OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

NURSING

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH NURSING

The occupational health nursing as The

application of nursing and public health
procedures for the purpose of conserving,
promoting and restoring the health of
individuals and groups through their places
of employment. Brown,1956).

 Occupational

health nursing is a
synthesis of knowledge from
nursing, medicine, public health,
occupational health,
social/behavioral sciences, as
well as knowledge from
management/administration
theories and legal principles.
(Rogers,1994)

According to the American Association of

Occupational Health Nurses/AAOHN (1994),
Occupational HNP is defined as :

The specialty practice that provides for and

delivers health care services to workers and
workers populations.
The practice focuses on promotion, protection and
restoration of workers health within the context of
a safe and healthy work environment.

CONCEPTUAL MODEL FOR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH NURSING PRACTICE

(Rogers B)
Population/Health
Legislation/Politics
trends
Work Setting influences
Resources
Corporate
Culture/Mission

Work/Hazards

Worker
Health

Workforce
Characteristics
Technology

Economics

Occupational
Occupational
Health
HealthNursing
NursingPractice
Practice
Health promotion/protection
Health promotion/protection
Worker Health/hazard assessment and
Worker Health/hazard assessment and
surveilance
surveilance
Workplace
Workplace surveilance
surveilance and
and hazard
hazard
detection
detection
Primary care/case management
Primary care/case management
Counseling
Counseling
Management/administration
Management/administration
Research
Research
Legal/ethical monitoring
Legal/ethical monitoring

PHILOSOPHY OF OHN

The occupational health service contributes to a

safe and healthful work environment through
programs aimed at reducing and eliminating
work-related hazard and enhancing health
promotion.
The occupational health nursing service is central
and integral to an effective occupational health
program.
To protect worker rights, workers are given
information regarding work-related hazard so that
informed decisions can be made.
The occupational health nirse profesional is fart of
a collaborative team.

PHILOSOPHY OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

NURSING

The occupational health nurse profesional has an

obligation to maintain and improve knowledge and
skills relative to her or his position and to keep
current with research and legislation affecting
occupational health and nursing practice.

High quality occupational health care is provided

in a cost-effective manner that promotes
productivity through good health.

STAFFING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AN

EFFECTIVE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH NURSING
PROGRAM

One OHN for up to 300 employees in an

industrial setting & up to 750 in a nonindustrial
setting.
Two or more OHN for up to 600 in industrial
employees.
Three or more OHN for up to 1.000 employees
in an industrial setting.

THE 10 LEADING WORK-RELATED DISEASES AND

INJURIES-UNITED STATES
1.
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10.

Occupational lung diseases ; asbestosis, occupational asthma

Musculoskletal injuries : Disorders of the back, upper extremity,
neck, lower extremity. etc
Occupational cancers : Leukemia, cancers of the bladder,etc
Traumatic injury and death : Amputations, etc
Cardiovascular diseases : Hypertension, coronary artery disease,
acute myocardial infarction
Disorders of reproduction : Infertility, spontaneous abortion
Neurotoxic disorders : Peripherial neuropathy, psychoses,etc
Loss of hearing : Noise-induced hearing loss
Dermatological conditions : Dermatoses, burns, chemical burnsetc
Psychological disorders : Neuroses, personality disorders,
alcoholism, drug dependency, stress reactions