How to become An Occupational Health Nurse

A stitch in time saves time is not just an adage but the basis of maintaining safety in diverse workplaces, whether they be retail stores or manufacturing plants. Given the numerous hazards that lurk in the form of chemicals, machinery, human errors, and even computer screens, an Occupational Health Nurse plays a crucial role in preventing injuries and caring for employees who are hurt or unwell due to work-related causes.

• Employee Health Nurse
• Company Nurse
• Project Nurse
• Industrial Nurse

What do Occupational Health Nurses do?

An Occupational Health Nurse would typically need to:

• Develop and implement affordable health & safety programs, services and regulations for worker populations and community groups using business and health principles
• Provide emergency care to injured employees
• Advocate the prevention of illnesses and injuries from work environment hazards; educate employers about such hazards; monitor and suggest system and procedural changes to reduce them
• Promote the rights of employees to effective and accessible health & safety programs
• Raise awareness about health responsibilities through health education and disease management programs, such as smoking cessation, physical fitness, nutrition, stress management, and chronic illness management 
• Screen prospective employees to assess their physical and mental capabilities for the proposed job responsibilities
• Supervise workers throughout their shifts and other relevant communities to assess their health status
• Understand and conduct disaster and emergency planning appropriate for a workplace
• Collect data on health and hazards by carrying out research projects on the potential consequences of workplace dangers; evaluate the causes of workplace accidents; perform drug and alcohol tests when necessary
• Coordinate medical treatments, referrals, and counselling for employees; assist with their rehabilitation
• Collaborate with community organisations and health specialists on research projects and safety measures
• Communicate with executives and company leaders to lower costs of disability claims

As an Occupational Health Nurse, you would work in a multitude of environments, including manufacturing and production facilities, hospitals and medical centres, and other employment sectors. You may spend large amounts of time walking and standing while visiting patient wards, reporting to hospital units, and attending to different areas within a workplace.

Travel is occasionally required between workplaces and homes or clinics. Depending on your responsibilities, international travel may also be involved to provide occupational health services to countries with fewer resources.

In dealing with various patients, you are likely to be exposed to infectious diseases and potentially harmful substances which mandate protective gear such as gloves, masks, eye protection, and appropriate clothing.

Occupational Health Nurses typically work 40 hours per week. However, when employed by hospitals or clinics, you will often have shift schedules. These may include timings outside of standard working hours such as early mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays. When working in other locations, for example, government agencies or the industry and commerce sector, you may have standard weekday hours. As an Occupational Health Nurse, you may also need to be prepared for emergency calls to work. 

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Occupational Health Nurses may boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Occupational Health Nurses are generally employed by:

• Manufacturing & Production Sector
• Utilities
• Educational Institutions
• Government Agencies
• Hospitals
• Urgent Care Clinics
• Counselling Centers

Professional associations and organisations, such as the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH), are crucial for Occupational Health Nurses interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Achieving a balance between personal and professional work lives while remaining committed to patient care
• Exposure to infectious diseases and hazardous substances due to interaction with patients and their bodily fluids
• Risk of skin damage or respiratory problems through frequent contact with disinfecting and sterilising agents
• Physical pain and fatigue from continuous walking, lifting and moving patients, and long working hour
• Constant attentiveness to protect oneself and others from accidental injuries caused by medical equipment and exposure to radiation or chemicals

Aspiring Occupational Health Nurses may show their commitment by acquiring experience in healthcare, pairing it with social care if possible, thereby understanding some of the physical and emotional demands of the career. Typically, you will complete several nursing internships or clinical rotations, preferably in your speciality, during the period of training while you study. Practical experience will help you develop skills in community health services, ambulatory care, critical care or emergency nursing, conducting patient assessments, and creating care plans.

You may seek experiences in a local hospital, doctor's surgery, nursing home, or mental health trust. Some teaching hospitals also offer work experience in their occupational health departments, specifically for secondary school students interested in a medical degree and a career as an Occupational Health Nurse.

Read about the profession and visit hospitals to interview or job shadow experts working in occupational health nursing to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers. 

Occupational Health Nurses typically require primary nursing education relevant to their country, accompanied or followed by specialised training and topped up with occupational health nursing qualifications and certification.

You would begin with a bachelor’s degree in nursing to enter the field. Other related majors are public health and the biological sciences. Some employers may prefer candidates with a master’s degree in relevant subjects, including life & health sciences, psychology and social sciences. A bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant subject is necessary for most administrative, research, consulting, and teaching positions. You may also acquire higher qualifications in occupational health nursing and business.

Coursework should address anatomy, physiology, microbiology, psychology, and other related social and behavioural sciences. Bachelor’s degree programs should also develop a candidate’s communication and critical thinking skills.

You may also acquire an associate degree in nursing, taking courses in microbiology, foundations in nursing, chemistry, behavioural health, language, and communication. An associate degree allows you to pursue careers in various fields of nursing, including occupational health, outpatient care, public health, labour and delivery care, and rehabilitation. Enrolling in a diploma program enables you to follow various career paths in nursing while also acting as a stepping stone to more advanced degrees.

Supervised clinical practice and experience are commonly incorporated into academic programs to introduce aspiring Occupational Health Nurses to various medical settings and cases. 

Certification demonstrates an Occupational Health Nurse’s competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. 

Before earning any certification, you must typically become a registered nurse with the appropriate academic qualifications and tests. More specific rules of eligibility will change from location to location. However, a certain number of hours of work experience as a registered nurse for occupational health are commonly required alongside a relevant degree in nursing. In addition, most certificate programs will require you to pass an examination.

As an Occupational Health Nurse, you may need to earn several certifications to enhance your qualifications in the job market. These include certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), basic life support (BLS), or advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) certifications. 

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression. Employees with consistently high levels of performance may be eligible for promotion every two to three years. 

Most Occupational Health Nurses begin in junior positions such as Occupational Health Technician. After acquiring enough relevant experience, you may earn more responsibilities as a nurse, or you may be assigned management and administration roles such as Clinical Nurse Manager or Head Nurse. As you progress through your career, you may change settings, for example, from medical institutions to manufacturing locations, while moving to positions with greater responsibility. 

In the management sector of Occupational Health, you may lead and advise groups of Occupational Health Nurses while reporting to senior-level staff. While moving up the management ladder, the number of hands-on nursing tasks you receive may decrease. There are also opportunities to become a Nurse Consultant and aid clients in improving their health & safety programs.

With a PhD, you may also seek employment as a Nurse Educator in Occupational Health and Safety in academic institutions. Other vital roles to pursue in Occupational Health education include preceptors, mentors, practice educators, and lecturers. 

Candidates with the necessary skills, experience, and education have the best job prospects. Those with an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing or higher have better job prospects. Hands-on experience in the Occupational Health field as well as strong communication and management skills are handy.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential in the healthcare sector for public wellbeing and career progression. It embraces several new learning objectives, educational methodologies, and novel technological developments, especially in education, management, and IT.

Freshly registered nurses benefit from a period of preceptorship on their first jobs, learning essential competencies in patient care along with leadership, management, communication, negotiation and training skills. Among the topics you would learn about from your workplace activities are health & wellness, case management, ergonomics, workplace safety, infection control, disaster preparedness and travel health.

You may enrol in structured part-time learning programs at universities to earn master’s or PhD qualifications in nursing or health services administration. You may choose to specialise in different areas of Occupational Health to take up the roles of clinicians, case managers, educators, directors, or consultants.

Reflective learning, interaction with peer groups, comprehensive inclusion, workshops, and professional publications serve to educate, influence, support, and foster lifelong enlightenment in all career-grade Occupational Health Nurses.

History

The first industrial nurses in the late 1800s made house visits to check on sick employees, provided emergency care, trained mothers in childcare, and fostered healthy living habits among employees and their families. At the outset, occupational health nursing was holistic and focused on the family.

As workplace health services expanded in the early 1900s, companies began to accept them as crucial to workforce productivity. The public stopped supporting workplace mishaps as inevitable and pushed for a compensation system for workers that continues in modern times. With the rapid growth in industrial nursing in the first half of the 20th century, more and more educational courses and professional societies opened up.

Ward Robes

As an Occupational Health Nurse, you must adapt your dress code to the type of workplace that employs you. In medical facilities, including hospitals and clinics, the standard protocol is to wear scrubs and lab coats when necessary. Shoes should have closed toes, water resistance, and proper grip to shield your skin from harmful substances and prevent any accidents.   If you are visiting a location as a consultant or presenting a program or workshop, a formal dress code would be more applicable to communicate a serious and professional commitment to your responsibilities.

Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

Freelancing Occupational Health Nurses have more flexible work schedules and locations. They have full ownership of the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.

A full-time Occupational Health Nurse, on the other hand, has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their boss

When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you. 

Studies indicate that nurses walk between four to five miles within a 12-hour shift.

As a critical member of the healthcare team in any workplace, your overarching goal is to have your employees return home not just safe and sound but in better health than when they came into work. You become the pivot around which the enterprise organises coordinated, comprehensive, humane and qualified care for its employees while maintaining its profitability. 

Stay flexible to juggle diverse responsibilities, ranging from data collection, leadership, and administrative tasks to medical procedures, patient care, and teaching. Flexibility will help you ensure that your health & safety programs account for all possible factors. Make plans compatible with your employer’s business. Healthcare plans must address employees’ specific based on the risks of their workplace while remaining cost-efficient and sensitive to legal requirements and data compiled about past work-related injuries and illnesses.