Dr Katreena Merrill1, Dr. Sara Reese2, Albert Shackelford2, Frances Nicholson3
1Brigham Young University, Provo, United States, 2Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Arlington, United States, 3New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, United States
Biography:
Katreena Merrill RN Ph.D CIC FAPIC FAAN is a Professor at Brigham Young University (BYU) College of Nursing, Utah, USA. Her research focuses on prevention of healthcare-associated infections. She is a member of the Association for Practitioners in Infection Control (APIC) and serves on the Research Advisory Panel for APIC.
Abstract:
Introduction
Infection Preventionists (IPs) are essential to patient safety across healthcare settings. Due to the complexity of their role, developing expertise takes years. As demand for skilled IPs increases, identifying factors that support retention is critical to sustaining strong infection prevention programs.
Methods
A national survey was distributed to a convenience sample of members of the Association for Professionals in Infection Prevention and Epidemiology (APIC) in the United States. The survey assessed perceptions of organizational support, leadership, autonomy, communication, advocacy, and professional growth. Respondents were categorized into four groups: (1) Tenured IPs (≥5 years at the same facility), (2) New IPs (<5 years at the same facility), (3) Transitional IPs (changed facilities within the past three years), and (4) Former IPs (left the field). Descriptive and univariate analyses examined associations between workplace factors and retention.
Results
Among 634 respondents, 76% reported effective workplace autonomy. Only 45% felt leaders advocated for fair compensation. Communication transparency was rated effective by 59–61%, with tenured IPs reporting significantly higher ratings than former IPs (66% vs. 36%, p < .05). Tenured IPs also rated onboarding more positively (55% vs. 24%, p < .0001). Leadership fairness was rated effective by 64%; however, only 38% felt supported in pursuing career growth beyond infection prevention.
Key retention factors included psychological safety, recognition of the profession, advancement opportunities, leadership advocacy, flexible scheduling, and manageable workloads.
Conclusion
Retention strategies must be multifaceted and tailored to support the diverse needs of IPs to sustain this specialized workforce and enhance patient safety.