In this segment of the interview, Maimuna Jatta discusses the growing interest in Infection Prevention (IP) roles from Master of Public Health (MPH) graduates. During the pandemic, as Infection Prevention took center stage in healthcare, many MPH students began exploring career opportunities outside traditional public health roles, including infection prevention within hospitals. Jatta highlights how her organization took advantage of this shift, attracting a wave of applicants, many of whom were fresh MPH graduates. She notes that while they were affiliated with Virginia Tech, which provided a pipeline for interns and applicants, they also received applications from across the country.
Jatta mentions that the organization is committed to expanding its relationship with Virginia Tech, offering more structured internship opportunities to their students. This partnership allowed the hospital to create a platform where MPH students could apply their knowledge and gain hands-on experience in infection prevention. With Infection Prevention becoming a critical need during COVID-19, the organization found itself at the forefront of recruiting and training new graduates eager to serve in the field.
Jacob Hutcherson, the interviewer, further delves into whether Jatta’s team has had a similar influx of interest from registered nurses (RNs) fresh out of school. While the hospital has had some registered nurses apply for Infection Prevention roles, Jatta explains that these experiences taught them the importance of clinical work before transitioning into infection prevention. The organization’s experience indicated that new RNs often lacked the epidemiological background that MPH graduates brought with them, and the clinical experience they would gain by working on the floor helped prepare them for the demands of infection prevention roles.
For nurses, Jatta emphasizes the importance of gaining clinical experience before diving into Infection Prevention. Although the organization is open to mentoring new nurses, they have found that a foundation of practical clinical experience makes a significant difference in how well a nurse can transition into Infection Prevention. This approach helps ensure that the infection prevention workforce is well-rounded, with a combination of clinical and public health expertise driving success in infection prevention efforts.
This discussion highlights the importance of interdisciplinary teams in Infection Prevention and the value of building relationships with academic institutions. It also underscores the organization’s commitment to fostering growth in the field by providing practical opportunities for students and new graduates to engage with Infection Prevention work.