Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1475102
The relationship between certifi ed nurses and the quality of patient care is well established. High performing organizations with Magnet status or other specialty certifi cations recognize that credentialed staff is an important indicator to patients and employers that their professionals are qualifi ed and competent. 1 In infection prevention and control, CIC ® certifi cation is the gold standard for knowledge and practice. Certifi ed IPs are: • better prepared to interpret evidence and act as champions for key infection prevention practices within their facilities; • two to three times more likely to perceive the evidence of certain infection prevention practices as strong; and, • more likely to implement certain infection control measures. 2,3 Hospitals with infection prevention and control programs led by a CIC ® have signifi cantly lower rates of Methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections. 4 Take the fi rst step toward keeping your patients safer. Learn more about CIC ® certifi cation at cbic.org. Patient Safety Starts with a CIC ® 1 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. AACN Certifi cation Corporation. Safeguarding the patient and the profession: the value of critical care nurse certifi cation. Am J Crit Care 2003;12:154-64. 2 Krein SL, Hofer TP, Kowalski CP, et al. Use of central venous catheter-related bloodstream infection prevention practices by US hospitals. Mayo Clin Proc 2007; 82: 672-678. 3 Saint S, Greene MT, Olmsted RN, Chopra V, Meddings J, Safdar N, Krein SL. Perceived strength of evidence supporting practices to prevent health care-associated infection: results from a national survey of infection prevention personnel. Am J Infect Control. 2013 Feb; 41 (2):100-6. 4 Pogorzelska M, Stone PW, Larson EL. Certifi cation in infection control matters: Impact of infection control department characteristics and policies on rates of multidrug-resistant infections. Am J Infect Control. 2012 Mar; 40 (2):96-101.