Chapter 28 – Orienting the New Infection Preventionist
Jeanne Pfeiffer, BSN, RN, MPH, CIC
Clinical Assistant Professor
University of Minnesota School of Nursing
Minneapolis, Minnesota
James Marx, RN, MS, CIC
Consultant
Broad Street Solutions
San Diego, California
ABSTRACT
Infection preventionists, traditionally referred to as infection control professionals, must have a theoretical framework to understand their role and responsibilities. The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC), the Community and Hospital Infection Control Association-Canada (CHICA), and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) have published professional and practice standards for the provision of high-quality infection control services.1–3 These standards include key criteria that can be used to evaluate competency, to plan educational programs, and to provide career advancement opportunities. These standards are also embodied in the APIC Text of Infection Control and Epidemiology, which can serve as an adjunct to the mentoring process during orientation of new infection preventionists. This chapter provides four scenarios for using the APIC Text to orient new infection preventionists with different clinical backgrounds and levels of experience.
Last Revised: 12/13/09 5:29 PM
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