powerpoint

Occupational Health Nurse

By: Chinenye Eneremadu

Roles of an Occupational Health Nurse

● Occupational health nurses work to prevent, investigate, and treat workplace-related illnesses and injuries.

● To prevent workplace injuries and illnesses ● Assess workplaces to identify possible

hazards ● These nurses also educate employers and

employees on how to prevent accidents and injuries.

Direct Roles

● Occupational health nurses work closely with both employers/employees to ensure that workers stay safe in their working environments

● They effectively communicate with employers, employees, medical professionals, and insurance companies

● They possess teaching skills in which they educating individuals on workplace safety

● They pay attention to detail and problem-solving skills are equally important.

Settings of an Occupational Health Nurse

Occupational health nurses work can often find employment in hospitals and clinics. However, many employers and companies will also hire these nursing professionals. They work in all industries and all different types of workplaces.

● manufacturing and production facilities ● hospitals ● medical centers ● as well as in other employment sectors,

including government.

Type of Medical Problems Occupational Health Nurses treat

● When an employee claims that an illness or injury is related to his work, an occupational health nurse will also investigate the incident circumstances.

● They have access to an employee’s medical charts to determine whether a workplace hazard could have caused the injury or illness.

Type of Medical Problems Occupational Health Nurses treat

● Treating employees that get hurt or ill due to workplace hazards is another important responsibility of occupational health nurses. This includes

○ tending to injuries ○ administering medication ○ performing rehabilitation therapy after certain injuries.

● Occupational nurses will also screen new and prospective employees to ensure that they can perform the duties required by their positions. This may include

○ physical examination ○ vision test ○ hearing test ○ drug or alcohol screening.

References

Occupational Health Nurse. EveryNurse.org. (2022, March 13). Retrieved April 4, 2022, from

https://everynurse.org/careers/occupational-health-nurse/#:~:text=Occupational%20health%20nurses%20work %20to,to%20prevent%20accidents%20and%20injuries.