Strategies to facilitate professional development of the occupational health nurse in the occupational health setting

Hepatitis A is a vaccine preventable liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. The occupational health nurse should be aware of the signs and symptoms of the virus, educate workers about the infection, and recommend immunization for workers traveling or working in high-risk areas for hepatitis A.

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Strategies to facilitate professional development of the occupational health nurse in the occupational health setting

Health SA Gesondheid ◽

10.4102/hsag.v21i0.964 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 21 ◽

pp. 261-270 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nicolene De Jager ◽

Anna G.W. Nolte ◽

Annie Temane

Keyword(s):

Professional Development ◽

Occupational Health ◽

Quality Care ◽

Doctoral Degree ◽

Individual Interviews ◽

Professional Development Needs ◽

Health Nursing ◽

And Function ◽

Occupational Healthcare ◽

Occupational Health Setting

Background: Education and experience are important components in the ability of occupational health nurses (OHNs) to promote high-quality care and competence. OHNs will increasingly require the skills and knowledge to base care on best evidence, to use critical thinking and demonstrate advanced leadership and decision-making skills to develop and enhance services in a more complex and diverse occupational healthcare environment.Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the needs for professional development of the OHN in the occupational health setting.Method: An explorative, descriptive, contextual generic and qualitative research method was used in this study. The purposive sampling method was used as the OHNs surveyed described their personal need for professional development in the occupational health setting. Data was collected by means of semi-structured individual interviews. Eight interviews were done by an interviewer who held a doctoral degree in community health nursing and a qualification in occupational health and was affiliated with a private occupational health institution at the time of the study. The interviews were conducted during August 2012.Results: The OHNs reported that professional development needs have to be identified by the OHNs. Short courses need to be designed by training institutions and should be attended by the OHNs to improve their operational functioning on a day-to-day basis in the occupational health setting. The OHNs experienced that their role and function in the workplace were not valued by their managers. The results of this study revealed four major themes, namely constraints hindering the OHN in developing professionally, positive aspects identified by the OHNs regarding the need for professional development, professional development needs of the OHN and suggestions of how to meet the OHNs' professional development needs.Conclusion: There is a need for OHNs to identify their professional development needs and recommendations were made to meet these needs.

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Certified Occupational Health Nursing

AAOHN Journal ◽

10.1177/216507999704501101 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 45 (11) ◽

pp. 581-591 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Barbara J. Burgel ◽

Emily M. Wallace ◽

Sharon Donnelly Kemerer ◽

Margery Garbin

Keyword(s):

Occupational Health ◽

The United States ◽

Nurse Specialist ◽

Survey Tool ◽

Certification Programs ◽

Health Nurse ◽

Comprehensive Survey ◽

Occupational Health Nurse ◽

Health Nursing ◽

Occupational Health Nursing

Specialty nursing certification programs, such as that administered by the American Board for Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. (ABOHN), must be firmly based on current practice to maintain validity. To determine this, ABOHN performed its most recent job analysis and role delineation study between 1992 and 1994. A comprehensive survey tool was developed by ABOHN Board members, and administered to all 3,805 certified occupational health nurses in practice at the time of the study. With a final return rate of 42.7%, the results were believed to be representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to practice occupational health nursing in the United States at the proficient level of practice. The results of the study formed the basis for the ABOHN test blueprints and the creation of two credentials for occupational health nurses: the Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN) and the Certified Occupational Health Nurse Specialist (COHN-S).

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Meet The Occupational Health Nurse

Curationis ◽

10.4102/curationis.v1i4.160 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 1 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Y. Campbell

Keyword(s):

Occupational Health ◽

Health Services ◽

Occupational Health Services ◽

Health Nurse ◽

Occupational Health Nurse

The great upsurge of knowledge and progress in occupational health medicine which occurred during both world wars was proof that good occupational health services mean greater productivity, with the result that today the scope of the occupational health nurse is unlimited.

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When a Coworker Completes Suicide

AAOHN Journal ◽

10.3928/08910162-20081101-02 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 56 (11) ◽

pp. 459-467 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Cynthia W. Lynn

Keyword(s):

Occupational Health ◽

Nurse Managers ◽

Psychiatric Emergency ◽

Suicide Survivors ◽

Suicide Death ◽

Social And Emotional ◽

Grieving Process ◽

Health Nurse ◽

Occupational Health Nurse

The suicide death of a coworker is considered a psychiatric emergency for nurse managers and coworkers left to process the feelings associated with this type of grief. The occupational health nurse can assist nurse managers and coworkers in the grieving process. It is critical for the occupational health nurse to understand the psychological, social, and emotional implications for coworkers (suicide survivors) left to grieve the loss. Appropriate support and guidance immediately following the suicide death of a coworker will assist individuals through the normal grieving process and avoid suppressed emotions that may lead to personal and departmental dysfunction.

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