Transcript Overview of Occupational Health

Overview of Occupational Health

Defines Occupational and Environmental
Health Nursing as a Specialty Practice
◦ Provides for and delivers health and safety
programs and services to workers, worker
populations and community groups
American Association of
Occupational Health Nursing




Promotion and restoration of health
Prevention of illness and Injury
Protection from Work Related and
Environmental Hazards.
Occupational and Environmental health
nurses have a combined knowledge of health
and business that they blend with healthcare
expertise to balance the requirement for a
safe and healthful work environment
PRACTICE FOCUS
The first record of Occupational Environmental
Nursing in the United States dates back to 1888
when a nurse named Betty Moulder cared for
Pennsylvania coal miners and their families.
 Profession evolved with the growth of industry
around beginning of 20th century as factories
employed nurses to combat the spread of
infectious diseases like tuberculosis, address
health related problems resulting from Labor
shortages during World War I, and cut costs
arising from new Worker’s Compensation
legislation.

HISTORY
Poor employee health
costs business about
$1 trillion annually
Business looks to OHN
to:
• Maximize employee
productivity
• Reduce costs through
lower disability claims
• Fewer on-the-job injuries
• Have improved absentee
rates
OHN PARTNER WITH BUSINESS





Case Management
Counseling and Crisis Intervention
Health Promotion and Risk Reduction
Legal and Regulatory Compliance
Worker and Workplace Hazard Detection
OCCUPATIONAL AND
ENVIRONMENTAL NURSES TODAY
Typically have a baccalaureate in nursing
Experience in Community Health,
Ambulatory Care, Critical Care, or
Emergency Nursing
 May have Masters Degrees in public
health, advanced practice, business to
build professional competencies
 Certification in Occupational and
Environmental Health nursing is highly
recommended.(COHN-S)


EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
AAOHN
6,000 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.

Occupational Health Care Managers are
the ideal professionals to coordinate
client’s health care services from the
onset of illness and injury to safe returnto-work or an optimal alternative
 Effective occupational health and safety
programs help control overall health care,
disability, and worker’s compensation
costs.

CASE MANAGEMENT

Besides counseling workers about workrelated illnesses and injuries, OHNs often
counsel for issues such as substance
abuse, psychosocial needs,
wellness/health promotion concerns, and
other health or work-related concerns.
COUNSELING AND CRISIS
INTERVENTION
OHNs design programs that
support positive lifestyle changes
and individual efforts to lower
risks of disease and injury and
the creation of an environment
that provides a sense of balance
among work, family, personal,
health, and psychosocial
concerns.
 Immunization, smoking
cessation, exercise/fitness,
nutrition and weight control,
stress management, monitoring
of chronic diseases, and effective
use of medical services are just a
few of the preventive strategies
to keep workers healthy and
productive.

HEALTH PROMOTION AND RISK REDUCTION



State and federal regulations put forward by
the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA)
Laws that affect the workplace, such as the
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or the
Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA)
OHNs work with employers on compliance
with regulations and laws affecting workers
and the workplace.
LEGAL AND REGULATORY
COMPLIANCE

Includes an analysis of the effects of toxic
chemical exposure, development of plans
to prevent work-related accidents, and an
analysis of groups, not just individuals, to
detect patterns, trends, changes, and
commonalities as in pandemic situations
Worker and Workplace Hazard
Detection
TRIANGLE SHIRTWAIST FIRE AND
100 YEARS OF WORKER’S RIGHTS
One of the most devastating industrial accidents
in American history (March 25, 1911-New York
City)
 Without adequate fire protection and fire escapes
146 workers, mainly young immigrant women,
died in the fire.
 The fire proved to be a catalyst for important
changes in workplace safety, and helped lay
foundation for the modern worker’s compensation
system we have today.
 Business leaders recognized that WC payments
would have to be a cost of doing business.





Designed to protect employees and their
families from economic losses due to
personal injury caused by accidents and
illness arising out of and in the course of
employment
It is a STATE statutory program
Impairment is determined by a physician and
reflects any abnormality that persists
Disability is a legal term. It is an estimate of
the extent or effect of impairment upon the
life of the patient.
WORKER’S COMPENSATION LAWS