Spotlight on CIC

Spotlight on CIC

The CIC® credential identifies healthcare professionals who have shown mastery in knowledge of infection prevention and control by sitting for and passing the certification exam. The CIC® credential shows a commitment to best practices in infection prevention and control and improved patient care and signals to your employer and colleagues that you are committed to your professional growth.

Meet some of APIC NEO CICs

Chris Tusoch

  1. Why did you become an Infection Preventionist (IP)?

                It was not a job that I ever thought about wanting but I needed a job where I could work without taking direct care of patients due to an allergy.  Once I learned the job, I found out that I really liked being an IP.  I like the structure of the job and that you can be active with both employees and patients.  Working with the patients, teaching them about their infection is a very rewarding part of my job.

  1. How long have you been an IP?

                20 years.

  1. Why is maintaining board certification in infection prevention and control (CIC) important to you?

                I like knowing that I have the competence, education and skills to be an expert in the profession.

  1. In what ways has your CIC benefited you/and/or your facility?

                I guess in the most usual ways.  It helps with surveyors and meeting the standards and proves

competence to administration. Knowing I have my certification gives me the confidence I need when searching for a new position and being able to show that I am an expert in my field.

Pamela Parker
Q. Why did you become an Infection Preventionist (IP)?
The job fascinated me- I met Liza Eckstein when she was the IP for my nursing Division in 1980’s
Q. How long have you been an IP?
Since 1983. I am retiring in May 2017 from UH, but hope to remain active in the field.
Q. Why is maintaining board certification in infection prevention and control (CIC) important to you?
I’ve been certified since the beginning- I feel it’s important to prove expertise.
Q. In what ways has your CIC benefited you/and/or your facility?
Every year we are surveyed by US News and World report and they always inquire about certification. It has become an expectation.





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 Christine (Chris) Rose

  1. Why did you become an Infection Preventionist (IP) I never would have entertained the idea of this job role had it not been for two other Infection Preventionists asking me to consider an open IP position at one of the enterprise regional hospitals. After shadowing one of the IPs at their hospital and asking questions about what the job entailed I took the plunge and have never looked back as I love this work!
  2. How long have you been an IP? Nearly 9 years
  3. Why is maintaining board certification in infection prevention and control (CIC) important to you? To remain the expert you need to stay current with an ever changing healthcare as it relates to infection prevention and evidence based practice.
  4. In what ways has your CIC benefited you/and/or your facility? Certification is a tangible form of validation to support that recommendations you offer come from a sound knowledge base.



        

Gregory Gagliano, BSN, RN, CIC | Infection Preventionist Infection Prevention / Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH

  1. Why did you become an Infection Preventionist (IP)? Becoming an IP seemed to be the next logical step, given that I had worked in a NICU, research and ID most of my career.  The areas prepared me for the role, and when a pediatric position opened in the Cleveland Clinic main campus IP department, I knew why I had made the choices I had during  my nursing career.  It has worked out very well and I enjoy the work very much.
  2. How long have you been an IP?   8 years
  3. Why is maintaining board certification in infection prevention and control (CIC) important to you? First, it’s required for the position, and CIC allows for credibility when discussing infection prevention and is a sense of personal pride and satisfaction. A minor advantage is that having a certified team allows a healthcare facility to answer “yes” to one more US News and World Report question for the annual survey sent out.
  4. In what ways has your CIC benefited you/and/or your facility? We are able to provide reliable data that is respected as coming from a certified IP team. Again, CIC certification offers a sense of personal pride and satisfaction as well as helping score higher in the US News and World Report survey.

 

--Greg Gagliano




March 2016 E-newsletter
CBIC: The Certification Corner
Volume 9; Issue 1
March 2016

CIC® in the Spotlight: Virginia (Ginnie) Abell


 

When did you first become certified?

1983—1st certification exam

Why did you choose an infection prevention career?

I didn't--Infection Prevention chose me! I was a very engaged Emergency Department nurse, who decided I didn't want to run around the ED all of my career. I became the 'night supervisor' so I could run around the entire hospital. At my first Supervisors' meeting, the DON (Director of Nursing) said, 'Look at this, JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations – now called The Joint Commission) wants us to have an Infection Control Program. Ginnie (new kid in town) make one.' And I did and have continue to want to grow this important specialty.

What does being Certified in Infection Control (CIC®) mean to you?


It means promoting professionalism for my staff & for myself. My re-certification year is always one of renewed study & growth.

In what ways has your certification benefited you?


As a member of a Magnet-designated organization, certification in my field is an expectation. It provides a credential of my expertise.

What advice would you give someone pursuing certification?

Do it! Use the APIC study guide. If you're lucky enough to be in a Chapter with a 1st timer study group, use it. If not, initiate one.

You are currently a Board Member for the APIC-NEO Chapter; what do you think are the benefits of getting involved with your local infection prevention and control organization chapters?


Together we are better—we can know more and do more. Every professional should have a mentor…and be a mentor. NEO-APIC provides the perfect forum to do just that.
  

and more...