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What is occupational health nursing?
I use the butterfly as my unofficial symbol to illustrate
the scope of diversity of OH nurses and their various
practice environments. There are thousands of different
butterflies and the same holds true for variations in
the occupational health nurses' careers. When comparing
butterflies, no two are the same. OHNs, even in the
same company, have different roles and responsibilities.
So consider the various species of butterflies and know
that there is as much diversity in occupational health
nursing.
Where is the business of occupational
health nursing headed?
We have a decreasing number of available occupational
health nurses, which mirrors the projected nursing shortage.
Companies may outsource or eliminate the OHN position
to buffer the deficiency. While many OHNs are providing
clinical services, many are moving into managerial or
case management functions. A number of our members are
not prepared for this changing business arena. Some
are still in traditional health roles such as the clinic
nurse and the on-site, hands-on nurse. Businesses are
looking to streamline staff functions and often outsource
these services as well.
Nurses are caught in between, and we need to provide
them with the tools, information and educational opportunities
to prepare them for the business needs of today and
tomorrow.
What are the challenges of the AAOHN?
First, we need to demonstrate the value of OH nursing
in today's business economy.
Secondly, in this age of all-hazard heightened awareness,
the occupational health nurse is often the first responder
to hazards in the workplace, so we're on the forefront
of recognizing and addressing potential bioterrorist
activities or exposures to hazardous materials in the
workplace. OH nurses are there to help companies, communities
and the public to respond appropriately.
AAOHN has just celebrated its 60th
anniversary. What are some distinctive changes the association
has made?
The values of today are much the same as yesterday,
but the role of the nurse has definitely changed.
We're more dynamic as an organization and increasingly
involved in governmental and external affairs and showing
the role of the OH nurse whether it's to the government,
business or the community at large.
We are now involved in taking the pulse of the public
that we serve and of the broader worker populations.
We can look at the value of the OH nurse and solicit
from clients the values they see in such things as worksite
wellness and health promotion programs.
Where do you see the association in
10 years?
It will be a very different association. Managed care
is taking shape daily as we speak. Employers are increasingly
outsourcing services. There will be more coordination
of care to community services. As there are fewer nurses
and our profession gets older, there will be more occupational
health professionals (many non-nurses) with a broader
scope of responsibility. Other professionals will be
utilized to deal with work-life issues. OH nurses also
will band with other service providers such as school
nurses and public health nurses to meet the health and
welfare needs of the workforce, communities and our
youth.
What special challenges do occupational
health nurses face?
I've always said we're on the cutting or bleeding edge
of the profession. We've assumed roles and heard, "Oh,
that's not what an occupational health nurse does,"
and a few years later found that's exactly what we do.
Better lines of communication from leadership will
recognize these new and emerging trends. It's time to
expand our horizons and try new things rather than play
catch-up.
Cutting-edge examples?
I was one of the first insurance rehabilitation specialists
in 1978 and wanted to join AAIN, the precursor to AAOHN,
and was told insurance rehabilitation wasn't in the
scope of industrial or occupational health nursing.
Twenty years later, AAOHN is advocating the role of
the OH nurse as a disability case manager, which is
what I was doing 20 years ago. Managing lost time in
the workplace is still an acute issue. Today, it is
a growing area called absence management and integrated
disability management or health and productivity coordination.
In the mid-'80s, we had occupational safety and health
programs and were again told this was a safety manager's
job. Today, OHNs take on environmental health and safety,
much the same as many of us did 15 to 20 years ago.
Anything you'd like to add?
Occupational health nursing is a dynamic and exciting
career. Nurses can make out of it whatever they want.
It only takes the art of balancing business knowledge
with nursing know-how and some innovative willingness
to adapt and seek broader goals,
which benefits the nurse, their career and their employer.
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