What Does An Infection Control Nurse Do?

WHAT DOES AN INFECTION CONTROL NURSE DO?

Published: Aug 27, 2025 - The Infection Control Nurse provides leadership and specialized expertise in the surveillance, prevention, and control of infections across hospital and outpatient settings. This role involves conducting data-driven surveillance, advising on best practices, and guiding interdisciplinary teams to enhance infection prevention measures. The nurse also serves as a clinical resource, delivers ongoing education, and collaborates with healthcare professionals to promote excellence in patient care, safety, and research.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Infection Control Nurse

1. Infection Control Nurse Accountabilities

Infection Control Leadership: Provide leadership and expertise related to the surveillance, prevention, and control of infection in the hospital and associated outpatient settings.
Data Surveillance: Conduct surveillance, analyze data and make recommendations.
Practice Improvement: Improve the effectiveness of existing practices or procedures.
Clinical Resource Support: Act as a resource for nurses and other health care providers in the hospital and community.
Team Leadership: Provide clinical leadership on interdisciplinary teams in addressing infection prevention.
Issue Management: Control issues through consultations, continuing education, and other presentations.
Team Collaboration: Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members, educators, and other health care professionals/providers.
Excellence in Care: Achieve excellence in client-centered care, education and research.

2. Infection Control Nurse Overview

Health Status Assessment: Determine the patient’s holistic health status on an ongoing basis.
Patient Rapport: Establish rapport with patient/family to identify learning needs, expected outcome and discharge needs.
Nursing Process Use: Utilize the nursing process, efficiently identify actual and potential problems.
Care Planning: Develop/carry out the plan of care for the complex patient, specific to the age of the patient population identified within the department/unit standards.
Plan Revision: Initiate and revise the plan of care that meets the unit standards.
Safe Environment: Promote and maintain a safe and calm environment for complex patients by ensuring appropriate supplies, equipment, and patient/family needs.
Intervention Adaptation: Implement nursing intervention and adapt care based on changes in patient condition, consultation with other professionals and patient/family needs.
Clinical Decision-Making: Make clinical decisions independently based on scientific principles, a systematic approach and experience.
Risk Identification: Identify actual and potential risk to patients and/or families and initiate appropriate action to minimize risk.
Medication Administration: Administer medications and treatments/procedures, and for the patient’s medical care, in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.
Resource Utilization: Utilize internal and community resources in planning care and initiating referrals.
Patient Education: Initiate appropriate patient/family education following assessment of learning and discharge needs.
Care Documentation: Document nursing intervention and patient/family response accurately, legibly, and in compliance with hospital policies.
Task Delegation: Appropriately delegates tasks/procedures to other team members who are prepared/qualified to perform.

3. Infection Control Nurse Roles

Policy Development: Develop, review and revise infection control policies and procedures annually and/or in response to community outbreaks.
Antibiotic Program Oversight: Responsible for the direction, implementation, education of and compliance with the Antibiotic Stewardship Program.
Surveillance Planning: Establish surveillance activities according to accepted standards.
Infection Recording: Identify, record, and report nosocomial infections based on chart review, resident observation (including infection site), and microbiology reports, and input from professional staff.
Outbreak Investigation: Perform epidemiological functions by investigating outbreaks, identifying trends and clusters of infections, and evaluating relevant infection control practices.
Education Programming: Provide infection control programming for both staff education and resident education.
Health Program Coordination: Employee health programs will be coordinated are identified.
Infection Prevention Consulting: Responsible for being a resource person and consultant in the establishment and maintenance of an environment that will reduce the possibility of nosocomial and employee infections.
Health Screening Development: Work with the appropriate departments to develop employee health screening and immunization procedures.
Exposure Guidance: Guide for exposure to infectious diseases, prophylaxis, and management of infectious diseases.
Liaison Function: Act as a liaison with employee health, local and State Boards of Health and the Long Term Care Field Office.

4. Infection Control Nurse Duties and Roles

Plan Development: Develop and update the Infection Control Plan according to Senate Bill No.
Infection Reporting: Responsible for reporting healthcare-associated infection data to the Department of Health and the Patient Safety Authority as stipulated in Senate Bill No.
Safety Compliance: Comply with department and facility procedures, fire prevention and safety standards.
Flu Program Management: Conduct an annual flu vaccine program for residents and staff.
Physical Exam Support: Assist the Medical Director with pre-hire physicals and coordinate them with the Staff Development Coordinator.
TB Surveillance: Responsible for TB surveillance of residents and staff.
Blood Drive Coordination: Coordinate blood drives for the facility along with the American Red Cross.
Philosophy Support: Know and support the philosophy, goal and objectives of the Nursing Department.
Care Assignment: Assign resident care responsibilities to nursing personnel based on residents' needs, available staff and unit needs.
Care Coordination: Work with other health care providers to ensure quality care, including transcribing physicians' orders according to facility procedures.

5. Infection Control Nurse Roles and Details

Care Evaluation: Continually observe/monitor and evaluate quality, quantity and timeliness of nursing care.
Plan Assessment: Assess the need for modification of the medical regimen and/or nursing care plan and ensure the clinical records are properly maintained.
Emergency Care: Give resident care in emergency situations to assess complex resident needs or teach nursing techniques to residents, staff and/or family.
Medication Administration: Administer medications and treatments according to established policy and procedures.
Incident Reporting: Report falls, unusual occurrences and significant changes in the resident's condition to the supervisor, physician, and caseworker.
Responsible Notification: Responsible party according to facility policy and procedures for notification.
Regulatory Documentation: Document according to the requirements of all regulating bodies and facility policies.
Confidentiality Compliance: Responsible for maintaining strict confidentiality.
Shift Reporting: Give an appropriate report in a professional manner to the nurses on the next shift according to the requirements of the facility.
Supervisor Consultation: Seek consultation from a supervisor.
Leadership Modeling: Act as a role model for nursing assistants, licensed staff and other personnel.

6. Infection Control Nurse Responsibilities and Key Tasks

Mission Promotion: Promote the mission, vision, and values of the organization.
Infection Identification: Identify nosocomial infections and differentiate these from community-acquired infections.
Care Standardization: Establish standard methods of care, utilizing evidence-based practice and best practice standards.
Program Implementation: Establish and implement infection control and employee health orientation programs, alongside the departmental directors, throughout the facility.
Policy Responsibility: Responsible for policies and procedures within the organization related to infection control and employee health.
Health Record Support: Support administration with employee health databases and maintain complete and accurate employee health records.
Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with state and federal requirements, accreditation bodies, and the organization's policies and clinical responsibilities.
Team Collaboration: Participate as an integral team member, collaborating with various departments and colleagues, including the Safety Officer, Human Resources, Quality Officer, and others, to advocate for patient and personnel health and safety.
Biohazard Compliance: Ensure facility compliance with regulations and guidelines pertaining to the use, handling, shipping, and disposal of potential biohazards.

7. Infection Control Nurse Duties

Compliance Investigation: Assist with investigations and reporting of non-compliance.
Health Program Coordination: Coordinate the development and implementation of all employee health initiatives and programs.
Infection Program Oversight: Responsible for coordinating the infection control program, which includes surveillance, analysis of data, developing reports, policies, and procedures.
Epidemiological Application: Use epidemiological principles and statistical methods to design, implement, and evaluate infection prevention and control strategies.
Staff Consultation: Provide consultation and education to staff, physicians, and community leaders.
Risk Assessment: Conduct risk assessments with consideration of served populations, regional vulnerabilities, and relevant statistical data.
Care Procedure Development: Develop and implement continuously improved patient care procedures and control mechanisms relating to quality and compliance.
Employee Education: Participate in infection prevention and control education of all employees during orientation and annually thereafter, including classes in infection prevention and control practices and employee health, to include N95 Respirator Training, appropriate donning and doffing of PPE, and Blood Borne Pathogen training and compliance.
Regulatory Alignment: Ensure the infection prevention and control procedures meet county and state requirements, APIC and CDC regulations, standards, or guidelines.

8. Infection Control Nurse Roles and Details

Committee Organization: Organize Infection Prevention and Control Committee meetings and maintain all meeting minutes.
Problem Solving: Detail-oriented and capable of exploring innovative solutions to solve complex problems.
Data Management: Compile, code, and categorize, or verify information/data.
Decision Making: Determine appropriate course of action in more complex situations.
Task Prioritization: Manage multiple and simultaneous responsibilities and prioritize the scheduling of work.
Information Confidentiality: Maintain confidentiality of all medical, financial, and legal information.
Professional Conduct: Handle difficult situations involving patients, physicians, the community, or others in a professional manner.
Safety Assurance: Ensure safe operating conditions within the area of responsibility.

9. Infection Control Nurse Role Purpose

Program Implementation: Design, plan, and implement an effective center Infection Prevention and Control Program (IPCP), including IPCP policies and procedures.
Precaution Education: Teach staff proper Standard and Transmission-Based Precautions.
Resident Infection Training: Teach and implement resident care infection control practices.
Education Documentation: Document Infection Control education and in-service training, including attendance records, lesson plans, and teaching materials.
Record Maintenance: Maintain hardcopy system and/or electronic system.
Report Preparation: Prepare reports for the quarterly infection control committee.
Committee Participation: Participate in committee meetings and/or QAPI as directed by the Administrator.
Visitor Screening: Ensure visitor entry and center screening practices are in place.
Staff Monitoring: Provide education, monitoring, and screening practices for staff.

10. Infection Control Nurse Functions

Staffing Management: Manage, evaluate, and provide direction regarding staffing issues during infection emergencies.
Performance Evaluation: Teach, evaluate, and document staff performance.
Respiratory Hygiene: Responsible for respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette.
Environmental Disinfection: Responsible for environmental cleaning and disinfection.
Equipment Reprocessing: Reprocess reusable resident medical equipment.
PPE Usage: Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Care Planning Activities: Plan, educate, and evaluate resident care related to communal dining, group activities, medical visits, including dialysis residents.
Documentation Oversight: Plan, educate, and evaluate resident documentation and care planning, including nursing, dietary, activities and social service needs.
Isolation Practices: Plan, educate, and evaluate quarantine and isolation practices following CDC guidance.
Educational Signage: Provide posters and signage to communicate and educate the use of PPE and infection control practices.

11. Infection Control Nurse Accountabilities

Surveillance Planning: Create and maintain a current center Infection Surveillance Plan.
CDC Reporting: Review CDC data files and complete and/or assist with the center's weekly reporting.
Regulatory Updates: Review and share CDC, CMS, Texas HHS releases, updates and notifications regarding alerts and notices.
PPE Inventory: Ensure facility maintains appropriate par levels of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Waste Management Education: Coordinate and educate staff regarding disposable waste management.
Survey Participation: Attend and participate in infection control survey visits conducted by regulatory or other outside agencies.
Outbreak Care: Provide direct patient care during an Infectious outbreak.
Practice-Based Education: Provide direction and education based on current practices.
Agency Liaison: Establish and maintain a relationship with local county and state agencies responsible for infectious disease management.

12. Home Infusion Clinical Nurse Responsibilities

Patient Assessment: Perform initial assessment and ongoing reassessments for each patient.
Infusion Monitoring: Monitor and maintain infusion sites and systems.
Medication Administration: Administer and monitor antineoplastic agents, parenteral nutrition, investigational medications, blood and/or blood components and pain management medications.
Medication Safety: Follows the seven (7) medication rights and reduces the potential for medication errors.
Venipuncture Skills: Perform venous and arterial punctures and phlebotomies.
Care Planning: Assess patient’s condition, initiates plan of care, re-evaluates and updates.
Reaction Monitoring: Observe and assess patients for adverse reactions and/or complications to parenteral therapy, antineoplastic agents, medications and blood and/or blood components.
Pain Assessment: Responsible for adequately assessing and reassessing pain.
Pain Management: Utilize appropriate pain management techniques.
Patient Education: Educate the patient and family regarding pain management.
Patient Safety: Perform all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors.
Safety Culture: Support and maintain a culture of safety and quality.

13. Home Infusion Clinical Nurse Essential Functions

Physician Collaboration: Obtain all necessary physician orders and collaborate with the physician as the patient’s needs dictate.
Care Reevaluation: Re-evaluate the need for continued care on an ongoing basis and initiate recertification.
Comprehensive Nursing Care: Provide nursing care and infusion therapy care to patients of all ages, from neonates to geriatric patients.
Labeling Accuracy: Responsible for label cannula, dressing, solution, medication and administration set with pertinent information according to established protocols.
Patient Education: Provide education to the patient and/or caregiver on treatment and ongoing care.
Lab Follow-Up: Follow up with obtaining lab results and notifying the physician of any significant results.
Aseptic Technique: Maintain aseptic practices and infection prevention and control procedures.
Case Conferences: Initiate case conferences to discuss multidisciplinary team responsibilities, patient progress, plans for continued care, new problems, etc.
Supply Management: Obtain needed supplies and equipment to provide care.
Equipment Maintenance: Maintain infusion therapy equipment.
Meeting Participation: Participate in the agency’s other mandated activities, including in-services, UR/PI committee meetings and staff meetings.
Policy Adherence: Adhere to all agency, payroll, billing and documentation policies and procedures.

14. Home Infusion Clinical Nurse Duties and Roles

Documentation Standards: Meet established guidelines for documentation.
Education Compliance: Complete annual education requirements.
Regulatory Compliance: Maintain regulatory requirements.
Confidentiality Maintenance: Maintain patient confidentiality at all times.
Work Timeliness: Report to work on time and as scheduled, complete work within the designated time.
Training Attendance: Attend annual review and in-services.
Professional Representation: Represent the agency in a positive and professional manner.
QAPI Participation: Actively participates in performance improvement and Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) activities.
Ethics Compliance: Comply with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
Values Display: Consistently displays ICARE behaviors and values in every interaction with external and internal customers.

15. Infection Control Nurse General Responsibilities

Infection Data Collection: Collect data for analysis, interpretation and reporting of infections.
Trend Identification: Assist in identifying patterns and trends of infections.
Outbreak Investigation: Investigate disease outbreaks and clusters, and employee exposure to communicable diseases.
Disease Reporting: Report communicable diseases to the County Health Department.
Surveillance Summarization: Prepare summaries of surveillance and exposure activities.
Corrective Action Participation: Participate in follow-up or corrective action in relation to surveillance activities, as indicated by the Infection Control Supervisor, Hospital Epidemiologist and/or Infection Control Board.
Orientation Presentation: Present infection control orientation for all nursing personnel.
Program Development: Assist in planning, presenting and evaluating yearly and, infection control programs for all hospital personnel involved in patient care practice.
Ward Education: Present informal educational information during ward rounds as part of surveillance and consultation responsibilities.
Topic-Specific Teaching: Present classes on specific infection control areas as indicated by assessment of hospital needs.
Policy Development Assistance: Assist nursing and other hospital departments in the development of current, accurate policies and procedures at least every two years.

16. Infection Control Nurse Functions

Problem-Solving Support: Provide requested problem-solving assistance when infection control problems occur.
Site Visit Assistance: Perform site visits on a regular basis to assist in the development of appropriate and cost-effective infection control practices.
Committee Consultation: Provide infection control consultation and representation on committees.
Program Evaluation Support: Assist in the planning, development and evaluation of the infection control program.
Departmental Assistance: Assist Infection Control Supervisor with departmental responsibilities (e.g., surveys, consultations, disseminating infection control policies, etc.).
Professional Participation: Maintain professional development by attending and participating in professional organizations, e.g., Association for Practitioners in Infection Control (A.P.I.C.) and local Journal Club.
Conference Attendance: Attend programs and conferences in infection control and other related subjects.
Literature Awareness: Keep abreast of current literature in the field of infection control.
Ongoing Learning: Seek learning experiences to maintain knowledge and skills necessary to function as an Infection Control Nurse.

17. Infection Control Nurse Job Summary

Surveillance Management: Establish and conduct a surveillance program for the prevention, detection and control of infections within the hospital.
Policy Coordination: Coordinate the formulation and continuing evaluation/revision of all written policies, procedures and protocols within the hospital, pertaining to infection prevention and control.
Staff Education: Coordinate the provision of infection control orientation and continuing education for all personnel within the hospital.
Statistical Reporting: Submit regular statistical reports to the infection control committee, as part of an ongoing monitoring and evaluation system for the effectiveness of quality improvement of patient care services.
Infection Planning: Coordinate infection control activities within the Chairperson of the Infection Control Committee for the planning, implementation and evaluation of the methodologies designed to reduce and control adverse infectious events.
Health Surveillance: Coordinate and conduct surveillance programs for the prevention, identification and tracking of associates’ illnesses and injuries in collaboration with the Employee Health Nurse.
Committee Participation: Actively participates in appropriate medical staff and hospital committees, which impact the infection control program.
Communication Management: Establishes and maintains appropriate communication channels with physicians and other hospital personnel.
Program Implementation: Ensure accomplishment of the program objectives.
Quality Monitoring: Participate in the collection and analysis of quality management data, in collaboration with the manager of Performance Improvement.
SMDA Coordination: Coordinate the SMDA Reporting program.
PI Activities: Coordinate Performance Improvement Activities as requested by the Director of Quality and Risk Management (CAP PI Team).

18. Infection Control Nurse Job Description

TB Screening: Conduct initial and annual TB screenings.
Vaccination Administration: Administer initial and follow-up Hepatitis B vaccinations.
Compliance Monitoring Support: Assist the Executive Director of Medical Services and the Chief Medical Officer in monitoring compliance with screenings, vaccinations and mandated training.
Record Maintenance: Keep the required records to accomplish the monitoring.
Mandated Training Delivery: Conduct mandated initial and annual training in infection control/employee health issues.
Needs-Based Training: Provide other infection control/employee health training in response to identified staff needs.
Policy Implementation Support: Assist the Infection Control/Employee Health office in implementing and administering infection control/employee health policy and procedures.
Regulatory Monitoring: Monitor assigned service areas for compliance with CARF, OSHA, ISDH and TJC regulations and participate in the Environment of Care Survey Team.
Plan Execution Support: Assist the Executive Director of Medical Services and the Chief Medical Officer with the implementation and monitoring of all aspects of the corporate Infection Control Plan.
Panel Participation: Serve as a member of the HCI Health and Wellness Panel.
Health Consultant Support: Serve as a resource Health Consultant for the Early Head Start Program in the absence of the Executive Director of Medical Services.
Committee Co-Leadership: Serve as co-chairperson of the Infection Control Committee, and provide required quality reports.
Safety Committee Membership: Serve on the Safety and Security committee.

19. Infection Control Nurse Duties

Program Oversight: Oversee the nursing centers' Infection Control and Prevention Program to minimize the risk of infection.
Health Program Management: Manage the employee health program, which includes the universal influenza program.
New Hire Training: Facilitate infection control training for all newly hired employees.
TB Training: Conduct annual competency training for nurses administering tuberculosis testing.
Immunization Review: Review the immunization documentation/status for all new hires with the center to ensure compliance.
Education Program Development: Develop education programs in response to infection control needs identified through Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement, rounding and center quality measures.
Clinical Resource Support: Act as a resource for nurses and other health care providers in the hospital and community.
Team Leadership: Provide clinical leadership on interdisciplinary teams in addressing infection prevention.

20. Infection Control Nurse Essential Functions

Outbreak Recognition: Recognize and isolate outbreaks of infectious diseases in health and care settings and in the community at large.
Outbreak Investigation: Investigate possible outbreaks and marshal proper resources in response in the event of a confirmed outbreak.
Disease Advisory Role: Serve as an infectious disease advisor for health and care providers and members of the community.
IPC Training: Provide training to support Infection Prevention and control (including care homes).
Staff Resource: Serves as a resource to the staff and the organization.
Regulatory Support: Support staff to comply with external regulatory agency infection control requirements.
Infection Reporting: Report and investigate infections and all communicable diseases in accordance with established policy and requirements of external agencies and Health Departments.
Issue Consultation: Control issues through consultations, continuing education, and other presentations.