Competency in infection prevention: a conceptual approach to guide current and future practice

Professional competency has traditionally been divided into 2 essential components: knowledge and skill. More recent definitions have recommended additional components such as communication, values, reasoning, and teamwork. A standard, widely accepted, comprehensive definition remains an elusive goal. For infection preventionists (IPs), the requisite elements of competence are most often embedded in the IP position description, which may or may not reference national standards or guidelines. For this reason, there is widespread variation among these elements and the criteria they include. As the demand for IP expertise continues to rapidly expand, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc, made a strategic commitment to develop a conceptual model of IP competency that could be applicable in all practice settings. The model was designed to be used in combination with organizational training and evaluation tools already in place. Ideally, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc, model will complement similar competency efforts undertaken in non-US countries and/or international organizations. This conceptual model not only describes successful IP practice as it is today but is also meant to be forward thinking by emphasizing those areas that will be especially critical in the next 3 to 5 years. The paper also references a skill assessment resource developed by Community and Hospital Infection Control Association (CHICA)-Canada and a competency model developed by the Infection Prevention Society (IPS), which offer additional support of infection prevention as a global patient safety mission.