As a hospital epidemiologist, you will have to study infections while working in a hospital setting. You will be working with doctors as well. In many cases, the epidemiologist is the one that detects when there is an outbreak in the hospital, such as bird flu, and then uses guidelines to eliminate it and the potential of mass spreading.
As a clinical epidemiologist, you will be required to organize programs regarding infection control. They are also required to conduct orientations and teach employees and other medical employees. They look over the data for infection control and give advice to the administrators of the hospital.
In order to work in the field of hospital epidemiology, you will have to obtain a baccalaureate degree from a school that is accredited. You will also have to acquire a license in nursing or public health. For many employers in hospitals, they want to hire people that have a master's degree, which would include learning about infection control, microbiology and epidemiology.
In many cases, the hospital epidemiologist works in a clean, well-lit hospital setting. They work the standard five day, 40 hour work week, which is sometimes flexible, being that hospitals are open 24-7.
The median annual salary for epidemiologists in 2008 was around $64,700. The amount made all depends on where you're working, your experience in the field and education. You are able to go as far as a doctorate degree in order to become a private consultant in the field.
