Infection Prevention Services, LLC

Infection Prevention Internship

This internship is designed for students who want a clear, practical understanding of how infection prevention works inside a hospital setting.

At Infection Prevention Services, LLC, we partner directly with acute care hospitals across Southern California. Interns are integrated into day-to-day infection prevention activities and gain exposure to how clinical, operational, and regulatory elements come together to prevent healthcare-associated infections.

This is an active learning experience. Interns will observe, participate, and gradually take on responsibility as they become more comfortable in the environment.

Interns will have the opportunity to:

• Participate in routine infection prevention rounds and observe patient care environments
• Review patient cases with guidance to understand infection risk factors (e.g., central lines, urinary catheters, wounds, dialysis)
• Assist with data collection and basic validation related to infection surveillance
• Support development of line lists, tracking tools, and performance improvement efforts
• Observe interdisciplinary collaboration between nursing, physicians, environmental services, and leadership
• Gain exposure to CDC/NHSN concepts and how they are applied in practice

Learning outcomes include:

• Understanding how infection prevention programs operate within hospitals
• Applying foundational public health and epidemiology concepts in a clinical setting
• Recognizing risk factors associated with healthcare-associated infections
• Developing professional communication skills within a healthcare team
• Strengthening attention to detail and critical thinking in real-world scenarios

Expectations:

• Maintain professionalism and confidentiality in all patient care settings (HIPAA compliance required)
• Demonstrate reliability and consistent attendance
• Engage actively, ask questions, and be open to feedback
• Follow all hospital policies and infection prevention practices

Preferred background:

• Enrollment in Public Health, Nursing, Microbiology, or a related field
• Interest in infection prevention, epidemiology, or healthcare quality

Additional note:
This internship is best suited for students who are interested in gaining meaningful, hands-on exposure to healthcare operations. It is not structured as a passive observation experience.

Application requirement:
Please submit a brief statement (1–2 paragraphs) describing your interest in infection prevention and what you hope to gain from this experience. Health screening & Background check fees are covered by IPS (Intern will not be charged)