About North Country Healthcare (NCH):
North Country
Healthcare is a non-profit affiliation of four medical facilities, Androscoggin
Valley Hospital, North Country Home Health & Hospice Agency, Upper
Connecticut Valley Hospital, and Weeks Medical Center, located in the White
Mountains Region of New Hampshire. NCH includes numerous physicians and medical
providers at multiple locations. This leading comprehensive healthcare network
which employs hundreds of highly-trained individuals delivers integrated
patient care through three community hospitals, specialty clinics, and home
health and hospice services. NCH remains committed to the health and well-being
of the communities we serve.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The
Employee Health Nurse is a professional Registered Nurse that utilizes the
nursing process (assessment, planning, intervention, documentation, and
evaluation) to administer the Employee Health program and oversee the North
Country Healthcare Workers’ Compensation and FMLA program from a clinical
perspective. Responsibilities include but are not limited to; completing a
pre-employment physical assessment and drug screen for all new employees,
administration of appropriate vaccines to new hires and current staff, ensuring
compliance with regulations regarding and respirator fit testing for clinical
staff, administration and tracking flu vaccines, completion of occupational
health evaluations and/or contacting physicians involved in treating employees
with work related injuries to ensure employees return to work in a safe and
timely manner, and for the upkeep and maintenance of all employee medical
files; responsible for ensuring customer satisfaction and maintaining strict
patient confidentiality. This role emphasizes advancing High-Reliability
Organization (HRO) principles, embedding a culture of safety, accountability,
and consistent high performance in nursing practice.
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
·
Bachelor's Degree in healthcare related field
preferred, Registered Nurse required.
- Certification in Infection Prevention and/or
Employee Health desired/preferred.
Licensure:
·
Current NH registered nursing license
required.
- Association* accredited course in Basic Life
Support (BLS) (for clinical staff), or Heartsaver CPR AED (for nonclinical
staff), and renewal on a regular basis, with up to a three-month grace period
after the expiration date.
Skills:
·
Minimum of 3-5 years of nursing experience, with
a focus on occupational health, public health, or employee wellness preferred.
- Demonstrated experience in administering
vaccinations and managing immunization programs.
·
Experience in designing and implementing health
promotion initiatives and educational programs preferred.
·
Familiarity with state and federal health
regulations related to occupational health preferred.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
1. Employee Health. Review
reports of employee needle stick injuries and/or body fluid exposures in
accordance with BBP Exposure Prevention Plan.
2. Responsible for completing
pre-employment physical assessments for all potential new employees. Based on
assessment findings, clears the potential employee for work assignment or
refers the individual to an occupational physician for further evaluation. Consults
with physician and Human Resources regarding the potential employees ability to
perform the duties of the job.
3. Conducts volunteer physical
assessments as needed. Based on assessment findings notify volunteer
coordinator of potential volunteer clearance.
4. Monitors and executes
vaccination programs for both new hires and current staff including but not
limited to Hepatitis-B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella, and Varicella. Consults
with Physician re: administration and standing orders. Maintains all employee
health records.
5. Ensures compliance with
Tuberculosis Prevention Program by conducting new hire ppd’s consulting with
Physician for positive ppd’s and ordering chest x-rays, and monitoring any
unprotected exposure by conducting both baseline and post-exposing testing. Maintains
all employee health records.
6. Assists in the
implementation of the Respiratory Protection Program by collaborating with
other health team members in revising and developing policies to ensure the
program’s effectiveness; collaborates with management to determine the
financial and personnel resources and necessary equipment required to implement
the program; collaborates with physician re: health respiratory protective
devices and periodic program evaluation. Maintains all employee health records.
7. Facilitates the annual Flu
Vaccine campaign to all Hospital employees, physicians and volunteers, students
and contracted employees and maintains those records.
8. Monitors and coordinates
work related injuries/illnesses and receives First Report of Injury forms.
Coordinates modified duty program as an interim alternative for the employee
with a temporary limited work capacity. Maintains all employee health records.
9. Determines real and
potential health problems and hazards and works in conjunction with other
organization personnel to develop and implement programs to reduce and/or
eliminate these in the workplace. Assist with Safety Committee goals and
specialized safety programs including, but not limited to, coordinating the
monthly Sharps Prevention Committee.
10. Update Occupational Health
policies as needed, maintaining current guidelines with regards to oversight
agencies such as OSHA, CDC and CMS.
11. Monitor employee health
records related to occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Monitor and
advise on follow-up testing recommended. Maintain all employee health records.
12. Notify the State Health
Department, CMO, CNO, Human Resources and the safety officer of any suspected
or confirmed infectious disease outbreaks. Prepare written report summarizing
actions taken during outbreak, effectiveness of said measures and resolution of
outbreak.
13. Monitor employee illness
trends, tracking and reporting when appropriate. Notify the appropriate responsible
party of the risk and take action to ensure that risk is remediated in a
reasonable timeframe.
14. Ensure that all policies
are current and reflect best practices. Ensure that all policy changes are
reviewed by appropriate, involved personnel in accordance with policy
management procedures. Ensure that all significant policy changes are reviewed
and approved by the Infection Prevention Committee. Ensure that all employees
are appropriately in-serviced and trained when policy changes occur.
15. Professional Development
Stay current on all relevant APIC, CDC, and DHHS standards, guidelines, and
recommendations, as well as other professional literature and sources.
16. Keep abreast of current
developments in Infection Prevention by:
- Attend State Infection Prevention (NHICEP)
meetings, maintain communications with other Infection Prevention
Practitioners, and participate in relevant email listservs.
- Acts as a trusted resource to others; becomes
involved in decision making. Acts independently and responsibly on behalf of
patients (customers/team) needs, problems and opportunities
- Maintain current reference materials related
to Infection Prevention and make such material available to personnel.
- Review professional journals and websites for
pertinent articles and distribute to appropriate personnel.
