Occupational Health Nursing Career
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Occupational Health Nurse: Occupational Health Nurses (OHNs) are fully qualified Registered Nurses who observe the working conditions and hazards in a workplace. OHNs work in many industries including manufacturing, mining, construction and office work.
The main duties of an Occupational Health Nurse include:
- Recognizing and preventing hazards in the work place.
- Treating injuries encountered by workers.
- Educating employers and employees on personal protective equipment.
- Assessing the work environment.
- Informing employees and employers of common workplace illnesses and injuries.
- Documenting illnesses and injuries.
- Educating employers on the law in relation to Occupational Health.
Where they work: Occupational Health Nurses work in many different environments including schools, construction sites, factories, hospitals and offices. Some work as independent consultants, providing services to many clients. The government also employs Occupational Health Nurses to carry out inspections on working environments.
Qualifications: Occupational Health Nurses are qualified registered nurses, who have received additional training in Occupational Health. The American Board for Occupational Health Nurses (ABOHN) offers the following credentials:
- Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN).
- Certified Occupational Health Nurse-Specialist (COHN-S).
- Certified Occupational Health Nurse/Case Manager (COHN/CM).
- Certified Occupational Health Nurses-Specialist/Case Manager (COHN-S/CM).
- Certified Occupational Health Nurse/Safety Manager (COHN/SM).
- Certified Occupational Health Nurse-Specialist/Safety Manager (COHN-S/SM).
On completion of one of the above programs, Occupational Health Nurses must pass a licensing exam from the state in which they wish to practice.
Below is a list of some of the various types of medical nurses / assistant nurses: