need help--new to occ med

Don't forget you will have to become an expert at immunizations!!and pre and post exposure prophylaxis.
I wish I had your job. Got any openings for a RN?
EMAIL ME ANYTIME WITH QUESTIONS ON VACCINES.

JEAN THE NURSE AT pwatchminicam@sprintmail.com

publisher and owner of the Embassy Project Chart-immunzations in 24 languages translated!

Hey Sasha,

You are beginning to make the transition to an Occupational Health Nurse with the question: "Please elaborate, what are some examples of pre and post exposure prophylaxis???"

Typically when you hear pre and post exposure prophylaxis today what is being referred to is a HIV and HVB exposure. The new guidelines from the CDC at http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00042200.htm. When there is a high risk occupational exposure to body fluids then a client will need to be evaluated to begin anti viral treatment within 120 minutes. These guidelines were developed for health care workers but I am using them more often with law enforcement, overseas workers, and any worker whose responsibility it is to remove debris from an abandon site.

In occupational health pre and post exposure prophylaxis may need to be evaluated for either a biological, chemical, energy, or physical exposure. For instance, a non-insulin dependent fireman working in extreme cold to extract a person from a wreck, may experience a severe Raynaud's phenomenon. The firefighter may need to be placed on medication to relieve the symptoms and return the individual to work. Initially, if possible, to a work station with less cold exposure.

BTW, one short course that has helped me in emergency care, disaster and occupational health has been the 40 hour haz mat training required of all potential volunteer and paid first responders. This course was were in a hazardous materials emergency I learned how to act. Specifically when to stop and help and when to run and duck. I also learned who and how to contact each official resource for identification of the contaminate. I received my training with the local fire department and rescue squad. When I took it in the mid 80's it was free because the state was trying to become compliant with the SARA re-authorization act. The course was open to hospital but I know no one from an ED let alone a hospital worker took it the first three years unless they were also involved with EMS. After that I relocated out of the state.

Try with your local EMS office or possibly the American Red Cross Disaster Services.

By the way if you do not subscribe on-line to the MMWR I would suggest you do. It is a great resource for monitoring health care issues especially occupational. If you aren't a regular reader I think you will be surprised at the occupational health information.

Sasha,

I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving.

The MMWR is the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and is located on line at www.cdc.gov.

Sasha,

Thanksgiving was fine. BTW I am on line at work which is why there was a gap in responding.

The best source for government regs are to go directly to the source. Luckily the federal government regs are on line. A good federal on line source that summarizes the medical requirements for commercial motor carriers is: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/omc/pihs/pihs391.pdf.

The other source is to go to the GPO (government printing office) on line Code of Federal Regs and look up Title 49 §319.41 for the specific wording. The url is: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/index.html. I do not recommend a text because they can change annually.

I agree with you I believe that BAT either stands for blood alcohol testing or breath analyzer test. Usually blood panels are not referred to as "bats" unless it is a local colloquialism.

Have a good time tomorrow and try to relax tonight.

Sharon

Sasha,

I am glad to hear things went pretty well. If you can say that about JACHO. I would like to hear how things are going especially your first trip. It sounds like you have landed in an occupational health position that will give you a lot of variety. Happy Holidays! Sharon

Sasha - for a wonderful guide you may want to get Bonnie Roger's books on occupational health nursing. One deals with the concepts of Occ health and the other one is for medical problems that come through the door for instance, foregin body in th eye or muscle strain. I have found them helpful. Bonnie also has many articles published.

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