Occupational Health Registered Nurse

The Occupational Health Registered Nurse provides and coordinates services that protect the health and safety of Insight Coldwater Hospital employees and other covered workforce members. The RN applies the nursing process to prevent occupational injury and illness, assess workplace health risks, coordinate screening and immunization, manage exposure follow-up, and support safe return to work. The RN reports administratively to the Director of CR-RISQ and practices within Michigan RN scope, organizational policy, and physician-approved standing orders and protocols.

A designated physician provides medical direction, consultation, and escalation support.

All duties listed below are essential unless noted otherwise.
1. Provides evidence-based occupational health nursing assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation; escalates conditions requiring medical diagnosis, prescribing, treatment changes, or medical clearance to the designated physician or authorized provider.
2. Coordinates physician-approved standing orders, referral criteria, exposure pathways, and clinical consultation. Maintains an established after-hours referral process so urgent exposures receive prompt evaluation when the RN is unavailable.
3. Completes post-offer, pre-placement and job-related periodic or episodic health assessments; reviews essential job functions, occupational risks, health history, immunization status, and screening needs under approved protocols.
4. Administers or coordinates immunizations and immunity testing using current CDC and ACIP recommendations, authorized orders, and organizational requirements. Documents consent, contraindications, declinations, adverse events, and follow-up.
5. Coordinates baseline tuberculosis risk assessment, symptom review, and indicated testing; provides annual education and exposure follow-up. Uses current CDC recommendations and applicable state requirements to determine follow-up rather than routinely repeating annual tests for all personnel.
6. Provides immediate nursing assessment after sharps injuries, blood or body-fluid exposures, and other infectious exposures. Coordinates source evaluation, ordered baseline testing, prompt provider evaluation for post-exposure prophylaxis, counseling, and follow-up under current guidance; does not delay urgent referral while awaiting source results.
7. Works with Infection Prevention and the designated physician to assess communicable disease exposures and illness, identify affected personnel, and implement approved testing, monitoring, work restriction, and return-to-work protocols.
8. Assesses work-related injury and illness; provides first aid and nursing care within competency, initiates emergency response when needed, arranges medical referral, and monitors follow-up and recovery.
9. Coordinates occupational injury case management with the treating provider, Human Resources, department leadership, and the workers compensation administrator. Tracks appointments and restrictions and supports continuity of care without determining claim eligibility or benefits.
10. Coordinates fitness-for-duty and return-to-work processes using essential job functions and authorized provider documentation. Communicates necessary functional restrictions to authorized leaders and Human Resources; refers medical clearance and employment or accommodation decisions to the responsible provider and employer.
11. Supports respiratory protection by coordinating confidential medical evaluation and confirming the designated physician or authorized licensed clinician has provided clearance before fit testing or required use. Conducts or coordinates fit testing when trained, including initial, annual, and additional testing as indicated; tracks clearance, fit, training, and follow-up.
12. Collaborates with Safety, Infection Prevention, Pharmacy, and department leaders to identify biological, chemical, physical, ergonomic, and psychosocial hazards and recommend prevention measures. Participates in injury and exposure reviews and supports safer work practices, sharps prevention, safe patient handling, and workplace violence prevention.
13. Coordinates risk-based medical surveillance for identified workplace exposures, including hazardous drugs, chemicals, noise, or other hazards when applicable. Arranges indicated testing and provider review; performs specialized testing only when trained, validated, and authorized.
14. Maintains complete, timely, confidential occupational…