Inclusion Across Different Communities and Care Settings: A Conversation With Colleen Becker, PhD, MSN, RN, CCRN-K

Inclusion looks different depending on the community served. In the fifth installment of an interview with Infection Control Today^® (ICT^®), Colleen Becker, PhD, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, explains that understanding local culture, resources, and patient realities is essential for effective perioperative care.

Experiences such as discharging patients to homes without running water illustrate why assumptions can undermine safety. Broadening perspectives helps teams personalize care, engage caregivers, and anticipate barriers to recovery. Infection prevention strategies must account for these contextual differences to be effective. Seeing patients as whole individuals strengthens advocacy and improves outcomes.

ICT: Is inclusion more challenging in some regions or settings than others?

Colleen Becker, PhD, MSN, RN, CCRN-K: The definition looks different depending on where you are because the fabric of the community looks different. Over my career, I’ve worked in large academic medical centers and discharged patients to homes without running water or electricity. That still happens.

Broadening your understanding of inclusion allows you to see the patient as a whole, along with their caregivers. That understanding helps provide safer, more personalized care.