How many OHN's are on these board?

WayneRN · Aug 15, 2001

Yes, thank you Sharon.

And, thank you Crash for clearing up UAB.

I look forward to Sharon's list of web sites.

CATHYW · Sep 18, 2001

Hi everyone. I am the sole OHN at my plant. We do aluminum extrusion. I too, have felt isolated from the knowledge that we, as nurses, tend to exchange with each other every time we work. Duke University has a great Occ Med Chat board. I seldon chat, but they have very interesting threads about just about any question or topic you can imagine, related to Occ Med. There are MD's, RN's, Industrial Hygiene and Safety folks, etc. Give it a try, and good luck! It is good to know that there are other folks looking for the same thing. If you find other informative sites, please pass them along. :)

Jana Martin · Sep 21, 2001

Hello, WayneRN and other nurses out there in the Occupational Health Field.

I have been an Occupational Health Nurse for about 15 years; in fact, I have never worked in a Hospital, ER or any other field except for clinicals in Nursing School in 1989.

I have been very satisfied with this type of nursing, and even after so long and a couple of "burnout" years, I still find it rewarding. Diversity and learning never stop. With the combination of OSHA, DOL and Workers' Compensation issues coupled with balancing employee, management and supervisors, you never get bored. Plus, there are plenty of opportunities for company growth, and promotions.

:rolleyes: Any questions?

wrightgd · Jan 31, 2002

Hi Wayne,

I am also in Occ Health Nursing... Been doing this since '98 and hope to keep it going until I retire (about 25 more years)... I had a background in industry before I went to nursing school, having done Safety and Environmental work before.... So this was a natural fit for me.

I work for one company, but have a regional area in which I service 11 facilities and about 1200 employees. Alot of my job is not in the facilities, but more managing contract providers for them. My company utilizes alot of mobile testing units, and then I get to follow up with employees to review test results. Also, while I am in the facilities, I do "audits" of the major programs (Resp. Prot., Hearing Cons., BBP, etc.) to make sure they are in compliance with OSHA standards.

www.aaohn.org

If you are not a member of AAOHN, check out the site, and see if you can convince your employer to send you to the national conference... Lots of great educational opportunities...

Good luck!

George

WayneRN · Feb 6, 2002

wrightgd,

welcome to the boards. I am not a really active poster, but a frequent lurker. When you were listing major OH programs, you mentioned BBP. What is that?

Yes, AAOHN is a great resource for me. I love their new web-site!

Thanks,

Wayne

CATHYW · Feb 8, 2002

BBP=Bloodborne pathogens

Glad to have you all around! Maybe we can get something going on this area of the board!

MassLPN · Mar 11, 2002

I worked in Occupational Health a few years ago, when I lived in Maine. When I came back to Massachusetts, I worked long term care for a few years, but started a new job a month ago, as the Employee Health Nurse at a rehab hospital (we have 13 satellite facilities I'm responsible for as well). It's a great job, and I love this area of nursing. I'm hoping to be here for quite some time. I'm working this position full time while the current EHN is on leave, and we will be job sharing once she returns, with me being the primary EHN.

I'd love to hear all about the industries you all are working in.

:roll

WayneRN · Mar 11, 2002

MassLPN,

I work as an on-site OHN at a coal-fired generating station.

WayneV

susanrn · Mar 12, 2002

Hello all,

I work on-site in a manufacturing facility. My first position in occ health was in a large manufacturing facility-over 1100 employees, with two other nurses and a certified medical assistant. Now I am the only health care professional in a company with 500 employees.

Susan

J.Freeman · Mar 12, 2002

Hello to WayneRN and fellow Occupational Health Nurses. I have been checking out this internet site for awhile and I'm glad to find an area dedicated to us. I have been in Occ. Health for 5+years. I work for a carbonless paper manufacturer. I'm the only nurse for approx 1500 employees. Last year I took the plunge and sat for the COHN. I PASSED!!!!. Thankfully our injury rate is low so my priorities are compliance issues (audiograms, PFTs, physicals, DOT, BBP, Ergonomics, wellness, occupational case management).

Just thought I'd say HI.

MassLPN · Mar 12, 2002

That sounds like an interesting place to work. I"m in a hospital, so it's definitely apples and oranges! When I lived in Maine, I was in the Occupational Health Dept. of a hospital, but we didn't service the hospital, but the industries in the area, which were primarily construction, sawmills, and lumber companies. It's amazing the areas we can touch in Occ. Health Nursing.

WayneRN · Mar 12, 2002

Hello to All,

It's good to see some new input on the board. MassLPN, you are so right about the areas that we touch in Occ Health Nursing.

Congratz to J.Freeman on passing the COHN! How many others are certified? I am not, yet. I haven't been in OHN long enough to qualify.

susanrn, I only have about 430 employees. PTL our injury rate is quite low as well. Case management of personal sick leave, and ongoing Tx for the few injuries that we do have, keep me pretty busy. Loss Control handles some of the compliance issues.

I actually work for a local Occ Med clinic who has a contract to provide Occ Med services and supply a nurse for the on-site clinic.

It was a pleasure meeting y'all