spillage report submits to dean office.
  Post exposure management for nursing staff, nursing assistant and non nursing personnel.
 Follow up of drug resistant strains example MRSA, ESBLs etc and ensure infection
control practice.
 Assesses the peripheral lines, urinary catheters, central venous catheters, and biomedical
waste disposal daily in all wards.
 In open cases of TB informs the physician and transfers the patient to isolation room.
 Assists in bacteriological studies in all cases.
 Works as an investigator along with the infection control committee to track down
outbreak evaluate the equipment to detect risk leading to infection hazards.
 Weekly report of communicable / notifiable diseases to MRD.
 Maintaining a clean and safe environment.
 Supervision of biomedical waste segregation and its disposal daily and visit to the final
storage area.

EDUCATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

 Organizes orientation program for new staff and non nursing personnel.
 Works as a clinical supervisor by ensuring that all the established policies and protocols
are practiced example hand washing procedure, etc.
 Works as an educator by participating in formal and informal teaching programs for
nurses and health care workers.
 Training of nursing assistants and paramedical personnel on correct use of hand hygiene
-practices and aseptic techniques.
 Onsite training of nurses, paramedical staff and housekeeping staff on infection control
practice.
 Work as a researcher in co-ordination with other members of committee.

CONCLUSION:

The role of ICN is one that is still evolving. Many hospitals have used them with success
and they have been of particular values in the light of control assurance and clinical governance.
It is important for infection control to become the responsibility of directorates and the use of
ICNs at ward level can assist with. They have helped in changing attitudes of HCWs over the
years and have made them more sensitive towards the infection control policies and protocols.

May be in future, the role of ICNs will become more formally acknowledged at a national
level and consideration given establishing a ICN network.