1. Why did you choose a career in infection prevention and control?
I came into infection prevention from oncology nursing, where I saw how quickly infections can change a patient’s entire course of treatment. I wanted to be part of the work that prevents those setbacks, not just by reacting to infections, but by building safer systems, improving practice, and protecting patients who have the least room for error.
2. What advice would you give someone who is interested in an infection prevention and control career?
Be curious and be humble. IPC is a blend of science, people, and systems, so learn the standards, but also learn how work really happens on the floor. Spend time with frontline teams, ask good questions, and focus on solutions that are practical, measurable, and respectful of the realities of care delivery.
3. What does being a CIC® mean to you?
CIC® is a milestone I’m genuinely proud of. To me, it represents competence with purpose, proof that I can stand behind my recommendations with evidence and consistency. It also reinforces my responsibility to keep learning and to lead patient-safety work with integrity.
4. What was the best studying method for you when preparing for the initial certification examination?
What worked best for me was studying in a practical way; linking topics to real situations I encounter: surveillance decisions, outbreak steps, device-related prevention, isolation practices, and disinfection/sterilization. I also did practice questions consistently and spent more time reviewing the rationales than celebrating correct answers.
5. What advice would you give someone pursuing certification?
Don’t try to memorize everything. Build strong foundations, then practice applying them. Use practice questions to expose gaps, review the “why” behind each answer, and stay consistent with your study routine. Certification is very achievable when you commit to steady progress.
6. How do you stay up-to-date on infection prevention and control practices?
I stay current by following trusted sources like CDC/NHSN and WHO, and by keeping an eye on emerging evidence that impacts oncology and hematology patients. Just as important, I use our own facility data: audits, trends, and investigations to guide priorities, because local risk is where improvement becomes real.
7. How has the CIC® helped you grow professionally and in your career?
CIC® helped me grow from “knowing what should be done” to leading how it gets done. It improved my confidence in surveillance and event determination, strengthened my voice in multidisciplinary discussions, and supported my ability to drive quality improvement that is data-informed, patient-focused, and sustainable.
