Introduction:

The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of 1970 assured safe and healthful working conditions in the United States. Many workplaces set up occupational health programs led by nurses. The information in this section will describe some of the changes in work, occupational health services and the field of occupational and environmental health nursing (OEHN) since the inception of the OSHA Act. OEHNs utilize the nursing process to develop and run effective occupational health programs utilizing nursing, medical, epidemiologic, ethics, and business knowledge, among others.

This module is part of the 19-module OHN Prep Course Package.

Learning Objectives:

● Discuss the major trends in the US workforce and occupational health nursing that have impacted the delivery of services.

● Describe the role of the occupational health nurse as part of the interdisciplinary occupational health program.

● List the steps in the development and management of an effective occupational health program.

Major Takeaways:

• Work has changed for a variety of reasons.
• The worker population has changed.
• Each workplace has unique properties that will be taken into consideration as you plan your occupational health program.

Lecturer:

• Mary Doyle, MPH, RN, COHN-S/CM, is the Deputy Director and Continuing Education Director for the Johns Hopkins Education and Research Center for Occupational Safety and Health. She has more than 33 years of experience in occupational health in industrial, Federal and academic settings, including experience as the sole proprietor of her own consulting business. She is well recognized in our region as a leader in occupational health education and, as a result, is frequently invited to participate on planning committees for major educational activities.

The University of Colorado College of Nursing is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the Colorado Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. A maximum of 0.75 contact hours is available for this course. For questions about contact hours, please email nursingce@ucdenver.edu.

This course covers topics outlined in the ABOHN Candidate Handbooks for COHN and COHN-S.

Criteria for Successful Completion: You must fully complete this module and all assessment questions, along with the OHN Prep module survey.

Conflicts of Interest: No individuals in a position to control content for this activity has any relevant financial relationships to declare.

Commercial Support: There is no commercial support being received for this event.

Expiration date for Enduring Materials: Origination Date: May 1, 2020 through Expiration Date: May 1, 2022

Joint Providers: This activity is being jointly provided by the University of Colorado College of Nursing Office of Continuing Education, The Center for Health, Work & Environment at the Colorado School of Public Health and The Johns Hopkins Education and Research Center for Occupational Safety and Health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The Center for Health, Work & Environment at the Colorado School of Public Health has partnered with the The Johns Hopkins Education and Research Center for Occupational Safety and Health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health to deliver continuing education to occupational health nurses.