The Guide to Becoming an Infection Control Nurse

Even in a sterilised and sanitary environment, a rogue infection can spread quickly and get out of hand. Though it depends on the type of infection and the area which has been infected, if left unchecked, people can become seriously ill and even die. As seen in the current pandemic of Covid-19, it can even transverse state and country boundaries, affecting people all over the world. That is why Infection Control Nurses are important for a healthcare organisation. They are the ones who are trained to prevent dangerous infectious diseases from spreading. 

Infection control nurses are extremely important for an organisation, as their job is to ensure precautions are taken to prevent the virus or bacteria from spreading. Even a small mistake can lead to the infectious agent to spread from a patient to a healthy individual, hence, they play a huge role in containing outbreaks and epidemic. To understand the scope of an infection control nurse, here are the answers to some of the frequently asked questions:

What do Infection Control Nurses do?

The main duty of an infection control nurse is preventing the spread of an infectious agent that can harm society. To do so, they often educate other medical professionals and civilians on the techniques to prevent the spread and protect themselves as well as others from contamination. They also might study the structure of pathogens and viruses in order to determine the best ways to contain or prevent the infection. In the event of an outbreak, they are the ones who isolate infected patients and take steps to contain the infection. 

Where do Infection Control Nurses Work?

There is no special difference between an infection control nurse and other nurses. The only difference is that the former opt for specialised infection control nurse course. Other than that, they work in similar medical facilities, such as hospitals and clinics. They can even become part of government agencies that raise awareness about different infections and their prevention. 

How to become an Infection Control Nurse?

For becoming an infection control nurse, all you have to do is obtain some experience in the nursing field, and then take up a course that will help you secure a specialised position. 

A good option is to check out the infection control nurse course offered by the Consortium of Accredited Healthcare Organisations (CAHO), which is a recognised non-profit organisation that aims to improve healthcare quality. With programmes such as fire safety training for hospital staff, basic nursing communication, cybersecurity in hospital, etc., they work to improve the quality and safety of healthcare services provided by the HCOs across the country. 

 

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