Transcript Business to Business

Occupational
Health Nursing
OHNs—Protecting Worker Health
Myth vs. Reality




Band-aid brigade
Paper pushers
Only do workers’
compensation
Work in physical
therapy




Possibility to greatly
influence health
outcomes
Autonomous
Independent nursing
judgments
Great satisfaction
What it really is!

Occupational and
environment health nursing is
the specialty practice that
provides for and delivers
health and safety programs to
workers, worker populations
and communities.
It focuses on...

Promotion and restoration of health

Prevention of illness and injury

Protection from work related and
environmental hazards
Occupational & Environmental
Health Nurses (OHNs)...



Have combined health and business
knowledge.
Blend business knowledge with health
care expertise.
Balance requirements for a safe and
healthful work environment with those for
a “healthy” bottom line.
OHN First Recognized in 1888

Betty Moulder
 Cared
for Pennsylvania
coal miners and their
families

History of OH
 Egyptians
recognized work
hazards
 Agricola & Paracelsus
 Ramazzini
20th Century Evolution of
OHNs
Industrial Revolution & War
 Factories employed OHNs to:

Combat spread of disease
 Address health related problems due to labor
shortages
 Cut losses from new workers’ compensation
legislation
OHNs Today—Leaders &
Managers
Disease management
 Members of the management team
 Emergency preparedness & disaster
planning at work and in the community

 Technological
 Natural
 Conflict

(human)
Environmental health
That’s not all, there’ s more...

Case management
 Injury
and illness (work and non-work related)
 FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act)
 Short-term disability

Health promotion & risk management
 Work/life
balance
 Smoking cessation
 Lifestyle changes (diet, nutrition, exercise…)
 Stress management
and more...

Legal & regulatory compliance

OSHA—respiratory, auditory, chemical
 FMLA
 ADA
 EEOC
 HIPAA

Counseling & crisis intervention

Alcohol &/or substance abuse
 EAP administration &/or referral
 Psychosocial needs
and more....

Worker & workplace hazard detection
 Identify,
monitor, evaluate and analyze hazards
(lead,dust, mold, noise)

Monitor injury trends
 When/where/how
injuries occur (ergonomic
issues, improper lifting, lack of proper PPE,
improper use of PPE)
OHNs as Liaisons
Insurance
company
Associate
Resources
OHN
Company
Physician
Show Me the Money$

Cost Savings

Decreased absenteeism
 Reduced presenteeism
 Decreased injuries
 Increased productivity

Prevention

Education about illness, disease and wellness
 Identification of problems
Where OHNs Work








Industry and private company
Insurance company
Hospital settings
Immediate care center/ER
Case managers
School, college, community
CDC
Own business (consultant)

Member Services (800) 241-8014

Email: [email protected]

Website www.aaohn.org