[bicleu]

Hello. Is there a difference between an infectious disease nurse and an infection control nurse, or do those titles represent the same person?

I always thought an ID nurse was a nurse that just worked in ID, while an IC nurse was more of an administrative person who worked on guidelines and made sure all the proper procedures were followed to prevent infections. Am I right or wrong?

Thanks,
B

[DaveMac]

Originally Posted by bicleu

Hello. Is there a difference between an infectious disease nurse and an infection control nurse, or do those titles represent the same person?

I always thought an ID nurse was a nurse that just worked in ID, while an IC nurse was more of an administrative person who worked on guidelines and made sure all the proper procedures were followed to prevent infections. Am I right or wrong?

Thanks,
B

I agree with what you wrote with the differences between an IDN and an ICN (ICP). I have had one ICP tell me that they are the same, where I work, I feel that the floor staff think that I am both.

[s3nyorita]

Originally Posted by bicleu

Hello. Is there a difference between an infectious disease nurse and an infection control nurse, or do those titles represent the same person?

I always thought an ID nurse was a nurse that just worked in ID, while an IC nurse was more of an administrative person who worked on guidelines and made sure all the proper procedures were followed to prevent infections. Am I right or wrong?

Thanks,
B

Over here, it's actually the same. Just depends on what they chose to call you.And I'm just an ICLN.

[BSNDec06]

Being an ICP is different than being an infectious disease nurse. There are physicians who specialize in infectious diseases, and some hospitals have floors specifically devoted to this specialty. An infectious disease nurse would work in this type of environment.

However, infection control professionals can be nurses, epidemiologists or medical technologists. We deal with adherence to state, OSHA and Joint Commission requirements. ICPs generally do not do direct patient care, rather the work is more administrative in nature. There are tremendous opportunities for staff education if you like this sort of thing. There is a professional society called APIC www.apic.org if you want to learn more.