Education, Competency, and a People-First Approach: A Conversation With Colleen Becker, PhD, MSN, RN, CCRN-K

Continuous, evidence-based education is foundational to infection prevention excellence. In the eighth installment of an interview with Infection Control Today^® (ICT^®), Colleen Becker, PhD, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, senior director of perioperative education for the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), explains that confidence grows when staff know their practice is grounded in validated evidence.

Education must span the entire career lifecycle and accommodate diverse learning styles. Accessibility and inclusivity in education strengthen competence and engagement. When staff feel supported and confident, they perform better and provide safer care. Infection prevention is woven into education, not as a separate topic, but as a core principle of perioperative practice.

ICT: Looking ahead, how can perioperative teams integrate a people-first approach into education and competency assessments?

Colleen Becker, PhD, MSN, RN, CCRN-K: It’s about supporting staff from the time they are students through every stage of their career. Education needs to be continuous and evidence-based. When staff know their knowledge is grounded in evidence, they gain confidence in their competence.

At AORN, infection prevention is woven into everything we do with education. We also design courses to meet accessibility standards and different learning styles, because not everyone learns the same way. When staff feel confident and supported, they bloom. That confidence translates directly into safer patient care.