This is what we came for

I am here as a resource: to my coworkers, to my professional colleagues, and to anyone in this career.  If I can help you in some way regarding infection prevention and control, then I am happy.   I often say to staff, “If you’ve spent more than 3 minutes on the CDC website, you’ve done too much.  Just call me.  Either I already have the answer or I know where to find it.”  Let me help you; this is why they hired me.

I don’t know everything, not even close. I’m Googling while you’re asking me a question on the phone.  But I know my resources.  You’re looking for a professional connection in your area?  Let me put you in touch with one of my tweeps or the local chapter leadership there.  Your kid has an itchy bottom and the doctor wants you to do something bizarre with a piece of adhesive tape?  Let me explain what they’re looking for and how to get a good sample.   Your patient says the other hospital staff wore gowns when treating him?  Let me call their IC department.  The hand sanitizer bothers your skin? Let me get some other samples for you.

There are certainly days when you feel overwhelmed and underappreciated, but if you continue to build your knowledge, identify your resources, and offer people calm and rational information, they will come to rely on you (in a healthy way).  And that is probably one of the best compliments you can get in this job.  Or in any job.

Here is a blissful little story from my week.  A staff nurse notes a new issue, and brings her concern to her manager.  Her manager sees that there might be an infection concern, and calls me.  She doesn’t even try to solve it, because she knows I am the resource she needs.  I identify the problem, and what we need to fix it.  I could spend hours looking for the solution, but I have something better.  I have a vendor I trust.  I send him an email that explains exactly what I need.*   Do you have a product that meets this need?  Yes.  Yes, he does.  He is my resource.  I know he has the information I need, and I don’t need to spend hours looking for it.  Surround yourself with people like this. His company isn’t our preferred vendor, but he’s my first go-to, because he saves me endless amounts of time.

Today, our solution arrived.**  The manager and I opened the packages, and I did a little dance.  It was everything we hoped for, and exactly what we needed. All the stars aligned, it was a good day, someone needed me and I came through (because someone came through for me).   I feel like I reached a little milestone in my career. It’s bittersweet because I have decided to leave this fabulous job in a few months. I work with great people who do amazing work, but I need a short break, and I’m not sure what’s next for me.  But I wish you days like this in your career, when you feel your value, no matter what your work is.

*[I need to disinfect floors in an outpatient area that has no housekeeping staff.  It needs a long shelf stability because it won’t be used often. It needs a disposable component because there is no laundry service. It must be ready to use because there is no dilution system. It needs to be compact for storage, and must require minimum PPE for handling so staff aren’t at risk mixing or diluting chemicals.]

**We got the Diversey Pace mop and the SmartMix chemicals--which is a fabulous, amazing, genius thing.  I rarely rave about anything.  But this is so exactly perfect for our setting that I’m going to gush over it as only an ICP can about disinfectant products.