CAREER GUIDE Occupational Health Nursing The Career Guide is a publication of Profession The Career Guide is a publication of 201 E. Ogden Ave. Suite 114 Hinsdale, IL 60521 630-789-5799 • www.abohn.org Copyright by ABOHN. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission from ABOHN. 201 E. Ogden Ave. • Suite 114 • Hinsdale, IL 60521 630-789-5799 • www.abohn.org Synopsis of Occupational Health History in the U.S. and U.K (2000 BC – 2013 AD) 1494-1555 AD 1895 AD Georgius Agricola Ada Mayo Stewart 470-410 BC 1713-1788 AD Hippocrates Percival Pott 1540 AD “Law of Deodand” 1869-1970 AD 1911 AD Alice Hamilton Worker Compensation Legislation BC 1400 1600 1800 1900 1950 2000 1970 AD 2000 BC 1898 AD Occupational Health Code of Hammurabi 1493-1591 AD Phillipa Flowerday Paraclesus and Safety Act 23-79 AD 1633-1714 AD 1912 AD – 39 Pliny the Elder Bernardino Ramazzini 1918 AD – 1,213 2013 AD 1930 AD – 3,189 Approx. 1820- 1910 AD 1939 AD – 6,255 22,000 Florence Nightingale 1945 AD – 12,939 Nurses Employed in Industry Figure 1: Timeline of events that shaped Occupational Health & Safety – for additional information see Appendix A createdbyLachat, Figure 8: “Occupational Health Nurses’ Contributions to HealthNurses’ Figure 8:“Occupational A., ABOHN, Chief Executive Officer, Model adapted from Mary Ann Gruden Ann ModeladaptedfromMary Officer, Chief Executive ABOHN, A., E xcellence” The Career Guide to Occupational Health Nursing The Career Guide is a publication of American Board for Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. 201 E. Ogden Ave., Suite 114 Hinsdale, Il 60521 630-789-5799 1 | Page Copyright by ABOHN. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission from ABOHN. Table of Contents What is Occupational Health? .................................................................................... Page 3 Occupational Health Nursing – A Specialty Practice .................................................. Page 4 Occupational Health Nursing Categories of Competency .......................................... Page 5 What Occupational Health Nurses Do ....................................................................... Page 6 Where Occupational Health Nurses Work .................................................................. Page 8 Occupational Health Nursing Pay .............................................................................. Page 9 The Future for Occupational Health Nursing ............................................................ Page 10 Opportunities in Occupational Health Nursing .........................................................Page 11 How to Become an Occupational Health Nurse ....................................................... Page 21 Professional Societies.............................................................................................. Page 22 Occupational Health Nursing Credentialing Agency .................................................Page 23 Resources ................................................................................................................ Page 24 Contributors ............................................................................................................ Page 25 Appendix A: A Noble History ................................................................................... Page 26 Appendix B: Glossary ............................................................................................... Page 28 Page | 2 What is Occupational Health? In general, the term – occupational the United States spends an estimated health – refers to caring for and $2 trillion annually on healthcare protecting the workforce you serve. expenses. Occupational health and protecting traditional occupational safety and the workforce are an important part of healthThis broad protection definition efforts integrates with health these costs. promotion and other workplace Changes in the median age of activities to prevent illness and injury, the workforce, changes in laws and regardless of cause, so that all workers regulations and changes in health costs have opportunities to achieve optimal all have a great impact on the bottom- levels of health and well-being. line decisions of executives. The occupational health nursing Occupational health initiatives can be found in a multitude of environments evolutionary change in the 1970’s when and industries. Businesses from mining thefield United has a longStates hist Congressory but startedpassed thean Occupational Safety and Health Act estate all have an occupational health of 1970 (OSH Act). The law requires element.and construction Integrating to finance workplace and wellnessreal employers to provide their employees and occupational health and safety with working conditions that are free supports a holistic approach to health. of known hazards. The Act created The occupational health professional the Occupational Safety and Health can be the guiding force to keep workers Administration (OSHA), which sets healthy, maintain company compliance and enforces protective workplace with regulations, curb medical costs and safety and health standards. assess the environmental factors that After passage of the OSH Act, affect the workplace and the community which it serves. changed as new and improved local, Whether your goal is to work for a statethe scope and federalof the field regulations significantly passed Fortune 100 company or use your skills which protect both the employee and as a consultant, the occupational health the employer. industry offers a range of opportunities. Economics play an important role in The information found on the next few health care. Per the latest information pages will explain the occupational from the Council of Foreign Relations health nursing (OHN) profession and (Johnson, Toni. “Healthcare Costs what is needed to become a competent, and U.S. Competitiveness.” Mar 2010. capable voice for worker health in the Council on Foreign Relations. Jan 2014.), 21st century. 3 | Page Occupational Health Nursing – A Specialty Practice The American Association of Nurses (OHN)s “as registered nurses Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN), whoOSHA independently classifies Occupational observe and Health assess the professional society devoted to the worker’s health status with respect occupational health nursing practice, to job tasks and hazards. Using their specialized experience and education, nursing as follows: “Occupational and these registered nurses recognize specialtyfurther defines practice occupational that provides health for and and prevent health effects from delivers health and safety programs and hazardous exposures and treat services to workers, worker populations workers’ injuries and illnesses.” and community groups. The practice (http://www.osha.gov/dts/oohn/ohn.html) focuses on promotion and restoration of health, prevention of illness and injury, and protection from work-related and environmental hazards. Occupational Employee Health and environmental health nurses Advocate (OHNs) have a combined knowledge of healthcare and business expertise to balance the requirement for a safe OHN environment with a “healthy” bottom Business Environment line. (http://www.aaohn.org/about-us/aaohn-vision-and- Industry & Community mission/aaohn-fact-sheet.html) Expert Leader A state license as a registered nurse (RN) assumes competency in general nursing practice. The occupational Figure 2: Occupational Health Nursing Roles health nursing designation constitutes a broader understanding in the specialty Many industries and work of worker care. environments require occupational Table 1 (next page) lists nine health initiatives. Nurses that care categories of competencies which for the worker population in hospital settings are usually known as occupational health nursing practice: Employee Health Nurses. This title is AAOHN defines as required for effective interchangeable with the Occupational Health Nurse. Page | 4 Occupational Health Nursing Categories of Competency Clinical Practice Work Force, Workplace, Health and Safety Document the and the Environment Education and nursing process in Coordinate client health Training care management via screening and surveillance Implement occupational assessment, diagnoses programs and services and environmental health and treatments consistent and monitor the work and safety education and with appropriate environment to protect the training. standards and laws. health and safety of workers. Case Management Management, Business Research Identify the need for case and Leadership Identify and share management intervention Responsible for coordinating resources and and be able to conduct a cost-effective occupational applications that thorough and objective health services and programs help support relevant assessment of the client’s and continuous monitoring evidence-based practices. current status and case for the best quality, most management needs. cost effective vendor products and services. Regulator/Legislative Health Promotion and Professionalism Bring awareness of Disease Prevention Maintain scientific, current legislative Assess the health needs regulatory and business activities that may of workers and worker knowledge appropriate impact nursing practices, populations. to the nursing profession. workers, workplaces and the environment. Table 1: Retrieved from www.aaohn.org AAOHN has adopted Dr. Patricia Benner’s (R.N., Ph.D., FAAN) stages of clinical competency for an occupational health nurse. The information listed above