Main Functions Specific to Occupational Health Nursing
§ Health
supervision of workers
§ Health
surveillance of the work environment
§ Accident
prevention
§ Prevention
of occupational ill health
§ Treatment
of illness
§ Treatment
of illness and injury at work
§ First
aid course
§ Promotion
of health and prevention of ill health
§ Giving
counselling
§ Rehabilitation
and resettlement into work; records and reports
§ Liaison
and co-operation (internally and externally)
§ Administration
of the health unit research (including surveys)
Major Roles of the
Occupational Health Nurse
1. Clinician/Practitioner
Responsibilities:
a.
Assess work environment
b.
Assess workers health status
c.
Perform health surveillance
d.
Provide direct nursing care
e.
Conduct health education and counselling
f.
Collaborate, communicate and consult with Occ.
Safety & Health (OSH) team
g.
Maintain accurate, concise and complete records
h.
Develop and implement programs to correct health
and safety hazards
i.
Institute personal protective programs
j.
Initiate referrals to hospitals and clinics
k.
Conduct health screening programs
l.
Conduct health training programs
m. Manage
workers compensation claims
n.
Maintain
professionalism and ethical conduct
o.
Adhere
to legal requirements in exercising duties
2. Administrator
Responsibilities:
a.
Maintain awareness of technology, legal &
professional changes associated withOH and Safety
b.
Coordinates in professional growth &
education opportunities for staff
c.
Formulates policies for OH and Safety
d.
Develops, implements and evaluates OH service
3. Educator
Responsibilities:
a.
Provide education programs to employers &
employees
b.
Promotes integration of OHN practice into
nursing education
c.
Utilise experts in OHS in planning &
coordinating relevant education programs
d.
Collaborates with other OHN regarding practice
issues & students practical sites
e.
Serves as a role model and preceptor for the
students
4. Researcher
Responsibilities:
a.
Participates in the development &
implementation of research
b.
Disseminates research findings to others through
presentation, publication & practice
c.
Incorporates research results into own practice
d.
Collaborates with other members of OH team in
developing & conducting research
5. Consultant
Responsibilities:
a.
Offer advice to the patient regarding the future
treatment, or preventative measures to be taken at work when it is appropriate.
b.
Offer advice to management regarding the health
of the worker as it may be affected by the processes or the substances used in
them, where she/he considers such advice to be necessary
