Vicki Macks, RN, BSN, CNOR, CIC

Current Position:

Infection Control Nurse in the Infection Control Department and MRSA Prevention Coordinator
Veteran's Affairs Medical Center
Memphis, TN

As the Infection Control Nurse, I perform surveillance of infections, data collection and analysis, serve as resource for information related to multiple diseases for all employees, including physicians and Occupational Health, provide Nursing Orientation classes as relates to Infection Control and MRSA, assist with public health reporting, and perform multiple tasks related to monitoring of infectious disease processes. Infection control now includes knowledge about bioterrorism, Pandemic Flu, Seasonal Flu, multi-drug resistant organisms, disease processes, epidemiologic investigations, TB, exotic diseases, and much more.

Experience:

As an Infection Control Nurse, participating in the orientation of new employees and specifically, new nursing employees, is a part of my job. To assist with the education of the nurses, I have developed a nursing packet and outline to ensure all aspects of infection control are included during the orientation process. It is revised as new information and processes are developed. I also participate with education on MRSA, Isolation, Pandemic Flu, any topic that is of interest to any service related to infection control. I am also a BLS instructor and present education and skills as directed by the American Heart Association curriculum. I have submitted course content for Contact hour approval through AORN for multiple presenters who submitted content information to me. Based on the content of their material, I prepared the paperwork for submission and approval for Contact Hours. All courses submitted to AORN were awarded contact hours. I also prepared course content and objectives for Contact Hour approval through the VA hospital educator who received approval through the California Board of Nursing. A presentation to the Tennessee Nurses Association in October 2006 developed and presented by me and my colleague received high evaluations. The topic presented was on Pandemic Influenza and Avian Flu. I researched material, prepared the power point slides for presentation, and presented the material in a lecture format. In June 2006, I presented a power point and panel discussion to those in attendance at the APIC International Conference in one of the breakout sessions. I was part of a panel of six participants of the IDPIO team, of which I am a member. We each developed our portion of the presentation and then presented as a group. This also received very good ratings in the evaluation. The IDPIO team develops educational material for publication such as posters, brochures, and videos. Preparing and writing guidelines, policies, and standard operating procedures is also a component of my job as an Infection Control Nurse. . Prior to becoming an Infection Control Nurse I functioned as the OR Nurse Educator and developed the course curriculum for new technicians, and developed the orientation competencies for experienced OR nurses. In addition, I have a written acknowledgement in the United States Government National Pandemic Flu Plan for assistance in the development of the plan for educating the public on how to prepare for a Pandemic Flu. I assisted with the development of this document from inception to completion.

Courses by this author: