1. Why did you choose a career in infection prevention and control?
- I was working in health care industry as a quality and infection control for more than 16 years, being an infection control, it was part of my scope as quality control and patient safety coordinator.
- As quality professionals when we are looking for the health care quality improvement and patient safety, we recognized that infection prevention and control is playing the sole role in achieving such goal.
2. How did you first hear about the CIC?
- I heard about the CIC during one of the Infection control conference.
3. As an international candidate, what types of hurdles, if any, did you have to overcome to take the CIC exam?
The hurdles I faced to take the exam, is to get time to be well prepared and study well before the exam , I took the CIC with my second newborn baby, but it was very challenging.
When I have passed the exam and get certified felt very proud of myself and my small family who support J
4. If you have recertified, why do you stay certified?
Not Yet
This Is my first, but off course I will maintain the certification and will proceed for recertification, the CIC is the entity of any one would like to work in infection control career.
5. What advice would you give someone like you interested in taking the CIC? What resources did you find useful?
- My advice to the people who are working in infection control to take the CIC to be able to face the challenges you will face.
- The resources I found very useful are the recommended resources from CBIC ( the APIC texts and the exam book )
6. How do you stay informed with the latest industry news?
Going through the latest update information from APIC, CDC etc
7. Finally, what does it mean to you to be a CIC
Now, During Covid-19 Pandemic the Prevention and control of infection became the main tone of our life. Now everyone is able to recognize the role and importance of the good infection prevention practices not only in the health care settings but in our daily life activity as well.
With more than 16 years in infection control career, we are facing many challenges, violations, or lack of adherence to infection control standards and resistance from the health care workers (clinical and non-clinical).
In my opinion and from my experience you will not be able to face it and change the people's behavior or practices unless you have enough evidence-based practices, recommendations and updated guidelines.
Such evidence should be always up to date which will not be achieved unless you have an opportunity and open channel to global best practices such as being a CIC
Moreover it is very important to be CIC certified it will add a value to your career and your skills to improve the quality of infection prevention control in your setting & in your life.