Infectious Disease vs Infection Control Nurse

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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

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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. :caduceus:

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Specializes in Surgical.
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.:cheers:

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Specializes in Infection Preventionist/ Occ Health.

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 http://www.apic.org if you want to learn more.

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Specializes in OB-GYNE and Infection COntrol.

Actually, the INfectious Disease Nurse or consultant are those handling infectious cases/patients while the INfection COntrol Nurse is the administrative nurse who deals with policy making, surveillance of healthcare acquired infections and the like. the ICN is more on the supervisory role, making sure that guideline were followed and staff, visitors and patients are protected from infections.

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If I were thinking about being an infection control nurse, what are the appropriate steps to take? I am a new graduate nurse with a BSN and BS in Microbiology. I love "bugs"! How does one begin the process? Is having staff nurse experience required? I took a look at ACIP and CBIC and probably won't be able to purchase the latest texts because of it's cost. Any feedback would be appreciated!

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If I were thinking about being an infection control nurse, what are the appropriate steps to take? I am a new graduate nurse with a BSN and BS in Microbiology. I love "bugs"! How does one begin the process? Is having staff nurse experience required? I took a look at ACIP and CBIC and probably won't be able to purchase the latest texts because of it's cost. Any feedback would be appreciated!

IMHO as an RN with 15 years experience before going into IC as a Surveillance Nurse. I would tell you to go get some experience. You need to understand the reality of the units before you can teach and do the work. It's part detective too. lol I was hired because my background filled in the gaps the other nurse was missing. Good luck.

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Specializes in mental health, military nursing.

In my experience, the best way to learn to be an infection control nurse is to be mentored by another one, preferably one who works in your same type of hospital. I was kind of thrown into the position (my predecessor actually left two weeks before I started), and I have wasted a ton of time trying to construct what IC means for my facility!

If you have the desire, look for a position - you can't get your certification until you have two years IC experience, so everyone is starting somewhere! To make yourself appealing to prospective employers, bone up on OSHA regulations, CDC infection control guidelines, epidemiology, and maybe create a few teaching tools or teaching plans.

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Specializes in Surgical/Operating Room.

Here in Brazil, the nurse of infectious diseases accompanying patients with hepatitis, AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, leprosy, etc.

And the nurse who makes the control of infection is responsible for statistical data, protocols designed to antimicrobial therapy and prevention of infection, among other issues.

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Unless I missed it, this is the only topic with the word "infect . . . " in it. I was looking for an "Infection Control Nursing" topic to browse here. Maybe the moderators could make an Infection Control Nursing topic heading.

Opera

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Specializes in Psych, Informatics, Biostatistics.

Great to hear from someone in Brazi. I am interviewing for a position next week. I have a BSN, with a soon to be Biostatistics certificate, and some pharma stats programming experience. I love longitudinal studies, HL7 and SAS programming and see this as a chance to do what I am passionate about. Thoughts? Thanks.

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Specializes in Emergency.

How did you interview go? You sound like a shoe in for this type of position. I am also sort of frustrated that the only place for Infection preventionists to post in Allnurses is under Infectious Disease.....

Every day in my hospital, I am told that I should know this and that drug, and am asked for recommendations on drug therapy for patients. I remind people that they need to call the ID team. I'm here for surveillance, to identify trends, educate staff and ensure compliance with our policies (and some other things). I do many things, but I do not treat or recommend drug therapy for patients. Arrrugh. My favorite moment of mis-understanding of this was when I was told last week- oh you need to know the treatments for neutropenic fever for your certification exam. I asked that person when was the last time she looked at content for the CIC exam.:bugeyes:

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