Changes of the Core Competency of Infection Control Nurses in Accordance with the New Law Supporting Infection Control Manpower

Abstract

Since the MERS outbreak in Korea in 2015, medical law has been revised to expand infection control manpower in order to strengthen infection control. This has resulted in a surge of infection control nurses (ICNs). The purpose of this study was to investigate the core competencies, job stress, and infection control knowledge of ICNs under the new law enacted in September 2016, while also identifying the factors affecting the core competency. We surveyed 250 ICNs who attended the 2018 Korea Association of Infection Control Nurses conference. Those who had recently become ICNs due to the amendment of the new law was found to have low infection control experience. The core competency was the lowest among ICNs with <2 years of experience who had primarily been recruited due to the new law. Factors affecting the core competencies included infection control knowledge, carrier duration as ICNs, and certification status of ICNs. The explanatory power of these three core competency factors was 55.8%. To improve the core competency of ICNs, education programs improving infection control knowledge and career maintenance support appear essential. Further, high-quality qualification programs should be provided to ICNs.