Occupational Nursing. What are the Roles and Responsibilities of this specialty nursing area?

The World Health Organization [WHO] (2001) has identified the roles of the occupational nurse as a: clinician, specialist, manager, coordinator, advisor, health educator, counselor, researcher. Each of the roles is further explained with responsibilities in the document The Role of the Occupational Health Nurse in Workplace Health Management written by the WHO (2001). Identified by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration [OSHA] (n.d.), the activities and responsibilities of occupational nurses are: 1. Observe and assess workers and their work environment. 2. Interpret and evaluate the worker's medical and occupational history, subjective complaints, and physical examination, along with any laboratory values or other diagnostic screening tests, industrial hygiene and personal exposure monitoring values. 3. Interpret medical diagnosis to workers and their employers. 4. Appraise the work environment for potential exposures. 5. Identify abnormalities. 6. Describe the worker's response to the exposures. 7. Manage occupational and non-occupational illness and injury. 8. Document injury or illness. Describe the clients that your selected specialty would care for. The occupational/environmental health nurse cares for individual workers, the work community, or the organization as a whole (Harkness & DeMarco, 2012). What Educational Programs would be appropriate for the Population this role would serve? The educational programs that would be appropriate for the population are programs that educate about workplace safety and safe practices and how to prevent injury or death while on the job such as body mechanics and proper disposal of hazardous waste etc. There are programs offered by OSHA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) program National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) that can provide workers and organizations as a whole with education and training to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses. What Resources would be available in the community to assist this Nurse with his/her role? The resources in the community to assist the occupational health nurse are the states branch of OSHA. Michigan has its own branch called Michigan OSHA (MIOSHA). The nurses also have NIOSH, and AAOHN to help support their practice and reference when needed. Are there specific credentials, certifications or requirements that this Nursing Role requires? According to OSHA (1999), occupational health nurses have experience and additional education in occupational health and do not necessarily need to have special certification. To gain certification, which is suggested, a nurse must meet qualifying educational and experience standards and pass an occupational health nursing examination from the American Board for Occupational Health Nurses (1999).

Does this Specialty Nursing Role have its own specific ANA Scope & Standards of Practice guidelines (this may require some additional research)? Occupational health nurses follow their own Scope and Standards of Practice guidelines. According to Harkness and DeMarco (2012), the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN) has identified 11 professional practice standards that describe a competent level of performance with regard to the nursing process and professional roles of the occupational and environmental health nurse (pp. 493). What were the most & least interesting things that you learned about this Specialty area in your research? The least interesting things that I learned about this specialty area were that it has its own certification and training classes, and that it has its own scope and standards of practice. What I found the most interesting is that many companies employ occupational health nurses and some even employ physicians. References: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). National Institue of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). (2012). Training and workforce development. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/training/default.html. Harkness, G. A., & DeMarco, R. F. (2012). Community and public health nursing: Evidence for practice. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Occupational Safety & Health Administration [OSHA]. (n.d.). Nursing in occupational health. Retrieved from http://www.osha.gov/dts/oohn/ohn.html. Occupational Safety & Health Administration [OSHA]. (n.d.). OSHA training, courses, materials, and resources. Retrieved from http://www.osha.gov/dte/index.html. Occupational Safety & Health Administration [OSHA]. (1999). The occupational health professional's services and qualifications: Questions and answer. http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3160.pdf World Health Organization (WHO). (2001). The role of the occupational health nurse in workplace health management. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/occupational_health/regions/en/oeheurnursing.pdf.