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Occupational Health Nurse Job Description
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An Occupational Health Nurse seeks to provide care and treatment to patients suffering from job related illnesses and injuries. They are specialist registered nurses that work in organizations and take care of employees whenever they suffer from any job related sickness or injury. For instance, workers of a chemical factory may accidentally get exposed to hazardous gases. An Occupational Health Nurse then takes care of them as per the physician’s advice. Apart from knowing about general occupational health hazards and accident care, they also have good knowledge of injuries and illnesses that the employees of their organization may face.
Job Duties:
An Occupational Health Nurse works in various types of work places and industries including: mining, construction, manufacturing, steel plants, chemical and automobile. They are usually guided by doctors and helped by nursing aides. Their duties are to:
1) Perform work appraisal regularly.
2) Mention any noticeable abnormalities to the management and higher authorities.
3) Treat and care for people injured or fallen sick at the work place.
4) Provide emergency care.
5) Perform all the duties that a registered nurse including: administering medicines at the right time, checking vital signs regularly, be alert to any complaint of discomfort by the patient, attend immediately and seek doctors advice if needed.
6) Alert the doctor in case the patient develops complications or new illnesses.
7) Document and record all work place related injury.
8) Educate employees about possible work place injuries.
Knowledge and Skills:
1) An Occupational Health Nurse must have a good knowledge of their work environment.
2) Must have the patience to work in shifts, weekends, at short notice and at odd hours.
3) Must be alert during night shifts.
4) Provide care throughout the time span of the shift.
5) Computer skills to store patient history and data.
6) Should be comfortable working with patients with various health conditions and temperaments.
Educational Qualifications and Experience:
1) First an occupational health nurse has to qualify as a registered nurse. For this the Bachelor Science degree in Nursing (BSN) is essential. Then the student has to clear the National Council Licensure Examination (NCL-EX) to work as a registered nurse.
2) Registered with the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses to work as an occupational health nurse.
Salaries and Benefits:
1) Currently the average salary of occupational nurses is $65,000 approximately.
2) An Occupational Health Nurse is entitled for all standard benefits as determined by their employing organization.
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