New to infection control

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I have recently accepted an Infection Control position at the hospital where I already work on the Med/Surg floor. The person that was in this position has taken on a new role at our facility and is extremely busy, therefore, does not have much time to orient me. I have been given an office and all the manuals and books relating to this position. I am just a little overwhelmed with it all, I mean I am not sure what I should be doing daily/weekly/monthly etc. I sit in my office and wait for someone to give me some orientation. Any suggestions?

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Specializes in Addiction.

Look into the SPICE training @ http://spice.unc.ed I know it will say NC BUT ihave attended and it covers basic concepts and is atternded by persons (nurses as well as other healthcare workers) from all over the country. There are 2 parts , one held in the spring and the other in the fall.

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The best thing you can do is Orient yourself using APIC (Assocation of Professionals in Infection Control). This is a national organization and they are the ones who set the standards (along with the CDC) for Infection Prevention and Control nursing. They have a ton of websites devoted to begginners and will lay things out for you step by step. Also another big task to check out is NHSN (National Healthcare Safety Network). This is the goverment (part of the CDC) and they mandate that all hospitals report certains numbers monthly such as CLABSIs (Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infections), VAE/P (Ventilator Associated Event/Pneumonia), SSI (Surgical Site Infections) & and CAUTIs (Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection). I have been doing IP&C for 2 years now and it has taken me about that long to really get a good grasp and feel and to know where to utilize my resources. I work in Panama City Florida for a 300 bed hospital. You can always reach me anytime during the week if you have further questions at 850-747-6422 and I will be more than happy to help you out. Another big task for infection control is the Infection Control Annual plan which consist of risk analysis and summaries of performance improvment projects which will get the hospital to its goal of having the least amount of infections possible. Welcome to Infection Prevention & Control. This job is full of mountains to climb, hills to run, and rivers to swim through however its very rewarding and you will learn a ton of knowledge about nursing in general.

Greg

Infection Preventionist

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Thank you both for your suggestions. Could you give me a run down of what a typical day is for you? Thak you again!!!

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u can also refer CDC Development Solutions, for all your doubts in infection control nursing

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Specializes in retired LTC.

You may also wish to consider joining your local APIC Assoc. Good resource for networking

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Hello, I'm getting interested in infection control (in nursing school right now) because I have a public health background (hospital admin) and can appreciate the dual need to prevent infections for patients, and also the costly consequences of hospital acquired infections.

I'm wondering, if there ever was a "formula" for getting into infection control starting from nursing school to getting the job, what would you advise? What are the practical steps we need to take to get into infection control? And what are the career paths that could open up from a career in infection control nursing--or is it more like, the kind of thing you need to stay in for a long time? Thanks!

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