Zena Farkas
Fuquay Varina
Summary
Hardworking infection control specialist with career spearheading investigations, compiling data and completing reports. Knowledgeable of tracking and containment of contagious pathogens. Highly analytical, enterprising and motivated to impact public health in and around the Holly Spring, NC area.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Infection Control Officer
UNC Health Rex Holly Springs
01.2021 - Current
- Reports all reportable diseases to proper Health Departments.
- Conducts active surveillance to determine significant findings from medical record review, defining healthcare associated infections using established criteria.
- Takes part in Patient Safety Rounds, Isolation Rounds, Construction .Survey Rounds, and escorts regulatory agents during visits.
- Leads the Suburban Site team for the Accreditation officer.
- Infection Prevention Resource for all areas of Rex Holly Springs Hospital as well as, Rex Cancer Centers, Outpatient Services, and Long-Term Care Centers.
- Develops and provides educational offerings corporately and to the community.
- Primary involvement in emergency preparedness planning.
- Writes letters addressing patient concerns with regards to infection prevention practices.
- Monitors High Level Disinfection and Sterilization practices for all areas both on and off campus.
- Optimizes workflow processes by identifying opportunities for improvement in procedures related to infectious materials disposal.
- Monitors antibiotic usage patterns within the facility to combat antimicrobial resistance effectively.
- Conducts thorough outbreak investigations for swift containment, protecting patients and staff from potential harm.
- Implements isolation precautions tailored to specific pathogens, reducing transmission rates among vulnerable populations.
- Minimizes the spread of infections through diligent surveillance, data analysis, and prompt reporting to relevant departments.
- Develops comprehensive infection control policies, ensuring adherence to regulatory standards and best practices.
- Educates patients and their families about infection prevention measures, empowering them to take an active role in their care.
- Reviews construction projects within the hospital premises for adherence to appropriate infection control standards during planning and execution phases.
- Collaborates with interdisciplinary healthcare teams to create a unified approach towards effective infection prevention strategies.
Infection Preventionist
UNC Rex Healthcare
01.2011 - 01.2021
- Reported all reportable diseases to proper Health Departments.
- Conducted active surveillance to determine significant findings from medical record review, defining healthcare associated infections using established criteria.
- Took part in Patient Safety Rounds, Isolation Rounds, Construction Survey Rounds and escorts regulatory agents during visits.
- Lead the Suburban Site and Kitchen Safety Rounds teams for the Accreditation officer.
- Infection Prevention Resource for all Rex Cancer Centers, Outpatient Services, Radiology, Long-Term Care Centers, Woman’s Center, Special Care Nursery, Endoscopy, and In-patient locations.
- Developed and provided educational offerings corporately and to the community.
- Primary preceptor to all new staff members of the Infection Prevention Department.
- Primary involvement in Ebola, MERS and COVID Pandemic preparedness planning.
- Wrote letters addressing patient concerns with regards to infection prevention practices.
- Developed and maintained several databases that are used by the department.
- Monitored High Level Disinfection practices for all areas both on and off campus.
- Key Contributor in 3-year research study.
- Reduced infection rates by implementing evidence-based practices and guidelines in the healthcare facility.
- Evaluated new products for potential inclusion in the organization''s arsenal against infectious diseases, ensuring their effectiveness and compatibility with established protocols.
- Maintained records of procedures, infections and outcomes.
- Provided comprehensive training for staff on proper hand hygiene, personal protective equipment usage, and other infection control practices to minimize risks.
- Served as a liaison between departments to facilitate communication regarding best practices in infection prevention and control.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams for effective infection prevention strategies and policy development.
- Investigated outbreaks and revamped control measures to prevent future incidents.
- Evaluated hospital-onset and healthcare-acquired infections by conducting root cause analysis.
Staff Nurse
UNC Rex Healthcare
01.2010 - 01.2011
- Provided care for the post coronary artery bypass, valve repair and thoracic surgical patients.
- Administered medications via oral, IV, and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
- Performed various nursing interventions such as wound dressing, vital sign monitoring, and specimen collection.
- Assessed physical, psychological, physiologic, and cognitive status of patients.
- Competencies maintained in care for Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump.
- Charge nurse duties, staffing, monitoring of assignments, and mentoring.
Infection Control Practitioner
WakeMed
01.2005 - 01.2008
- Recorded infections and compliance with prevention strategies.
- Educated patients and their families on proper hygiene practices, reducing the risk of disease transmission within the community.
- Evaluated hospital-onset and healthcare-acquired infections by conducting root cause analysis.
- Investigated outbreaks and revamped control measures to prevent future incidents.
Supervisor/Educator
WakeMed
01.2003 - 01.2005
- Conducted performance evaluations for staff members, identifying areas of improvement and guiding professional development plans.
- Developed staff skills through targeted training programs, resulting in improved performance and career growth opportunities.
- Increased team productivity by implementing efficient workflows and setting clear expectations for staff members.
Staff Nurse Level III
WakeMed
01.1997 - 01.2003
- Provided care for the post coronary artery bypass, valve repair and thoracic surgical patients.
- Competencies maintained in the care of Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump, Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy, and Ventricle Assist Device.
- Charge nurse duties, staffing, monitoring of assignments, precepting and mentoring.
- Performed various nursing interventions such as wound dressing, vital sign monitoring, and specimen collection.
- Administered medications via oral, IV, and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
Staff Nurse
East Ohio Regional Hospital
01.1994 - 01.1997
- Cared for patients requiring chest pain observation, post cardiac catheterization and intravenous cardiac drug therapy with telemetry monitoring.
- Monitored patients' conditions and reported changes in physical presentation, appearance, and behavior to discuss treatment with physicians.
- Cared for general population of patients who presented with medical and surgical diagnoses.
Education
Registered Nurse -
Master of Science - Health Administration
Champlain College
Burlington, VT05.2017
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Wheeling Jesuit College
Wheeling, WV05.1994
Skills
- Disease trend knowledge
- Medication Administration
- Technical assistant
- Report Writing
Certification
- Certified Infection Control (CIC), Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, 2014-Present
- Certification in Sterile Processing Management (CSPM), Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution, 2018-Present
Affiliations
- Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
- North Carolina Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
Committees
- Infection Prevention Committee
- Professional Development Committee
- Nursing Education Council
- Value Analysis Team
- Infection Control Nurse Liaison Committee
- Rex Holly Springs Hospital Clinical Leadership
- UNC/REX Holly Springs Leadership
Committee Memberships
- North Carolina Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Nominations and Awards Committee Member, 2017-2019
- North Carolina Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Nominations and Awards Committee Member, 2021-2022
- North Carolina Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Nominations and Awards Committee Chair, 2022-2023
Statewide Program
Statewide Program for Infection Control and Epidemiology, Provides education to organizations to meet state regulations, 2015-Present
Publications
- The use of 3.15% chlorhexidine gluconate/70% alcohol hub disinfection to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections in dialysis patients, Cooney, M., Manikcam, N., Becherer, P., Harmon, L., Gregg, L., Farkas, Z., Shea, L., Parekh, P., Murphy, J., Shade, W., British Journal of Nursing, 01/2020, https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2020.29.2.S24
- The Use of 3.15% Chlorhexidine Gluconate/70% Alcohol Hub Disinfection to Prevent Central Line-Associated Blood Stream Infections in Dialysis Patients, Martin, C., Manickam, N., Becherer, P., Harman, L., Gregg, L., Farkas, Z., Shea, L., Parekh, P., Murphy, J., Shade, W., 12/2019, https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.2309/j.java.2019.004.001
- The Use of 3.15% Chlorhexidine Gluconate/70% Alcohol Hub Disinfection to Prevent Central Line-Associated Blood Stream Infections in Dialysis Patients, Martin, C., Manickam, N., Becherer, P., Harman, L., Gregg, L., Farkas, Z., Shea, L., Parekh, P., Murphy, J., Shade, W., 09/2018, https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.2309/j.java.2019.004.001
- The Effectiveness of 3.15% Chlorhexidine Gluconate/70% Alcohol Hub Disinfection to Prevent Central Line-Associated Blood Stream Infections, Martin, C., Manickam, N., Becherer, P., Gregg, L., Farkas, Z., Shea, L., Shade, W., American Journal of Infection Control, 06/2018, https://www.ajicjournal.org/article/S0196-6553(18)30384-5/abstract#%20
Volunteer Experience
- Girl Scout Troop 199, Girl Scout Leader, 2009-2019, Lead a group of girls from second grade through twelfth grade in a variety of activities. Several girls earned their Bronze Award, three earned their Silver and one earned her Gold Award.
- Boy Scout Troop 75, Annual Education Provider, 2010-2022, Supplied annual education to the boys regarding first aid and hand hygiene practices while camping.
References
Available upon request
Timeline
Infection Control Officer
UNC Health Rex Holly Springs
01.2021 - Current
Infection Preventionist
UNC Rex Healthcare
01.2011 - 01.2021
Staff Nurse
UNC Rex Healthcare
01.2010 - 01.2011
Infection Control Practitioner
WakeMed
01.2005 - 01.2008
Supervisor/Educator
WakeMed
01.2003 - 01.2005
Staff Nurse Level III
WakeMed
01.1997 - 01.2003
Staff Nurse
East Ohio Regional Hospital
01.1994 - 01.1997
Registered Nurse -
Master of Science - Health Administration
Champlain College
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Wheeling Jesuit College
- Certified Infection Control (CIC), Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, 2014-Present
- Certification in Sterile Processing Management (CSPM), Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution, 2018-Present
Similar Profiles
Tammy Whitley CollieTammy Whitley Collie
Nurse Manager at UNC Health RexNurse Manager at UNC Health Rex
Heather RichardsHeather Richards
Revenue Cycle Representative at UNC Rex Health CareRevenue Cycle Representative at UNC Rex Health Care
Justyn PerryJustyn Perry
Cardiovascular Specialist at UNC Health RexCardiovascular Specialist at UNC Health Rex