Closing Date: February 1, 2025
Job Class Code: 4135
Grade: 22
Salary: $37.38 - $47.10
Job duties:
This position has a functioning coordinated process in place to reduce, prevent and control the risk of infections in patients, healthcare workers, volunteers, and visitors and to optimize the use of resources through a strong preventative program and continuous review and evaluation of infection control practices.
PRINCIPLE DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:
This position requires a highly motivated individual who is flexible and can adapt quickly in a demanding work situation. He or she must demonstrate a high level of critical thinking skills that allows for processing a large amount of information presented, discerning the overall scope of a situation, and making sound decisions based on the information, experience, and knowledge of systems and their scope of practice.
Infection Control:
· Monitors healthcare-associated infections.
· Assesses infection control problems and makes recommendations for corrective action.
· Prepares the agenda for and co-chairs the infection control committee.
· Oversee monitoring of infection control practices and employee compliance for all departments
and personnel.
· Initiates and revises infection control policies and procedures using CDC guidelines, The Joint
Commission, OSHA, and other regulating body standards.
· Reports communicable diseases to the state as required by law.
· Provides educational offerings for orientation and ongoing in-services.
· Consults with department heads and physicians as needed to improve care.
· Initiates follow-up on employee/patient exposure to communicable diseases.
· Serves as a resource for all departments and personnel.
· Participates in performance improvement activities as applicable.
· Participates in short- and long-term planning for the infection control department.
Employee Health:
· Pre-employment screening for the following immunizations and/or proof of immunity: MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis B, Seasonal Flu immunization.
· Maintaining and updating Employee Health Records.
· Administering Hepatitis B vaccine series as needed.
· Establish and facilitate an on-site annual influenza vaccine clinic for all DDPC staff and independent practitioners and administer the seasonal influenza vaccines as needed.
· Administering Tuberculin Skin Test (using PPD) to all new hires (including volunteers) following DDPC TST protocol and annually as requested for any DDPC staff.
· Submit Annual Reports as needed.
Other Duties:
As the HN III IC/Employee Health Nurse you may be assigned to provide coverage as needed:
- In the Medical Clinic assisting providers
- On the units
- In the Nurse Supervisors office
- May be required to do mandatory overtime
- Other duties as assigned
Personal Attributes:
- Is a motivated self-starter
- Has excellent time and project management skills
- Is attentive to detail
- Has good interpersonal skills
- Is driven for success
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
A bachelor’s degree in nursing or related field and two (2) years of professional nursing experience -OR- graduation from an accredited school of nursing and three (3) years of professional nursing experience. Experience must include one (1) year overseeing and providing medical and/or psychiatric nursing care in a hospital facility.
LICENSING/REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: (These must be met by all employees prior to attaining permanent status in this class).
A license as a Registered Nurse as issued by the Maine State Board of Nursing.
Agency information:
Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center (DDPC) is a 69-bed psychiatric hospital serving the entire State of Maine that provides services for people with severe mental illness. As a member of a statewide community of care givers, DDPC collaborates with individuals with severe and persistent mental illness, their community and personal supports, to provide recovery-oriented, respectful, compassionate, and effective psychiatric care and treatment in the least restrictive, safest, and most therapeutic environment we can create.
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers.
APPLICATION INFORMATION:
For additional information about this position please contact Rebecca Bennett at 207-561-5431 or email rebecca.bennett@maine.gov.
To apply, please upload a resume and cover letter. To request a paper application, please contact Theresa Peppard at theresa.m.peppard@maine.gov.
Benefits of working for the State of Maine:
No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:
- Work-Life Fit – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
- Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-95% of employee-only premiums ($11,196.96 - $12,514.32 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
- Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($387.92 annual value).
- Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 13.29% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS).
- Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including non-birthing parents and adoptive parents—receive six weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.
Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.
There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.
As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.
If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.
Thinking about applying?
Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.