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Nursing in Occupational Health
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Occupational Health Nurses
(OHN)s are registered nurses who independently
observe and assess the worker's health status with respect to job tasks and
hazards. Using their specialized experience and education, these registered
nurses recognize and prevent health effects from hazardous exposures and treat
workers' injuries/illnesses.
Scope
Educationally prepared to recognize adverse health effects of occupational
exposure and address methods for hazard abatement and control, OHNs bring
their nursing expertise to all industries such as meat packing, manufacturing,
construction as well as the health care industry.
- OHNs:
- Have special knowledge of workplace hazards and the relationship to
the employee health status.
- Understand industrial hygiene principles of engineering controls,
administrative controls, and personal protective equipment.
- Have knowledge of toxicology and epidemiology as related to the
employee and the work site.
(For industry related information, see the
specific
industry of interest.)
Typical OHN Activities:
- Observation and assessment of both the worker and the work environment
- Interpretation and evaluation of 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
- Interpretation of medical diagnosis to workers and their employers
- Appraisal of the work environment for potential exposures
- Identification of abnormalities
- Description of the worker's response to the exposures
- Management of occupational and non-occupational illness and injury
- Documentation of the injury or illness
Academic Preparation
OHNs with varying degrees of academic preparation from entry level to PhD
work in capacities commensurate with their experience and academic
preparation: clinical nurse, clinical nurse manager, nurse manager, corporate
nurse, nurse researcher, nurse educator and nurse consultant.
Licensure
As all professional registered nurses, occupational health nurses are
required to have a license from the state in which they practice nursing.
States vary in their requirements and the responsibilities they grant for
scope of nursing practice. See the board of nursing or the board of health
professionals governing the practice of nursing in your state for further
information.
Certification
Reflects specialty practice and knowledge at a mastery level.
Occupational Health Publications
- The Occupational Health Professional's Services and Qualifications: Questions and Answers.
OSHA Publication 3160, (1999, Revised), 151 KB
PDF, 37 pages.
Related Occupational Health Issues:
For specific information on related occupational health and safety issues, see the
OSHA Alphabetic Site Index.
Training/Publications
Other
Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA
Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine at 202-693-2300 for assistance
accessing OSHA PDF materials.
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