[ICUnowOHN]

Occ Health here ( see name

I've been here a little over 9 years. Was contract nurse, then Supv of contract nurses, and got hired by the customer. I love my job. I have a great deal of automony, and my opinion is regularly sought, on any variey of issues.

I have one other nurse working on my shift (afternoons), and together we are responsible for 2600 employees. We do everything from passing ASA, to OSHA recordkeeping, to responding to inplant emergencies. I just recently started our pulic access AED program.

[Quickbeam]

Hi all. I'm sort of a hybrid..Occ Health and Community Health RN. I'm certified in Rehab which made me an attractive hire to an industrial Occ Health position years ago. Now I work solo for a state DOT overseeing licensing health issues for commercial drivers and school bus drivers. I do policy analysis, case management, public outreach and long range planning for my states 4 million drivers.

I love the autonomy and the respect, which I never got in a hospital setting. I definitely recommend anyone interested get in touch with their local chapter of AAOHN...they are very active where I am. My Rehab RN organization was completely inactive so it was a thrill to get involved with a motivated and energetic group like AAOHN.

[WayneRN]

Originally Posted by Quickbeam

Hi all.

Nice to have you join us. I enjoyed AAOHN, too. However, my employer wouldn't ante up for the membership fee for the last two years, so I let it go. They have a wealth of information though.
WayneRN

[debwd]

Originally Posted by WayneRN

Nice to have you join us. I enjoyed AAOHN, too. However, my employer wouldn't ante up for the membership fee for the last two years, so I let it go. They have a wealth of information though.
WayneRN

Hi,
Just joined and was looking down the list and saw your question. I am President of the South Alabama Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc.
Deb

[WayneRN]

Thanks for the information, Deb.
WayneRN

[KJS]

I was an occupational health nurse supervisor for a major manufacturing corporation. That is until my views and the corporate views on how on-the-job injuries should be treated collided head-on. Needless to say, I am no longer an OHN, but I really enjoyed the work while I was there.

[debwd]

Originally Posted by KJS

I was an occupational health nurse supervisor for a major manufacturing corporation. That is until my views and the corporate views on how on-the-job injuries should be treated collided head-on. Needless to say, I am no longer an OHN, but I really enjoyed the work while I was there.

I understand I have 2 friends who had the same problem. Seems to be a growing problem. Personally I left in March, I am now a full time WC Case Manager. They transferred a nurse in who made my life h--- for 4 months and I was tired of going through 3 nurses to find 1 good one. Just about the time they were trained, they would leave for more money. This time I left for more money, not to mention a more financially sound company. I love it, especially on days I am in the office, can't find too many jobs in our profession that you can go to work in your PJ's. Good luck I hope you find something your enjoy!

[KJS]

Originally Posted by debwd

I understand I have 2 friends who had the same problem. Seems to be a growing problem. Personally I left in March, I am now a full time WC Case Manager. They transferred a nurse in who made my life h--- for 4 months and I was tired of going through 3 nurses to find 1 good one. Just about the time they were trained, they would leave for more money. This time I left for more money, not to mention a more financially sound company. I love it, especially on days I am in the office, can't find too many jobs in our profession that you can go to work in your PJ's. Good luck I hope you find something your enjoy!

I had good pay and good benefits, I just couldn't get along with the powers that be. My days were spent going to different doctor's visits with the employees. I was expected to be at each one and to actually go in with the employee to see the doctor for their worker's comp injury. I was instructed to get them back at work no matter what. One of the restricted duty jobs was for the employee to wipe the breakroom tables, but it kept them off the days loss roster. Sometimes I had to travel more than 100 miles one way to the appointment. Luckily, I had use of a company car and gas card, but when I had to leave my daughters at 0600 and sometimes not get back until after midnight, I just couldn't do that forever.

[ahindle]

Hi, Crash! I am currently considering a move to hospital based OHN. I have a lot of experience in industrial settings, but none in a hospital. Besides the obvious, what are the basic differences in the two jobs I need to consider?

Thx!
Ang

Originally Posted by Crash Davis

Hello Wayne. Crash Davis here. I'm also in Occupational Health. Have been in it for about 3 years. You are correct in that is difficult to find information. One of the best thing that helped me was to attend a conference about Occupational Nursing. Look around your area to see if there is a Medical Center or Medical School that is providing this. I live in the Southeast and the University of Alabama in Birmingham has several programs every year. Also, Ryan Associates has several offerings yearly, dealing with setup, sales, etc.
What are you doing in Occ. Health in particular? I work in a hospital based program in a very rural area. But always looking for employment in a large industry as the company nurse.
Crash.

[hcmanp]

Do you like what you do? What do you dislike about the job, and what do you like best? (sorry, sounds like a job interview: I am considering a job in OHN. Thanks

Originally Posted by Sharon

I will work on the list and post in a new thread in the next day.

I am in a cooperate position in the manufacturing, distribution and retail business covering many states. My position is located in the HR department and my role is the walking talking health /regulatory encyclopedia (which is why I hide in my office at lunch). Actually if it is a problem with a health slant I am consulted by management. Like many OHN’s in my region, I am on the corporate crises responss team. Certain crises I get to handle alone (yippy, skippy do ) like the late night notification of a respiratory outbreak or food borne outbreak, 120 car pile up with our store employees and truck drivers are involved. Direct care is outsource because of geographic spread. But other processes and systems I administer. For example: compliance testing, ID surveillance and control, Federal and State regulatory compliance, disability programs, and identifying future trends in health care and analyst of their impact on the business.

I also periodically offer my services free of charge to small municipal police and fire departments. Which also can tie me up at 3 am.