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What Does an Occupational Health Nurse Do?

Occupational health nurses manage the care of sick and injured workers, often dealing with complex legal issues and disability benefits. They handle problems of substance abuse, stress, and other issues requiring counseling, often facing situations outside the parameters of other registered nurses (RNs). They may need to work around regulation constraints and legal quandaries in the hopes of securing the best possible care for laborers. Occupational health nurses also take on fieldwork such as inspecting workplaces and assessing hazards including chemical exposure, accidents, and pandemics.

Education & Training Required to Become an Occupational Health Nurse

As a RN, an occupational health nurse must have a bachelor's degree, an associate's degree, or a diploma from a nursing program, all of which combine classroom learning with practical experience. RNs must also be licensed in the state where they practice. From there, an occupational health nurse can obtain a master's degree along with further certification to be more versatile and marketable. Occupational health nurses can benefit from learning about worker's compensation laws and becoming experienced in workplace hazards.

Typical Characteristics of an Occupational Health Nurse

Because of the array of responsibilities faced by occupational health nurses, individuals considering degree programs in occupational health nursing should be multitaskers capable of dealing with a wide variety of people, including bosses, laborers, and doctors. You should be able to advocate for workers' access to health care, as well as quickly analyze a work environment for hazards. Occupational health nursing is a high-demand job whose field is as varied as the workplaces under its purview. A good candidate must be be able to adapt.

High Demand for Occupational Health Nurses

The nursing field is one of the fastest-growing occupations in the country, and all types of nurses are in high demand. The median annual pay for an RN is over $62,000, with room for upward expansion. Occupational health nurses are needed as the job market gets back on track and employment returns to higher levels. No matter how advanced society gets, there will always be dangerous jobs and there will always be contentious issues of how to provide care for ill or injured workers. If you consider yourself a go-getter, why not do something to help the millions of laborers who need your help?