Occupational Health Nursing

A Nursing Specialty

What is the role of an Occupational Health Nurse?

Describe the clinical services performed in an Occupational Health Office.

Why do healthcare facilities need a health nurse?

Why is it important to know?

Objectives

Occupational Health Nursing is a specialty practice that provides and delivers health and safety programs in the workplace.

What is an Occupational Health Nurse?

What is an Occupational Health Nurse? – Cont.

Dedicated to promoting health, safety and wellbeing to workers by:

◦ Advocating employee health, safety, and wellbeing

◦ Occupational health education & networking opportunities

◦ Health and safety advancement through best practice and research

◦ Partnering with employers, regulatory agencies and related associations.

Occupational Health nurses provide healthcare and makes nursing decisions for workers within the scope of practice determined by State Law.

Scope of Practice

Clinician Case Manager (For

injured worker) Consultant Educator Referral Source

◦ Work injuries/illnesses

◦ Non-work injuries/illnesses

Roles of the Occupational Health Nurse

Counselor◦ Assistance Programs

Manager Volunteer Programs

◦ Providing for consistency with immunizations

Researcher Wellness

Coordinator Safety Advocate

Physical Assessments (Pre-Placement)◦ Vaccine assessment & administration◦ Administer TST/PPD◦ Job applicant essential function physical

assessment Management of Non-Occupational

Illness/ Injuries◦ Medical Leaves, FMLA events◦ RTW assessments

Employee Health Services a.k.a.Occupational Health Services

Management of Occupational Injuries/Illnesses◦ Needle sticks◦ Injuries◦ Communicable diseases

(patients & co-workers)

Employee Health Services – Cont.

Program Development:◦ Workplace health hazards

recognition◦ Medical surveillance of the worker

population◦ Ergonomics ◦ Respiratory Protection program◦ Blood borne Pathogen (BBP) program◦ Safe Patient Handling and Movement

program◦ Return to Work program◦ Safety

Employee Health Services – Cont.

Recommending:◦ Chairs◦ Keyboard Trays◦ Monitor Arms◦ Footrests◦ Monitors◦ Copy Holders◦ Headsets

Ergonomics – cont.

Respiratory Protection

Learning how to use your respiratory equipment (CAPR)

Are you wearing the equipment correctly?

Safe Patient Handling & Movement

Employee Health Office Services – Cont.

Fitness for Duty Exams◦ Clarification of ability to work

Personal and Episodic Health Issues (Walk-Ins)◦ Screenings (Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar, Cholesterol)◦ First Aid (Splinters, Bandages, Rash)

Referrals - PCP or ED FFD Exams (Fit For Duty)

◦ Work place Drug Screening evaluationsperformed when an employee demonstratesdeficits in judgement or reliability that result in behavior that significantly interferes with job performance.

Employee Assistance Programs◦ Different Models (Ranges from Onsite to

Contractual Programs)◦ EAP Intervention (When too distressed to make

the call)

Employee Health Office Services – Cont.

Health Maintenance◦ TST/PPD◦ Employee Health and Fitness Fair◦ Flu Campaigns◦ Health Education & Coaching◦ Health Awareness (Months, Weeks & Days/Great

American Smoke Out)◦ Health Resources (i.e. www.healthline.com)

Employee Health Office Services – cont.

Health Education and Promotion◦ Enhances recruitment & retention of employees◦ Reduced healthcare costs◦ Decreases rates of illness & injuries◦ Reduces employee absenteeism◦ Improves employee relations & morale◦ Increases productivity

The Bottom Line…...◦ Healthy & safe employees provide quality patient

care◦ Unhealthy employees drain resources

Wellness

Employee Records

OHN is a dynamic practice that requires an understanding of legal parameters of practice

Responds to changing mandates

OHN must maintain compliance with all state and federal laws, regulations and standards governing health and safety for worker and their environment

State and Federal Laws

Consultant – internal or external◦ Certification◦ Safety – accident investigation◦ Participation in professional organizations◦ System resource

Researcher – evidence–based practice

Manager – Organize, analyze, implement

Professional Development

Magnet Designation thru the American Nurses Credentialing Center recognizes excellence in all nursing roles within an organization.

Magnet model components:◦ Transformational leadership◦ Structural empowerment◦ Exemplary professional practice◦ New knowledge, innovation & improvements◦ Empirical outcomes

Requires evidence of safety improvements for nurses. OHNs often lead the safety initiatives.

Occupational Health Nurse & MagnetDesignation – Does it fit?

Prevention of adverse health effects from occupational and environmental hazards and encourage health promotion.

Safety

Safety

Risk of Injury Think Safety

Safety

Risk of Injury Think Safety

PostureParticipate In House wide Orientation using correct mechanics to perform the job safely.

Eyewash Stations: Are they labeled and checked weekly

Hazard Analysis: (Also called need-gap analysis, needs analysis or needs assessment)◦ A technique that

businesses use to determine what steps need to be taken in order to move from its current state to its desired, future state.

Safety

Smaller hospital settings require the health nurse to take on more responsibility

Larger institutions assign different departments to assist in the duties

Assignment Variation

Educational Opportunities◦ National Conferences◦ Monthly Seminars◦ Online Education Programs◦ Monthly to Bi-monthly involvement with County

Health Care Coalitions◦ Newsletters from Legislative Contacts or your

Nursing organization ◦ Membership and participation in Professional

Organization

How Does the OHN Keep Up with Changes?

◦ Press Releases

Regulatory Guidance

CDC: Weekly ALERTS ◦ Increasing flu activity “Pandemic may be

imminent”.◦ Outbreaks i.e. measles

ACIP & CDC: Occupational Health/Employee Health and Infection Prevention become the watchdogs

CDC, NIOSH & OSHA send out worker protection protocols

ALERTS from State & Local health departments

Regulatory Guidance

125 Warrendale Bayne Road

Suite 375Warrendale, PA 15086

888-362-4347www.aohp.orginfo@aohp.org

Questions?