VIPTA is a statewide infection prevention and control education collaborative, led by the Virginia Healthcare-Associated Infections Advisory Group. Through partnership, VIPTA curates IPC resources for Virginia’s healthcare, congregate care, and public health settings.
From Burnout to Buy-In: Fun, Fast Trainings That Energize Infection Prevention Efforts
Keeping staff engaged in infection prevention is not easy, especially when everyone is stretched thin. The good news is that learning can be fun, quick, and energizing while still reinforcing best practices.
What to expect:
- VIPTC Escape Room: Step into the Virginia Infection Prevention Training Center’s digital escape room, where your team must stop Candida auris before it spreads. With digital videos, interactive puzzles, and just the right sense of adventure, this training turns infection prevention into a shared experience staff will not forget.
- Infection Prevention Games: Whether you have just a few minutes or a full training day, PICNet’s toolkit of infection prevention games have something ready to go. Try a quick Infection Control Scrabble round at shift change, set up a Sherlock Holmes Case of the Missing Microbes for a skills fair, or use crosswords and word searches as light refreshers.
- Infection Prevention Training Power Tools: Bring infection prevention to life with hands-on activities like Caught Red-Handed (using paint to reveal missed hand hygiene spots), hosting a PPE fashion show, or even creating your own educational game.
Why It Works: When staff get to laugh, work together, and solve problems as a team, the lessons stick and the workplace culture gets stronger.
Target Audience: Essential IPC Education Level
Celebrating Virginia’s AL-CIP Leaders
The Advanced Leadership Certification in Infection Prevention (AL-CIP) launched in 2025. Since then, 11 Virginia infection preventionists (IPs) have earned this advanced credential. We spoke with Jessica Fielek and Tracey Odachowski from Sentara, and Becky Lapian from Inova, about their experience and advice for future applicants.
Why earn the AL-CIP?
Jessica Fielek said, “I chose to pursue the AL-CIP certification because I believe it represents the culmination of the leadership and infection prevention work that many IPs perform every day, often without a great deal of recognition. The certification provides a unique opportunity to showcase the impact of our work, not only to the selection committee but also to our peers and organizations.”
Tracey Odachowski shared, “Being a new certification and an early recipient, I feel it demonstrates my commitment to infection prevention advancements, leadership, and professional influence.”
Lessons Learned
Becky Lapian said, “The most challenging part was figuring out how to fit my experience and evidence into the different domains and subdomains. Connecting each piece of evidence to the specific domains and then writing the rationale to clearly explain the connection took some thought. It really made me reflect on the breadth of my experience and the impact of the work I’ve done.”
Her advice: “Go for it! Don’t underestimate the work you’ve already done or the experience you’ve gained as an IP. Take the time to really highlight your accomplishments and think about the impact of your work. It’s a great opportunity to reflect on your growth and showcase what you bring to the profession.”
Jessica added, “My biggest piece of advice is to carefully review the AL-CIP handbook several times before you begin and take advantage of any informational webinars or educational sessions offered about the certification. Understanding the requirements and domains upfront can save a great deal of time as you begin selecting and organizing your portfolio evidence. I would also encourage applicants to focus on collecting strong evidence and clearly articulating their specific leadership role within each project. Many infection preventionists contribute to numerous successful initiatives, but it is important to demonstrate how you personally influenced the work, led change, or contributed to achieving the outcomes.”
Interested in earning your AL-CIP?
Review the AL-CIP Handbook and access webinars to better understand requirements, organize your portfolio, and prepare a strong application.
Get personalized support at any stage. Book a coaching session with a current AL-CIP through the VDH HAI/AR Program’s Infection Prevention Educator Boost Sessions.
