Mrs. Nicola Isles1
1Healthscope, Hobart, Australia
Biography:
Nicola is a Registered Nurse and a credentialed infection Control (IPC) Practitioner (expert level) of ACIPC (CICP-E) with a Master’s in Infection Prevention and Control, post graduate qualification in Intensive Care, a Registered Nurse Immuniser and a Hand Hygiene Auditor. Nicola is also an accredited assessor for the NSQHS Standards and a current Board Director of the Australian Vascular Access Society (AVAS). She is passionate in promoting and ensuring best practice in IPC and vascular access. Her current role is Healthscope’s National Infection Prevention Radiation Safety Manger providing governance focused strategic direction at a national level for Healthscope hospitals.
Abstract:
Background
Historically clinical staff have been seconded to manage infection prevention and control (IPC) programs with no formal qualification or induction. The aim of this work was to identify the factors influencing the turnover of IPC staff members at the hospital.
Method
Two surveys were undertaking with the hospital staff and explored the qualifications and experience of the IPC staff, as well as the training needs of new IPC staff and strategies to support them.
Results
The survey was completed by all the IPC staff. Of the participants, 40% had no formal IPC qualifications. Since 2020, the annual attrition rate of the IPC staff has been 50%. While 65% of the staff, nominated that they could complete their role within the allocated hours, less experienced staff identified the need for additional hours compared to those with qualifications or experience.
Conclusions
To reduce staff turnover, an 11-week induction program was developed for IPC, including a buddying program with more experienced staff and a fortnightly forum for internal support. An evaluation of the induction program indicated 90% were very satisfied and 100% would recommend the program to new staff. The IPC Position Description was rewritten to require a minimum qualification for the role. Those with no qualification were offered and additionally funded to complete the Australasian College of Infection Prevention and Control Foundations Course (FIPC). In 2024 the hours allocated increased for less experience staff and the inaugural formal induction program and buddying program was completed.