Role of Occupational Health Nurse in Ontario

Role of Occupational Health Nurse

The idea of caring in the world is evolving since its inception to meet the health needs of the society, the idea of caring itself started with the gut feeling why women cannot exercise the passion, intellect and moral activity in society? (Nightingale, 1872/1979). Now, nursing is not just caring it is beyond that, “Nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups, and communities, sick or well and in all settings. Nursing includes the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled and dying people. Advocacy, promotion of a safe environment, research, participation in shaping health policy and in patient and health systems management, and education are also key nursing roles”.  (International Council of Nurses, 2010)

Occupational Health Nurses

“Occupational health should aim at: the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations; the prevention amongst workers of departures from health caused by their working conditions; the protection of workers in their employment from risks resulting from factors adverse to health; the placing and maintenance of the worker in an occupational environment adapted to his physiological and psychological capabilities; and, to summarize, the adaptation of work to man and of each man to his job” (Joint ILO/WHO committee, 1950).

Occupational safety and health administration of USA has defined Occupational health nurses as “Occupational Health Nurses (OHN) are registered nurses who independently observe and assess the worker's health status with respect to job tasks and hazards. Using their specialized experience and education, these registered nurses recognize and prevent health effects from hazardous exposures and treat workers' injuries/illnesses” (OSHA, 1994).

Education

To be Occupational Health Nurse in Ontario or anywhere else in the world, one must be Registered Nurse first. And they usually have either College certificate or university diploma certificate in Occupational Health. However, in other parts of the world, the nursing education for this role varies from baccalaureate to masters to be Occupational Health Nurse (OHN). The OHNs in Ontario are governed by two legislation as any other Registered Nurses would, the laws which OHNs governed by are viz. Regulated Health Professional Act (RHPA 1991) and Nursing Act 1991.   (Ontario Occupational Health Nurses Association, 2014)

OHNs should also be aware of Occupational Health and Safety legislations.

Certification

The RN who would like to be OHN in Ontario has to be Certified in Occupational Health Nursing (C)Canada (Ontario Occupational Health Nurses Association, 2014)

For more information to be certified in Occupational Health Nursing visit the link: http://www.nurseone.ca/Default.aspx?portlet=StaticHtmlViewerPortlet&stmd=False&plang=1&ptdi=153

Places of Employment

OHN are employed in various industries: Marine Industry, Chemical industries’, Textile Industries’, Information Technology Corporation etc. OHNs are employed in various work locations in various roles such as Clinical Nurse, Nurse In-charge, Case Manager, Consultant etc. to promote the health of employees and prevent the work-related injuries on work sites. It is well known that the ILO (International Labor Organization) strongly recommend the employers to ensure the safety and optimal health of the employees.

Collaboration with other healthcare teams

As the state of health is influenced by various factors like socio-economical, environmental, biological, sociocultural etc. This compels the OHN to collaborate with different members of the healthcare team to deliver the safe and efficient comprehensive healthcare services to clients. OHN would be collaborating with a social worker, diabetic foot care nurse etc. As OHN is RN, she/he must be competent to deliver comprehensive health care while being accountable for their own actions.

 Professional Standards

As per the Canadian Occupational Health Nurses Association Inc., there are two professional standards for OHNs are two: Professional Responsibility and Accountability and Clinical Decision making. However, as OHNs are also governed by the RHPA and Nursing Act, they should possess the professional standards developed by College Of Nurses Of Ontario which are:

1.      Accountability: OHNs are accountable to the public for their actions and consequences of their actions while ensuring the safety of the client.

2.      Continuing competence: As health sciences and healthcare technology are advancing, it is OHNs, RN or RPN responsibility to equip with knowledge and skills to improve the competence, nurses have to participate in College of Nurses of Ontario’s QA (Quality Assurance) Program. Which will foster the lifelong learning?

3.      Ethics: Play a vital role in healthcare delivery system cause nurse to client relationship is human to human interaction, where nurses would be challenged by culture, language, and religious beliefs. Hence OHNs have to promote the values of client well being by upholding the dignity of the client, ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of information (PHIPA. 2004), acknowledging the preference of client and safety.

4.      Knowledge: OHNs possess the specialized body of knowledge related to Occupational health like ergonomics, aware of the hazardous substances in clients working area, legislation related to occupational health etc. OHNs are also educated to deal with crisis and disaster management.

5.      Knowledge application: OHNs will apply the knowledge in delivering evidence-based practice of nursing and applying the theoretical framework to improve the outcomes of nursing interventions which are implemented based on the various principles and conceptual and theoretical framework.

6.      Leadership: OHNs is required to demonstrate the leadership skills while advocating for the clients, workplace as well as profession. OHNs are expected to develop innovative solutions and providing leadership through various roles as Clinical Nurse, Nurse in-charge or Case manager in a formal or informal way.

7.      Relationship

a.       Therapeutic Nurse-Client Relationship

b.      Professional relationship

References

Canadian Occupational Health Nurses Association Inc. (2003). Standards: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH NURSING PRACTICE STANDARDS. Retrieved from Canadian Occupational Health Nurses Association Inc: http://www.cohna-aciist.ca/standards/

International Council of Nurses. (2010, April 12). About: International Council of Nurses. Retrieved from International Council of Nurses: http://www.icn.ch/about-icn/icn-definition-of-nursing/

Ontario Occupational Health Nurses Association. (2014). About us: Ontario Occupational Health Nurses Association. Retrieved from http://www.oohna.on.ca/about-us/