Infection Preventionist .... needs career advice

[ICU_JOSIE, MSN, RN]

I'm an ICU RN who took the Infection Control Practitioner post in our facility. I have been doing it for 9 months now. Being in that post gave me a lot of frustrations. I've already done my part educating the staff but compliance remains a challenge, our cross-transmission remains high, that partly because I work in a for-profit organization and cohorting does not appear to be a priority. Reporting non-compliant nurses and repeat offenders are never counseled. I feel ineffective in my role because I don't get enough support.

I eventually decided to turn in my resignation letter and decided to go back to ICU nursing which my boss accepted and asked me for 2 more weeks until they can find a replacement. I've been counting the days and I only have 2 days left but now they are asking me to stay. I'm just torn because a part of me wants to help and stay but I don't want to be miserable and regret staying later on. Bedside care has always been my first love and I really enjoy taking care of patients.

They offered flexibility and allowed me to do 3 x 12 hours shifts instead of 4 x 10 hours, adding to no weekends and I can come and go anytime as long as I complete my hours for the week. Sounds like a really good offer making my life a little bit easier (having to juggle between two jobs and doing my MSN at the same time)

So this is my dilemma. Any words of advice will be highly appreciated. Should I stay or should I go?

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Oh Hon - you need to stay in your IC position. The fact that they 'sweetened' the deal means that you now have more leverage. I would advise you to use your new political capital & get the powers-that-be to support you in using different approaches to improve compliance.

At the very least, you should negotiate for:

+ freedom to investigate 'best practices' - going on site visits to other IC professionals, etc.

+ carte blanche to re-design the program as you want it to be

+ funding for some 'inducements' to reward the department with the best compliance

+ flexible scheduling for yourself to enable you to work on your MSN

+ additional resources that would make you more effective (use your imagination)

You can always do an occasional PRN shift at the bedside if you want to. Go for it!!

[ICU_JOSIE, MSN, RN]

Thanks for the advice HouTx. I ended up making 3 conditions to make me stay which I bravely discussed with the CEO. Oh well, it can't be done so I'm going back to bedside nursing. They did ask me to stay one more month though while they'searching for a replacement.It is indeed a challenging role. I guess my principle always goes with doing what is right and what's best for the patient. Being the patients' advocate I want to cultivate a culture of safety. My effofts are pointless if my recomendations are disregarded and if all hell breaks loose, all fingers will be pointing right at me. I applied for the post hoping to make a difference (well, I did make some changes like making the doctors put on PPEs!), but this job is hard without the support and resources. Well, at least I tried .....

[ICU_JOSIE, MSN, RN]

Wow and that was me almost 2 years ago!For an update, I definitely moved on and am very much happy with my current post. I now work as CCU/ICU RN at Sta. Monica UCLA. A total dream job! We just moved in to our new building. Great opportunities to be trained, wonderful people to work with who truly recognize TEAM effort, very supportive administrative staff. What more can I ask for? I'm so happy being there that I realized it'll be a year for me in the next 2 months!