Infection Control Nurse

ABOUT WASHINGTON HEALTHCARE

Founded in 2015, Washington Healthcare PLC has grown into Ethiopia’s premier healthcare provider, operating two medical centers with 80 beds, two pharmacies, and a diagnostic center staffed by over 300 healthcare professionals, serving more than 2 million patients. The organization combines advanced medical technology with internationally informed healthcare practices to deliver high-quality, accessible care to both local communities and international patients, driven by a strong commitment to excellence, accessibility, and innovation.

The Infection Control Nurse is responsible for planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating infection prevention and control programs throughout the healthcare facility. The role involves surveillance of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), outbreak prevention and management, staff education, policy implementation, compliance monitoring, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to ensure a safe environment for patients, visitors, and healthcare workers.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Clinical Duties:

• Conduct surveillance and monitoring of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), communicable diseases, and infection trends throughout the facility.
• Identify, investigate, and report suspected or confirmed infection outbreaks and implement appropriate containment measures.
• Monitor compliance with infection prevention and control practices, including hand hygiene, personal protective equipment (PPE) usage, isolation precautions, environmental cleaning, and sterilization processes.
• Participate in risk assessments and develop strategies to minimize infection risks among patients, visitors, and healthcare personnel.
• Collaborate with physicians, nurses, laboratory personnel, environmental services, and other healthcare professionals in the prevention and management of infections.
• Review microbiology, laboratory, and clinical data to identify infection patterns, antimicrobial resistance trends, and areas requiring intervention.
• Conduct infection control rounds and inspections in clinical and non-clinical departments.
• Provide recommendations regarding patient isolation, cohorting, and infection prevention measures for communicable diseases.
• Support implementation of evidence-based practices to reduce healthcare-associated infections and improve patient safety outcomes.
• Participate in emergency preparedness activities related to infectious disease outbreaks, epidemics, and public health emergencies.

Administrative Duties:

• Develop, implement, and monitor infection prevention and control policies, procedures, guidelines, and standards.
• Maintain accurate infection surveillance records, reports, databases, and performance indicators.
• Prepare periodic infection prevention and control reports for hospital leadership, committees, and regulatory bodies.
• Coordinate infection prevention and control committee meetings and related activities.
• Conduct audits of infection prevention practices and monitor corrective and preventive action plans.
• Ensure compliance with national regulations, accreditation standards, and organizational policies related to infection prevention and patient safety.
• Collaborate with procurement and clinical departments regarding the selection and appropriate use of infection prevention supplies and equipment.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives, patient safety programs, risk management activities, and accreditation processes.
• Monitor healthcare waste management, environmental hygiene, sterilization, and disinfection practices throughout the facility.

Educational Duties:

• Develop and deliver infection prevention and control training programs for healthcare workers, support staff, patients, and visitors.
• Conduct orientation sessions on infection prevention and control practices for newly hired employees.
• Educate healthcare personnel on hand hygiene, standard precautions, transmission-based precautions, outbreak management, and emerging infectious diseases.
• Promote awareness and compliance with infection prevention standards through ongoing education, campaigns, and competency assessments.
• Provide guidance and consultation to departments regarding infection prevention challenges and best practices.
• Stay updated with current infection prevention guidelines, scientific evidence, public health recommendations, and regulatory requirements.

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REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Nursing.
• Valid professional license by the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA) or equivalent regulatory body in Ethiopia
• Minimum of 3 years of demonstrable clinical nursing experience, preferably in infection prevention and control, critical care, medical-surgical nursing, public health, or quality management.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Strong knowledge of infection prevention and control principles, epidemiology, microbiology, communicable diseases, and healthcare-associated infection surveillance.
• Excellent analytical, investigative, and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify infection risks and implement effective interventions.
• Strong knowledge of sterilization, disinfection, environmental hygiene, healthcare waste management, and isolation practices.
• Excellent communication, presentation, coaching, and interpersonal skills for staff education and multidisciplinary collaboration.
• Ability to collect, analyze, interpret, and report infection surveillance data and quality indicators.
• Knowledge of accreditation standards, patient safety principles, healthcare regulations, and quality improvement methodologies.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Proficiency in healthcare information systems, data management, report writing, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Demonstrated professionalism, integrity, leadership, and commitment to patient safety and quality healthcare services.