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Occupational Health Nursing

Occupational Health Nursing. A Nursing Specialty. Objectives. 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?.

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Occupational Health Nursing

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  1. Occupational Health Nursing A Nursing Specialty

  2. Objectives • 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?

  3. What is an Occupational Health Nurse? Occupational Health Nursing is a specialty practice that provides and delivers health and safety programs in the workplace.

  4. 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.

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

  6. Roles of the Occupational Health Nurse • Clinician • Case Manager (For injured worker) • Consultant • Educator • Referral Source • Work injuries/illnesses • Non-work injuries/illnesses • Counselor • Assistance Programs • Manager • Volunteer Programs • Providing for consistency with immunizations • Researcher • Wellness Coordinator • Safety Advocate

  7. Employee Health Services a.k.a.Occupational Health Services • 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

  8. Employee Health Services – Cont. • Management of Occupational Injuries/Illnesses • Needle sticks • Injuries • Communicable diseases (patients & co-workers)

  9. 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

  10. Ergonomics – cont. • Recommending: • Chairs • Keyboard Trays • Monitor Arms • Footrests • Monitors • Copy Holders • Headsets

  11. Respiratory Protection Learning how to use your respiratory equipment (CAPR) Are you wearing the equipment correctly?

  12. Safe Patient Handling & Movement

  13. 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 evaluations performed when an employee demonstrates deficits in judgement or reliability that result in behavior that significantly interferes with job performance.

  14. Employee Health Office Services – Cont. • Employee Assistance Programs • Different Models (Ranges from Onsite to Contractual Programs) • EAP Intervention (When too distressed to make the call)

  15. 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)

  16. Wellness • 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

  17. Employee Records

  18. State and Federal Laws • 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

  19. Professional Development • Consultant – internal or external • Certification • Safety – accident investigation • Participation in professional organizations • System resource • Researcher – evidence–based practice • Manager – Organize, analyze, implement

  20. Occupational Health Nurse & MagnetDesignation – Does it fit? • 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.

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

  22. Safety Risk of Injury Think Safety

  23. Safety Risk of Injury Think Safety

  24. Posture Participate In House wide Orientation using correct mechanics to perform the job safely.

  25. Safety • 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. • Eyewash Stations: Are they labeled and checked weekly

  26. Assignment Variation • Smaller hospital settings require the health nurse to take on more responsibility • Larger institutions assign different departments to assist in the duties

  27. How Does the OHN Keep Up with Changes? • 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

  28. Regulatory Guidance • Press Releases

  29. 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

  30. 125 Warrendale Bayne Road Suite 375 Warrendale, PA 15086 888-362-4347 www.aohp.org info@aohp.org

  31. Questions?

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