Careers

Description:

The CDC Foundation helps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) save and improve lives by unleashing the power of collaboration between CDC, philanthropies, corporations, organizations and individuals to protect the health, safety and security of America and the world. The CDC Foundation is the sole entity authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners and private-sector resources to support CDC’s critical health protection mission. Since 1995, the CDC Foundation has launched approximately 1,000 programs and has served as a strategic partner to CDC during public health emergencies. This is an outstanding opportunity to work with the nation’s lead agency charged with protecting the public’s health.

Overview:
The CDC Foundation is seeking a Nursing Consultant in Shoreline, WA. This Nursing Consultant position provides consultative services and educational materials for the HAI Program with a focus on COVID-19 prevention and response. The COVID-19 Nursing Consultant provides expertise regarding infection prevention practices, outbreak management, preparation and response efforts for highly pathogenic infections (e.g. COVID-19, Ebola, measles), and surveillance of HAIs in healthcare settings.  

The Nursing Consultant assists in formulating policy in association with healthcare facility administrators, infection preventionists, epidemiologists, state associations, local health jurisdictions, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This position supports the programs and mandates established in RCW 43.70.056 – a law that established reporting of infections associated with health care facilities. This work directly supports DOH’s Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (ELC) Grant with the CDC.

Responsibilities:
• Conduct infection prevention site visits at various types of healthcare facilities, primarily long-term care facilities.
• Conduct infection prevention trainings on a variety of infection prevention topics including personal protective equipment, hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection, and surveillance methods.
• Educate and train facilities on current COVID-19 guidance from reputable sources including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Washington State Department of Health.
• Review survey reports from the Health Systems Quality Assurance (HSQA) and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).
• Based on stakeholder input, facility interest, and HAI reporting results prioritize the locations of the infection prevention site visits accordingly.
• Site visits will include a review of healthcare facility’s infection prevention plans, risk assessments, surveillance capacity, and ability to respond to high-risk pathogens.
• Document and compile findings from on-site visits and summarize them in a report, which will be provided to the participating healthcare facility and other key stakeholders.
• Conduct follow-up site assessments to ensure that the healthcare facility has implemented mitigation recommendations based on report findings.
• Participate in regular meetings with LHJ partners to facilitate communication and streamline work processes
• Provide LHJs with the resources needed to perform a quality site assessment for multiple types of healthcare facilities (e.g. hospital, long-term care, ambulatory care).
• Accompany LHJs on site-visits as necessary to assure that the LHJ and state-level assessments are consistent.
• Strategize with LHJ to prioritize the healthcare site visits.
• Provide clinical and public health expertise on COVID outbreak investigations, especially those associated with healthcare facilities.
• Communicate investigation updates and public health actions to stakeholders (e.g., HAI Program Manager, DOH Leadership, LHJs, CDC, healthcare facilities).
• Review clinical information associated with investigation.
• Coordinate and perform specimen collection.
• Track relevant case information (e.g, line list or tracking log).
• Interview healthcare facilities about risk factors associated with outbreak or exposure situations to ensure community practices are safe and meet CDC guidelines.
• Conduct a literature review for evidence-based infection prevention educational tools.
• Based on site visits and feedback from infection prevention partners, determine what educational topics and tools are most needed for healthcare facilities.
• Provide infection prevention perspective in drafting, reviewing and editing, technical reports and quality educational materials on a diverse spectrum of infection prevention topics, from risk assessment to transmission-based precautions.
• Present educational materials to healthcare facilities in a variety of educational formats (e.g. oral presentation, webinars, quick guides, templates).

Qualifications
• Bachelor’s Degree in an applied clinical science (Nursing, Medical Technology, Microbiology, Public Health)
• At least three years of clinical experience in a healthcare facility with a broad level of experience including critical care, emergency medicine, and medical/surgical nursing.
• At least two years infection prevention, epidemiology, or infectious disease surveillance experience
• Current Certificate in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC)

Preferred
• Current Washington State RN license
• Masters in nursing, epidemiology, public health, or related field
• Computer skills, research and basic statistical knowledge is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience effectively communicating with others, verbally and in writing, including the use of e-mail systems and the development of complex, clinical, or technical documents.
• Member of either APIC (Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology) or SHEA (Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America)

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical disabilities, veteran status, and all other characteristics protected by law. We comply with all applicable laws including E.O. 11246 and the Vietnam Era Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 governing employment practices and do not discriminate on the basis of any unlawful criteria in accordance with 41 C.F.R. §§ 60-300.5(a)(12) and 60-741.5(a)(7). As a federal government contractor, we take affirmative action on behalf of protected veterans.

The CDC Foundation is a smoke-free environment.
Relocation expenses are not included.