Infection Control

Infection control is not what it used to be… here's what Tina says about her role fighting against nosocomial infections.

My nursing career began in pediatrics. After 2 maternity leave of absences, I was assigned to a neuro medical surgical unit. One day the Infection Control Professional (ICP) told me I would be offered a newly created ICP position because I was very detail oriented and always read my patients lab reports. I said "Gee, I don't know anything about infection control" and she whispered "Don't worry, no one else does either!"

That was 26 years ago, and I have been an ICP since that day… but, WOW has my job changed over time: AIDS came, OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) came, MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) and VRE (Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus) came, TB (Tuberculosis), SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), Anthrax, bioterrorism came, needlesticks due to re-capping are gone, educated patients ask staff to wash hands, and public reporting of hospital infections has put a new spin on everything. I have almost always worked alone, full time and have never had a dull day. I rally my "nurse's heart and spirit" daily by remembering that if I am not enthusiastic and credible about all aspects of infection control, the staff and patients are not getting what they need and deserve… which is really why I became a Nurse… to care, and I do, through my role as an ICP.

Tina Lamberski, RN, CIC