It’s a brave new world for infection preventionists who leave the healthcare institution setting to become independent consultants. We asked a few infection prevention consultants for their thoughts on this kind of career evolution; they are:
Gail Bennett, RN, MSN, CIC, ICP Associates, Inc.
Libby Chinnes, RN, BSN, CIC, IC Solutions, LLC
Anita Earl, RN, BSN, IPEC Consultants, Inc.
Phenelle Segal, RN, CIC, Infection Control Consulting Services
Linda L. Spaulding, RNC, CIC, InCo and Associates International, Inc.
Not everyone has what it takes to become an infection prevention consultant, so what do you believe are the qualities needed for success?
Bennett: First of all, consultants need knowledge, skills and experience in their area of consultation. We are being hired to provide information, innovation, efficiency, objectivity and sometimes technology to assist our clients with infection prevention. Therefore, we must be able to deliver what is required by the client. In addition, regardless of the type of educational preparation the consultant has, he/she needs to be certified in infection control. I believe in today’s environment our clients as well as our employers, consider certification to be mandatory and it certainly shows that we have at least a minimal knowledge level in our field. Some of the skills that I consider most important for the consultant include the ability to analyze, organize, speak clearly and confidently, write clearly and effectively market the available services. Additional skills needed include basic accounting, scheduling, and time management. Consultants need to be willing to hire “consultants for the consultant.” For example, an accountant that serves small businesses, an attorney, an office manager, etc. as needed. Some of the greatest operational challenges have to do with initially not having the complete skill set to be effective and efficient. It takes time to learn the business aspects of starting and running a business when many of us have primary skills in providing healthcare.
Chinnes: Qualities needed include critical thinking skills; being able to apply basic concepts on infection prevention and control to multiple settings and complex situations; being hard-working at oddball hours at times; persistence and drive to make a difference in patient care; and being flexible — taking some assignments you don’t like for the learning experience and because your mother told you that “eating broccoli would make you stronger!”
Earl: In addition to significant infection prevention experience and credentials, current evidence-based knowledge is a hallmark. The qualities of excellent communication and people skills are very important in order to cultivate a collaborative relationship with individuals in the organization resulting in a successful project.
Segal: Ambition, entrepreneurial spirit, inner strength, motivation, fearlessness, determination to succeed, emotional and financial ability to stay afloat if and when business is waning (usually temporary depending on type of consulting chosen), optimism and realism.
Spaulding: First, if you don’t love infection control, don’t become self-employed. To be successful you must love what you are doing. I think the qualities that are needed are flexibility; you have to love change; you need to be able to separate fact from fiction and deal only with fact; and you must be willing to work harder than you ever did for an employer. Being self-employed is a 24/7 job to be successful. There are days when you get little sleep because your clients need something yesterday.