An Interview with My Mentor

In order to get to know my mentor and what tasks I'll be doing, I conducted an interview with my mentor via email. Initially I was goining to do this interview over the phone, but ,through communication, I realized that my mentor is always busy. I anticipate that my internship will be fast-pace and there won't be much down time. My mentor, Sherilyn Fagan, has a lot of responcibility throughout the hospital as far as keeping the hospital safe by preventing the spread of diseases.

Q: What are you main duties and responsibilities?

A:

1. Responsible for surveillance, prevention and control of infection.

2. Assists with policy and procedure development and implementation while maintaining CDC, OSHA, Title 22, AOA/JCAHO/DHS/CMS and other regulatory agency directives. Acts as a primary education consultant to hospital employees, physicians, patients and visitors in safe Infection Control/Prevention practices.

3. Coordinates all hospital infection control activities with the Pharmacy, Therapeutics, Nutrition and Infection Control (PTNIC) Committee, Medical Staff and hospital employees.

4. Responds to potential exposures by communicating with patients, physicians, employees and regulatory agencies.

5. Records and helps to maintain required confidential employee and administrative records.

6. Performs safety rounds of the physical plant to insure basic Infection Control/Prevention and safety practices are adhered to in all hospital departments in order to maintain a safe environment for patients, physicians, visitors and hospital employees.

7. Reporting of all reportable conditions to SDPH,( SAN Diego Public Health) NHSN ( National Health Safety Network) CDC. CDPH and all other outside agencies.

8. Education of all disciplines in Infection prevention and Control measures .

Q: What skills and training are necessary for your position?

A: Bachelors Degree in medical sciences…some facilities prefer Masters in Public health or related field.

RN-License, and lots of clinical experience.

Great interpersonal skills

Diplomacy and understanding how to approach people from all walks of life.

Computer skills and good report writing. Very good organizational skills, and ability to multi-task at all times, and crisis management.

Q: Do you consider a career in your field satisfying? Why?

A: Extremely satisfying, as it is so multi-dimensional, and allow cooperation with all disciplines within the hospital set up, but also with all the agencies that you interact with.

Q: What personality traits, skills and knowledge are important in this work environment?

A: Good interpersonal skills. Friendly but firm . Ability to speak publicly at a moment’s notice, and being well read , but sometimes understanding that it is not possible to have all the answers to every-one’s questions, but knowing where to find the answers, and letting people know that you will get back with them.

Honesty, and integrity. As ICP you know intimate details of some of the staff’s health situations, never discussing with others.