Nursing Interventions for an Occupational Health Nurse

According to the United States Department of Labor, occupational health nurses work to assess job tasks and hazards. Nurses recognize and prevent possible health effects of hazardous conditions and treat work-related injuries.

Occupational Health Nurses

• According to the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), occupational health nurses have an in-depth knowledge of workplace hazards and how they effect employee health. Nurses are trained to understand hygiene principles in an industrial setting. They are aware of engineering controls, administrative controls and personal protection gear. Nurses also understand toxicology and epidemiology as it related to industry.

Duties

• Occupational health nurses assess workers and their work environments. They evaluate medical histories, injuries, field complaints, complete physical exams, offer diagnostic screens, teach industrial hygiene, identify problems and abnormalities, document injuries and illness and work to change unsafe working environments.

Advocacy

• Upon completion of employee health and observations of industrial standards, hazards, and hygiene, occupational health nurses advocate for the safety of employees. Occupational health nurses enforce existing regulations, provide recommendations for new protection policies and regulations, provide testimony and documentation of problems and take precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of all employees.