Course: Infection Preventionist

Course Introduction: Becoming an Infection Preventionist

Infection control has been practiced since the 14th century when quarantine, social distancing, and sanitation measures were implemented to curtail the transmission of bubonic plague. In today’s healthcare landscape, infection preventionists play a pivotal role in safeguarding public health by preventing and controlling the spread of infectious diseases within various settings such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, public health organizations, and community-based organizations. The COVID-19 pandemic cast a global spotlight on the vital importance of infection prevention and control. As a result, Medicare now requires nursing homes to employ professionals with specialized training in infection control. The need for qualified infection preventionists has never been greater. According to the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), 38% of infection preventionists in the United States are over age 55. As these seasoned professionals approach retirement, we need new infection preventionists to fill their shoes.

Welcome to “Becoming an Infection Preventionist,” a course designed to provide an overview of the profession and offer activities and resources to assist you in transitioning to this important healthcare specialty.

The time to complete this course is 2-3 hours.

Course Learning Objectives 
1. Discuss the scope of infection prevention
2. Understand the roles and responsibilities of an infection preventionist
3. Explain relevant educational background and practical experience for successful entry into the profession
4. List types of specialized training to increase knowledge and skills related to infection prevention
5. List resources and organizations to increase understanding of the profession and network with other infection preventionists
6. Discuss the requirements for and importance of certification
7. Explain the options for working as a consultant

By the end of this course, you will have the knowledge required to begin the transition to a rewarding career as an infection preventionist. Join us on this journey to make a lasting impact on the well-being of patients, communities, and populations around the world.

We offer a mentoring program to further enhance your learning and assist you during your transition. Participants receive one-on-one coaching and support from the course instructor, Sheila Shipley. She has been a registered nurse for 40 years and has extensive experience in public health and infection prevention. She provides real-world insight into the necessary steps for transitioning to this important profession. To ensure maximum benefit, mentoring sessions will be tailored to the individual needs of each participant.

About the Instructor:

Sheila Shipley

Sheila’s career in healthcare began, like many nurses, on a medical-surgical unit. Through this foundational experience, she learned about the importance of prevention. Because of this insight, she eventually discovered a love for public health, leading her to work as the administrator of a county health department. In this role, Sheila honed her skills in managing health initiatives, coordinating community health efforts, and investigating outbreaks.
After her tenure at the county health department, Sheila accepted a position as a nurse consultant for the state health department. This role further solidified her commitment to public health and broadened her expertise. Following a break to focus on her family, Sheila re-entered the profession at a community mental health center. Her responsibilities included infection prevention and employee health. It was here that she came to understand the critical importance of infection prevention and how it closely aligns with public health principles.
Sheila’s career evolved as she took on various roles in infection prevention across different healthcare settings, including behavioral health, ambulatory care, inpatient psychiatric, and acute care hospitals. These diverse experiences enriched her understanding and skills in infection prevention. She maintains certification in Infection Control and Epidemiology (CIC) and evidence-based practice (EBP-C), is a Fellow of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (FAPIC), and earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree in 2022.
Sheila has had the privilege of presenting at regional and national conferences, sharing insights and advancements in infection prevention. Additionally, she has contributed to the APIC text as a chapter author and currently serves as a section editor. Recently, Sheila was honored to be accepted as an editor for APIC’s flagship publication, Prevention Strategist.
Reflecting on her career, Sheila sees a journey marked by a steadfast commitment to improving public health and infection prevention. Each step has shaped her professional identity and fueled her passion for making a meaningful impact by advocating for the best evidence-based practices in infection prevention. Sheila looks forward to continuing to contribute to this vital field by guiding and inspiring others to pursue careers as infection preventionists.