Senior Quality and Infection Prevention and Control Nurse

Organization Background:

Village Health Works (VHW) is a 501(c)(3) corporation. It is a social justice organization founded on the belief that health equity is not a commodity but a right. Founded in partnership with the communities we currently serve, VHW’s mission is to provide the neediest high quality, compassionate health care and education based on critical thinking in a dignified environment. VHW’s holistic approach integrates clinical services with education, food security, economic development, environmental protection, music and the arts. In the context of where we currently work, this is the only way we can sustainably end the extreme, multigenerational scarcity in a way that uplifts and engages communities with dignity and in their own context. We believe that the lack of access to quality healthcare and education is the biggest threat to development and world peace.

Currently VHW operates in a wide array of clinical and community programs in a catchment area of over 200,000 people within the provinces of Rumonge and Bururi, though its doors are open to every patient regardless of where that patient is coming from. Our first clinic attends over 51,000 outpatient consultations per year. Since 2007 until summer 2023, our 60-bed inpatient wards have been providing basic adult and pediatric non-operative inpatient services including treatment of malnutrition, mental health, chronic and acute diseases and uncomplicated obstetrical deliveries. These services have been administered by our staff of generalist physicians and nurses under the supervision of our Medical Director.

Village Health Works has embarked on a plan to expand our clinical services to provide comprehensive quality medical care and training. To achieve this goal, VHW has constructed and officially opened an 85,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art teaching hospital with several services that include surgery, obstetric deliveries, intensive care, pediatrics and neonatology, emergency, pathology lab, medical education and research center, etc.. To provide excellent patient care and training we must expand the scope and skills of the healthcare providers through training, teaching and research, hiring through rigorous development and implementation of systems and structures, policies and procedures that are framed by high quality norms and international standards.

Additionally, VHW has established the Kigutu International Academy, a grade 9-12 boarding school to equip young minds with an education based on critical thinking to prepare them to become the leaders we wish their country and the continent to have for a better future.

Our core values are as follows:

● Every member of VHW’s team must value the dignity inherent in each individual, aspire to excellence in all we do, proceed with boldness and perseverance.

● Compassion and justice must be at the heart of our organization.

● To accomplish the mission of our organization we all must be accountable to each other and to our community.

For more information, please visit: villagehealthworks.org

Position Overview

The Senior Quality and Infection Prevention and Control Nurse ( RN) assumes overall responsibility of infection prevention, quality improvement and patient safety for the inpatient and outpatient units at VHW. This position is responsible for the development, training,maintenance, surveillance, and prevention of infections based on ongoing risk analysis. The RN is responsible for instituting and managing appropriate surveillance to ensure compliance with recognized infection control standards. Additionally, the RN will assist with education and development opportunities for the staff , including onboarding, orientation, and competencies. The RN will work closely with the Chief Nursing Officer and Medical Director to identify and address quality and safety concerns related to patient care.

Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Practice and Quality of Care

• Lead the development, implementation and evaluation of quality and safety plans, systems and activities
• Develops, reviews, and revises policies and procedures for ongoing improvement of infection control practice
• Participate in developing solutions adhering to policies and procedures for preventing, reporting and disclosing adverse events
• Ensures compliance with infection control policies and procedures. Initiates appropriate corrective action when noncompliance is identified, in collaboration with the Chief Nursing Officer and Medical Director.
• Completes infection reports, investigations, and assessments.
• Identifies possible surgical site infections for acquired infections.
• Actively participates in the evaluation of sterilization techniques utilized at VHW to ensure compliance with recognized standards on sterilization.
• Equipping yourself with the knowledge and skills to initiate and drive appropriate safety and quality activities at a professional and team level
• Openly communicate and report safety and quality problems
• Ensure that care and services are delivered according to best available evidence, health service protocols and policies
• Ensure safety and quality risks are proactively identified and managed through effective systems, delegation of accountability and properly trained and credentialed staff
• Develop a partnership approach with patients and their caregivers
• Coordinates, manages, and maintains accurate records which include data collection, aggregation, and visual management of information and statistics.

Staff/ Team Management

• Utilize effective team communication in patient care, and support staff training and development in this area
• Maintains relationships with departments of the organization to ensure infection control compliance.
• Lead a team approach to patient care, quality improvement and problem solving
• Foster a culture which does not blame, but rather seeks to solve problems and learn from them
• Support staff in this process by empowering and holding accountable staff at all levels to be appropriately involved in monitoring and improving care and services
• Improve systems to support and spread best practice in individual patient care
• Makes sure the common objective is known and supported by all the team
• Works to achieve cohesion and a spirit of cooperation in the team.
• Involves the team in the decision-making process that may affect all its members
• Participates and provides leadership to IPC Committee
• Assists Quality, Infection Control , and performance improvement committees to develop corrective plans.

Training Activities

• Support the clinical team in building technical skills, implementing new technologies and protocols
• Develops new staff onboarding to ensure adequate orientation for new staff members
• Develops an orientation program to ensure that all learning needs will be met. Reviews goals and objectives with new staff members.
• Facilitates education to staff and providers regarding the infection prevention plan. Provides updates and education on changes to standards of infection control.
• Develops core competencies as well as high risk and low volume procedural competencies.
• Educates staff and providers on nationally recognized standards
• Analyzes ongoing educational needs of staff related to infection control and quality improvement and provides pertinent educational sessions as needed on a range of topics.
• Create and support a safe learning environment- all shared information should be based on existing guidelines, protocols and procedures according to VHW, WHO and MoH.

Education and Work Experience Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing with speciality in Surgical Services
• 5 or more years of clinical work, practicing in a hospital setting with high standard.
• Specialist knowledge across the range of infection, prevention and control. Such knowledge will be acquired through experience, diploma specialist training and/or short courses.
• Experience of audits and action planning
• Root Cause Analysis/Post Infection Review
• Excellent communication skills both oral and written, with working knowledge of Microsoft Office and other relevant software.
• Fluency in Kirundi, French is required; professional proficiency in English is required
• Exceptional leadership qualities with the proven ability to work with others in the clinical environment.
• Experience in working in low resource settings will be an advantage.
• Commitment to social justice and health care as a human right.
• Demonstrable organizational and coordination skills
• Demonstrable planning and development skills

Commitment to VHW’s Principles

• Expresses his/her interest by talking/asking/giving informed opinions about VHW’s activities.
• Demonstrates loyalty, awareness and respect for VHW’s values
• Expresses he/she wants to work with VHW because of its principles and mission.
• Overtly expresses his/her satisfaction at belonging to VHW and defends VHW’s mission.
• Always transmits a positive image of VHW in front of both colleagues and external people.
• Translates the principles of VHW into action