A Nursing Specialty. What is the role of an Occupational Health Nurse? Describe the clinical...
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Occupational Health Nursing A Nursing Specialty
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Transcript of A Nursing Specialty. What is the role of an Occupational Health Nurse? Describe the clinical...
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
Questions?
