floor nurse vs desk nurse

sauconyrunner · May 11, 2012

I just switched to Infection Prevention....I love it. the short days are no problem. I go to work later and go home earlier.

I did however, get a pay raise to go with the job. 2 big changes with IC

I can not leave work at work. There is always some ongoing project I am working on, or some telephone urgent report to the health dept. and that:

Infection Control is not for the meek. I have to confront all sorts of people daily regarding their lack of attention to policies. I had to pull a Doctor out of a room the other day and get him dressed in proper isolation gear. He did not take it really well, but he has to do it anyway. Occasionally I get Unit Managers rolling eyes when I give them data that the staff aren't following policy and procedure, and I often get the staff up in arms about things. It is my job, however, to make sure patients are protected and staff are protected- so I do it.

nursynurseRN · May 12, 2012

Thank you so much for your response, id be doing infection control and employee health..... do u miss the floor?

sauconyrunner · May 12, 2012

I'm an Emergency Nurse and NO, I do not miss the floor. I freely admit though I LOVE statistics, and am quite happy holed up in my office doing investigations. I thought I would miss it, but I do not. Have not touched a patient now in over a month. The only time I had an issue was when I was in the ED and they brought in a code...I kept feeling like I needed to respond...and reminding myself that this is no longer my role.

For the amount of work that Occ health and Infection Prevention does, you should not be getting a pay cut. Even at my small rural hospital, we separate these positions. Does your hospital participate in National health Safety Network or antimicrobial stewardship for infection prevention? Will they pay for you to go to APIC and MAD-ID? Both things will be super helpful. APIC epi 101 should def be paid for the MAD -ID is really for antimicrobial stewardship...and a lot of hospitals dont thing that that is IP, but it is.

I've been really lucky to have a mentor who directs infection control for a big hospital- they have ten infection preventionists. The infection prevention world is small...keep in touch and I'll help you as much as I can! Always good to have someone to vent to!

nursynurseRN · May 16, 2012

Thank you so much... it is a different hospital much closer to home, 40 minute commute down to 8 minute drive. I really love my floor job but I want to move on and change and I am sick of driving........ I didn't ask any of these questions when I got hired because I didn't know. I haven't started actually doing it so I'm not even sure I will like it. Thanks and I will keep in touch.