Infection Control Link Nurse Archivi - HealthCareMaster HealthCareMaster

FOCUS ON THE INFECTION CONTROL LINK NURSE: A STRATEGIC CONNECTION POINT FOR CARE SAFETY

May 30, 2025 Federica Sorrentino

In today’s healthcare landscape, patient safety is an absolute priority. Among the emerging roles dedicated to ensuring quality and prevention within healthcare settings, the Infection Control Link Nurse (ICLN) is taking on an increasingly central role. This healthcare professional serves as a bridge between the infection control team and frontline clinical staff.

The role of the ICLN was created in response to the need to enhance the effectiveness of infection prevention measures related to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), reducing clinical risk through widespread, continuous, and coordinated action within healthcare teams.

Who is the ICLN, and what do they do?
The Infection Control Link Nurse is a specially trained nurse who:

promotes the adoption of best practices in hygiene, infection prevention, and control;
supports the implementation of institutional protocols and international guidelines;
monitors infection risks within clinical units, working closely with the infection control team;
encourages ongoing staff education through awareness and training activities;
contributes to the development of an organizational culture focused on safety and shared responsibility.

Why is this role important?
The ICLN plays a key role in driving cultural change within healthcare organizations, helping to engage every healthcare worker in the prevention process. In a context where HAIs present a major clinical and organizational challenge, having professionals capable of acting as change facilitators, building internal collaboration networks, and transferring knowledge to colleagues is crucial.

To meet this training need, the University of Parma, through its Healthcare Master’s programs, has launched the Advanced Training and Specialization Course for Infection Control Link Nurses (ICLN) — the first course in Italy specifically designed around this professional role.

The course provides:

up-to-date theoretical and practical knowledge;
tools for multidisciplinary work;
insights into leadership, networking, and infection risk management.

ICLN: A TRAINING RESPONSE TO REGULATORY AND PROFESSIONAL NEEDS

May 15, 2025 Federica Sorrentino

In recent years, the prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) has become an essential priority for all advanced healthcare systems. The growing need for specialized professionals who can act as a bridge between healthcare management and care staff has made it necessary to establish an official, recognized training program aligned with the Italian regulatory framework.

The role of the Infection Control Link Nurse (ICLN), already present in many national and international clinical settings, has often operated without a formalized training pathway, leaving a significant gap between the required and certified competencies.

Thanks to the regulatory support provided by Ministerial Decree of July 27, 2000, Law 42/1999, and Law 251/2000, the University of Parma – within its Healthcare Master’s Programs – has designed and launched the Postgraduate and Advanced Training Course in Infection Control Link Nurse, the first of its kind in Italy.

Why was the ICLN Course created?
• To fill a training gap in the specialized education of professionals already working in healthcare settings;
• To provide a concrete response to the demand for certified competencies in infection control;
• To offer a structured, rigorous, and up-to-date training model, clearly distinct from the many non-accredited short courses currently available on the market.

The course is based on evidence-based competencies, combining theoretical and practical modules with the development of a project work or experiential internship, ensuring that learning is truly applicable in clinical contexts.
The Infection Control Link Nurse thus becomes a strategic figure in promoting patient safety, reducing the risk of infection, and disseminating high-quality care practices.

UNIVERSITY OF PARMA: LAUNCH OF THE ADVANCED TRAINING COURSE IN INFECTION CONTROL LINK NURSE (ICLN)

May 8, 2025 Federica Sorrentino

As part of its Healthcare Master’s programs, the University of Parma is launching the first Advanced Training and Specialization Course in Infection Control Link Nurse (ICLN) in Italy—a unique program designed to provide advanced training for healthcare professionals in the prevention and management of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The ICLN plays a key role in the modern healthcare system, acting as a vital link between infection control teams and frontline clinical staff, significantly contributing to reducing infection risks and improving patient outcomes.

Equipped with technical expertise, clinical skills, organizational abilities, and leadership qualities, the ICLN is a reference figure in promoting patient safety and excellence in care.

The aim of the course is to train professionals capable of promoting the adoption and ongoing update of best practices through a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach.

The call for applications will be published in June 2025, with the application deadline set for the end of July 2025.
Enrollment is scheduled for September 2025, and the course will run from October 2025 to February 2026.
The program lasts four months and will be delivered online in synchronous mode on Thursdays and Fridays, on alternating weeks, to accommodate working students.
The total cost is €900, payable in two installments (€500 + €400). Five auditor slots are available at a reduced cost of €600.
Upon completion of the course, participants will earn 30 ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System).

Admission is granted without a selection exam, subject to availability, to candidates holding one of the following:

Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Midwifery, or equivalent qualifications
Health Assistant qualification obtained under the old academic system
Degree in Environmental and Workplace Prevention Techniques
Diplomas and equivalent qualifications in accordance with current legislation

The curriculum includes 100 hours of lectures and 125 hours dedicated to either an optional internship or the development of a project work, which can be carried out within the participant’s own healthcare organization or another selected institution.
At the end of the course, students will be required to submit a final paper focusing on a topic of particular relevance to their professional interests.

Key modules include:

Healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance
Evidence-based prevention strategies and dissemination methods
Clinical governance and quality of care
Team leadership and professional networking

Special emphasis is placed on developing skills for managing organizational change and building collaborative professional networks.

“The launch of this course is a concrete and strategic response to the growing need for integrating clinical, organizational, and communication skills in infection risk management. The Infection Control Link Nurse acts as a bridge—translating scientific evidence into daily good practices while engaging sensitively and authoritatively with multidisciplinary care teams. Training these professionals means investing in quality and safety in healthcare, enhancing the proactive role of every healthcare worker in infection prevention and in fostering a culture of continuous improvement,” said Professor Antonio Bonacaro, Associate Professor of Nursing Sciences at the University of Parma and Course Director.

Link to the course