RCN Infection Prevention and Control Programme

The RCN's Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programme will help you to develop your clinical and leadership skills through a unique course of learning and its application into practice.

Current context

The prevention of infection is central to health and wellbeing and the increasing threat of antimicrobial resistance. In human health and care settings the rapid evolution of resistance, particularly to antibiotics, will require nurses and other allied health professionals to adjust their clinical practice to reflect the evolving evidence base and models of service provision. 

This innovative programme will prepare participants for current and future challenges to their roles that directly impact on the prevention or management of infection.

About the programme

This programme is open to anyone regardless of RCN membership status.

It has been designed specifically to enable development of clinical and leadership skills in the prevention of infection. It will suit those whose roles contain a focus on the prevention of infection working in the NHS, independent sector and social care organisations at Band 6 and 7 or equivalent. 

The course has been developed to support:

• trainee infection prevention and control nurses/practitioners in all care settings
• surveillance nurses/practitioners
• newly appointed directors of infection prevention and control with no IPC experience
• infection prevention and control practitioners who would like to refresh their skills and knowledge
• health protection practitioners
• infection prevention leads in independent care settings, such as nursing homes or GP practices
• nurses leading IPC components of NHS provider commissioning bodies
• ward managers and matrons.

Programme aim

The aim is to critically evaluate the knowledge and evidence underpinning infection control practice and implement local and regional practice change.

On this programme you will

• learn how to lead a service improvement project in your workplace
• learn the most effective way to manage change in your place of work 
• experience coaching as a supportive development tool and understand how to coach colleagues.

Programme requirements

Formal programme assessment

• Service Improvement Project/Plan of 3000 words maximum to include completed stakeholder analysis template (100% of the marks).

Supplementary Assessment to support Service Improvement Project/Plan

• Supplementary Assessment to support Service Improvement Project/Plan
• e-portfolio
• Interpretation of laboratory results
• Outbreak report

Additional information

• Participants are also required to undertake online learning, consisting of webinars and podcasts delivered by subject experts, interactive activities, work-based learning activities and more.
• Participants are required to commit a total of 200 hours of study time for the module (70 hours of work-based learning activities, 50 hours of portfolio development, 30 hours of online access utilising module resources, 24 hours of taught day access, 20 hours of additional reading and 6 hours of coaching).

After completion of the programme participants will receive a RCN certificate. We are currently working with universities to secure credits for participants who would wish to use these towards their further qualification. The programme would equal to 20 credits.

Programme dates 

Cohort 7

Day 1 - 13 & 14 May
Day 2 - 10 & 11 June
Day 3 -  8 & 9 July

Cohort 8

Day 1 - 8 & 9 September
Day 2 - 5 & 6 October
Day 3 - 17 & 18 November

Each day will be split over two half days.

Due to COVID-19, the programme will be delivered virtually.

Programme cost

Cost: £1,100 + VAT*

VAT registered Charities who pay for employees to undertake this module will be able to claim back the VAT.

For more information please read the programme outline.

*Price includes: programme materials, face-to-face tuition on three days, online educational resources, six coaching sessions and portfolio assessment. 

For more information please read the programme timetable.