On the value of connecting with infection control colleagues
President Association for Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology
Perioperative nurses and Infection Preventionists share a common goal to prevent infections in our patients. The difference between these roles is that the nurse in the perioperative setting has the view of the perioperative practice, and the Infection Preventionist is focused on the broader systems and processes contributing to surgical site infections. Sharing these different perspectives through regular communication and collaboration can mean a safer healthcare environment for our patients.
Perioperative nurses have their piece of that puzzle as we provide patient care, and I will tell you that perioperative nurses do not put up with any excuses for not following the appropriate infection control and prevention procedures for patients. They are appalled when they go into other departments and see how things are done sometimes. Perioperative nurses see things differently in terms of the rigor of their profession.
When you think of the patient safety culture, it was the perioperative nurses that really set the standard for patient safety. Safety Officers didn't have to go into the perioperative nurses group and say, "You need to check patients' identifiers before you do procedures."
In the infection prevention world, perioperative nurses are the epitome of infection prevention. If I could take 10% of that culture of safety and instill it in my staff nurses and physicians and other healthcare professionals that touch our patients, the risk to our patients of healthcare-acquired infections would be greatly diminished.
Perioperative nurses are also leaders in their approach to systems thinking and this is critical for successful infection prevention and control. Thinking of preventing infection as they move toward the patient - with the barrier precautions they use, with their focus on sterility, the focus on hand hygiene - I think the Infection Preventionist gains much by spending time in the operating room . There are lessons to be learned in that environment that can be used throughout the organization..
Professionals in perioperative nursing and infection prevention can absolutely benefit by building stronger connections. One case in point is the Surgical Care Improvement Project from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, an initiative that depends on perioperative nurses and infection control professionals working together.
Infection Preventionists may need a perioperative nurse's expertise on surgical and sterile practices. I have asked my OR nurses many times to go into a setting to assess and make recommendations rigorous for infection prevention for invasive procedures occurring outside the surgical suite. Perioperative nurses have helped others adopt this culture to improve patient safety.
The Infection Preventionist and the Perioperative RNs should be on a first-name basis. The relationship benefits both as each has an expertise to bring to the table, with the overall goal of reducing risk and improving patient care.
Janet Frain, RN, CIC, CPHQ, CPHRM (American River College/Chicago Institute of Technology), has worked in Infection Prevention and Control since 1975 at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento (SMCS). Using the skills developed as an Infection Control Practitioner, Frain is now the Director of Quality, Risk, Infection Prevention and Control, and Medical Staff Services at SMCS.
In her local APIC Sierra Chapter, Frain has served as a Director, President-Elect and President. Her work with APIC HQ began in 1988 when she was a member of the 1989 Annual Conference Program Committee. She served on several National Program Committees, culminating in being the Annual Conference Program Chair of 1995. Following that, Frain served on the APIC Board as secretary for two terms, director for one term and treasurer for two terms.
Frain is a popular speaker and has presented both locally and nationally on topics including Infection Control and Risk Management, Conducting a Root Cause Analysis, Teaching Strategies and Disclosure of Adverse Events. She also co-authored an APIC eLearning program on "Laboratory Testing and Infectious Diseases."
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