Re modelling of staffing profiles for an Infection Prevention and Control department to allow for entry level nurses and unqualified staff to become part of the Infection Prevention and Control team.
Amanda Hill1, , 1North Metro Health Service, Perth, WA, Australia
Background
Historically, clinical nurses (CN) and senior staff members have worked in infection prevention and control (IPC) teams. It was discovered that there was a paucity of experienced employees with IPC exposure, with an enhanced demand for IPC staff to manage the impending pandemic in addition to routine IPC requirements.
Methods
An increase in IPC Full-time Equivalent (FTE) was requested in a briefing note to satisfy the rising demand for IPC services. A request to introduce Registered Nurses (RN) and Infection Control Officers (ICO) was raised with executive input due to the restricted number of CN IPC staff members. Not all IPC positions, such as fit testers and contact tracers required CN level. As a result, senior staff could be used to manage both the regular workload of getting the hospital ready for accreditation and coordinating the COVID immunisation programme for both patients and employees.
Results
The North Metropolitan Health Service (NMHS), Mental Health Public Health Dental Services (MHPHDS) IPC team now includes a Coordinator of Nursing, Nurse Manager, Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS), CNs, RNs and ICOs. The IPC team was able to achieve over 80% of fit-testing compliance for all services, manage an in-patient covid vaccine program and engage patients in a successful patient education program.
Conclusion
The remodelling of the IPC workforce was successful and will continue within MHPHDS. It is proven to ensure a high degree of staff retention and promotional opportunities. The model promotes building capacity within the department, while also broadening the healthcare workforce.
Biography
Amanda trained as a Registered Nurse in England, U.K. before moving to Perth, Western Australia in 2005. Specialising in Palliative Care in 2010 completing her master’s in clinical nursing (Palliative stream). Taking on the role of lecturing Amanda took a keen interest in education and was a Nurse Educator for over 10 years. In 2011 Amanda had the chance to step into Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in a small private hospital in Perth and after completing two post grads in IPC she moved to WA Health in 2021 where she is now Coordinator of Nursing for IPC.