Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing Profession Fact Sheet
Occupational and environmental health nursing is the specialty practice that provides for and delivers health and safety programs and services to workers, worker populations and community groups. The practice focuses on promotion and restoration of health, prevention of illness and injury and protection from work related and environmental hazards.
History
The first record of occupational and environmental health nursing in the United States dates back to 1888 when a nurse named Betty Moulder cared for Pennsylvania coal miners and their families. The profession evolved with the growth of industry around the beginning of the 20th century, as factories employed nurses to combat the spread of infectious diseases like tuberculosis, to address health-related problems resulting from labor shortages during World War I, and to cut costs rising from new workers' compensation legislation. Today, the scope of practice includes disease management, environmental health, emergency preparedness and disaster planning in response to natural, technological and human hazards to work and community environments.
Role of Occupational Health Nurses Today
Modern occupational health nurses' (OHNs) roles are as diverse as clinician to educator, case manager to corporate director and consultant. The OHN’s responsibilities have expanded immensely to encompass not only the responsibilities previously listed but also a wide range of job duties, including but not limited to:
- Case management: In addition to providing treatment, follow-up and referrals and emergency care for job related injuries and illnesses, OHNs act as gatekeepers for health services, rehabilitation, return-to-work and case management issues, and are key to employers' health care quality and cost containment strategies.
- Counseling and crisis intervention: Besides counseling workers about work related illness and injuries, OHNs often counsel for issues such as substance abuse and emotional and/or family problems. They also handle referrals to employee assistance programs and/or other community resources and coordinate follow-up care.
- Health promotion: OHNs teach skills and develop health education programs that encourage workers to take responsibility for their own health. Smoking cessation, exercise/fitness, nutrition and weight control, stress management, control of chronic illnesses and effective use of medical services are just a few of the preventive strategies to keep workers healthy and productive.
- Legal and regulatory compliance: Whether it is the array of regulations put forward by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), or laws that affect the workplace such as the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), OHNs work with employers on compliance with regulations and laws affecting the workplace.
- Worker and workplace hazard detection: OHNs monitor the health status of worker populations by conducting research on the effects of workplace exposures, gathering health and hazard data, and using the data to prevent injury and illness. Examples include an analysis of the effects of toxic chemical exposures and development of plans to prevent work-related accidents.
- Business Leadership Role
Poor employee health costs business about $1 trillion annually, so business executives look to OHNs to maximize employee productivity and reduce costs through lowered disability claims, fewer on-the-job injuries and improved absentee rates. Through their recognized value as business partners, OHNs are both managers (implement occupational health service programs, provide budgetary input for programs and staffing) and leaders (develop policy/procedures in alignment with corporate vision/mission, supervise and direct employees, and mentor co-workers) in the effort to impact corporate improvement and employee health and safety, thus contributing positively to the financial bottom line.
Education Requirements
OHNs are registered nurses (RNs) licensed to practice in the states in which they are employed. Typically, nurses entering the field have a baccalaureate degree in nursing and experience in community health, ambulatory care, critical care or emergency nursing.
Certification in occupational and environmental health nursing is highly recommended. Criteria for certification requires 4,000 hours of work experience in the field within a five-year period, 50 contact hours of continuing nursing education in the specialty and successful completion of a national examination that requires mastery of a broad body of knowledge.
AAOHN
For more information about occupational and environmental health nurses, contact the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses Inc. at (800) 241-8014.
AAOHN is a 10,000 member professional association dedicated to advancing the health, safety and productivity of domestic and global workforces by providing education, research, public policy and practice resources for occupational and environmental health nurses. These professionals are the largest group of health care providers serving the worksite.
