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Occupational Health Nursing. Christina Barrick. Objectives. Describe legislation impacting on OHN Utilize an occupational health history. Identify prevalent occupational health disorders. Describe the profile of a worker population. Apply epidemiology to OHN. Describe the roles of the OHN.
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Occupational Health Nursing Christina Barrick
Objectives • Describe legislation impacting on OHN • Utilize an occupational health history. • Identify prevalent occupational health disorders. • Describe the profile of a worker population. • Apply epidemiology to OHN. • Describe the roles of the OHN.
Scope of Occupational Health Problems • Every 5 seconds a worker is injured • 10,000,000 injuries a year • 100,000 deaths a year • Every 10 seconds a worker is disabled • Incidence of work-related injuries increasing
Trends • 1/3 of life at work • Lost time from illness and injury • Primary care in occupational setting • Increase the proportion of worksites that have health services (Healthy People, 2010).
Evolution of Occupational Health • “Part of job” • Horrible accidents • Occupational, safety, and health administration (OSHA, l970) • set and enforce standards • demand for OHN’s • National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). • Identifies, monitors, educates, & researches • Super fund Amendment & Reauthorization Act • Nurse key role
Role of OHN • Beyond emergency and band aid care • Goal of OHN • Removing health hazards from the environment • Largest group of occupational workers • Diverse levels of preparation • Multiple roles • clinician, case manager, educator, consultant, researcher, corporate manager, program planner • skills: provision of emergency care, health assessment, worker’s compensation management
Characteristics of the Workplace • High tech • Health and computer-related occupations • Increase in part-time and temporary work • Increase in contractual workers • Reduced job security • Increase in shift work • Development of new chemicals
Characteristics of Worker Population • Characteristics of workplace • Older worker (65 and over) • Will double by 2050 • Mean age of nurses? • More racially diverse • Fastest growing group? • Women with children and aging parents. Implications? • Workers with chronic physical or mental health problems • High job demand, low supply • Increase health status, employment longevity, and satisfaction of workers • Fastest growing occupations • Computer-related, Nursing and Home Health, Personal care aid
Application of the Epidemiological Model • Host factors: • age, gender, work practices, health status, lifestyle • hyper susceptible • greatest risks for accidents?
Application of the Epidemiological Model • Types of Agent Factors: • Biological • Chemical • *.1% of millions known chemical have been tested • Ergonomic or mechanical • Physical • Psychosocial
Application of the Epidemiological Model • Environment: all external conditions that influence host and agent interaction Examples?
Issues with Occupational Health Programs • Widely vary • Organization exemption • OSHA sanctions • Limited # of inspectors
Worker Assessment • Overall health assessment • Occupational health assessment • list current and past jobs • exposure history • job titles and responsibilities • host factors (smoking) • masked risk: retiree or housewife • family members • Assessment Guide: page 1084.
Workplace Assessment • Walk-through, plant survey • What are you looking for? • Review the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code • Describe demographic info. of workers • Review policies and procedures • Epi. data collection about injuries and illnesses
Hazard Communication Standard • Cannot eliminate all toxins • Report known toxins • Provide safety education on identification, toxicity, and protective measures
Workers Compensation • Financial compensation • State laws • Varies by state • Prevention is less costly
Nursing Interventions at the Worksite • Primary prevention • Health promotion • Prenatal care • Risk reduction • Immunizations • Injury prevention • Use of personal protective gear
Nursing Interventions at the Worksite • Secondary • Pre-employment screening • Periodic screening • Environmental screening
Nursing Interventions at the Worksite • Tertiary • Prevent the spread of communicable diseases • Prevent complications of acute and chronic illnesses • Assess fitness to return to work.
Indicators of Psychological Health Problems • Increased absenteeism • Mood changes • Increase in minor accidents • Fatigue or general decrease in energy • Sudden weight loss or gain • Increased blood pressure • Frequent stress-related illnesses • Bloodshot or bleary eyes
Psychological Stress • “Job strain” • Tenth leading cause of occupational disease • Health care and service workers • Sources of stress
In-Class Activity • Identify occupational health hazards for Towson University nursing students. Identify all possible factors that might influence health, then take one factor and analyze its potential health effects . (Can be psychosocial as well as biologic.