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So, I currently work as an occ. health nurse for a large manufacturing facility. Been in the position just over 2 months. My previous nursing background was in Progressive Care for 2 years, and an OR circulator for just under a year. Prior to that I worked in physical therapy and rehab for close to 5 years. I was hoping to get an opinion on possibly sitting for the Emergency Nurse certification (CEN). I do see my share of lacerations, burns and other assorted first aid type injuries. Having come into the OHN role without previous ER experience, do you think this would benefit me? It will be some time until I am able to sit for my COHN, so I was looking to add some additional education to my role. Plus, would this be a desirable certification to have for future OHN roles? Thanks in advance.

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I don't think the CEN would help you for future OHN roles but would be beneficial if you plan on being an ER nurse later in life. While several Occ Health job ads have said that they want a nurse with ER experience, I've never seen an ad that asked for CEN certification. The ads usually ask that the nurse have COHN or COHN-S certification along with Audiometry and Spirometry certifications and sometimes Case Management certifiation (CCM or COHN-S/CM). If I were you, I'd spend my money on getting those certifications instead of the CEN if you want to stay in Occ Health.

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Specializes in Mostly: Occup Health; ER; Informatics.

I agree with prior post, that COHN is a must-have and in many positions, the spiro/fit-test/audio training and certificates are a must-have/must-get-upon-hiring.

Coming from the ER, I looked at CEN before going into occ health. Iin an occ health job, the vast majority of CEN will useless. It is mostly about handling emergencies in an ER, using ER equipment and ER meds.

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Thank you for the valuable feedback. I will be obtaining my hearing conservation certification in May. The spirometry cert will follow soon after. The COHN is definitely on my list, but I am still atleast a year out from being able to apply for that.

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Congratulations on joining the OHN ranks! In addition to the great advise already given, you may also consider taking some occupational certificate program courses. For example, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has one that you can do online and is most helpful. These courses also help you prepare for the COHN exam. Good Luck!

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I will look in to UNC Chapel Hill. I believe Bonnie Rogers may have some affiliation? I have a couple of books Occupational Health Nursing Guidelines that she authored. Always looking for ways to expand my OHN knowledge base.

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Specializes in Occ Med.

I looked at the UNC Chapel Hill site and didn't see an 'online' option. Anyone have a link?

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Here is the link for info on the Master's programs and the certificate program:

Occupational health nursing degree program

If you scroll to the bottom, the information regarding the certificate is there along with the link to the certificate site with more detailed information. It looks like there is a one-week on campus requirement for one of the classes but the rest can be completed online.

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Yes UNC program is very good..I was in the first class 2007 amd completed 2008. All done onlone except the first weel on campus which was jammed packed but fun

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Here is the link for info on the Master's programs and the certificate program:

Occupational health nursing degree program

If you scroll to the bottom, the information regarding the certificate is there along with the link to the certificate site with more detailed information. It looks like there is a one-week on campus requirement for one of the classes but the rest can be completed online.

Hi Lynnr_98,

I know this post is from a while back.

I'm interested in transitioning to occupational health nursing, and am wondering if a graduate degree or certificate in occupational health nursing would help make this transition.

I also wondered if your graduate degree in occupational health nursing has helped you since you got it.

Thanks,

Jess

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Hi Jess,

I don't feel my MSN in Occupational Health Nursing has helped in regards to Occ Health as most Occ Health jobs don't require an MSN. The COHN-S is required or highly desired for most Occ Health jobs that I see posted so I suggest you acquire that before an MSN in Occ Health. Unfortunately you need to have Occ Health experience just to qualify to take the COHN-S exam so you'll need to find somewhere that will hire you without the certification.

I do think having an MSN has been helpful, just not in regards to Occupational Health. I'm no longer working in Occ Health; I returned to Primary Care nursing and am now the Population Health Nurse at my clinic. I'll still keep my COHN-S certification current just in case I ever decide to return to Occ Health.

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