Can someone give me some tips?

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Hey all!

So I have been looking into doing some kind of OH nursing for a long time, and I haven't been having any luck. I did manage to find one open OHN job, but the company didn't even respond to my resume. The day I was going to call to check on the status of the job, a friend of mine who works for that company (the one who told me about the job in the first place) called me and told me that they had found someone for the position. I have to admit, I was crushed!

So what I would like to know is, how do you find out about open OH positions? I've resorted to searching all job listings for my area, plus national recruiting boards and even individual company websites. I would just send my resume to companies in my area with a letter of interest in case they might be looking, but a lot of these are just places I am guessing will have enough employees to have an OHN, so I would feel weird doing that. Also, I've only worked in hospitals - I'm not sure of etiquette for that kind of thing.

Also, how can I get potential employers to even consider my application? I have no experience in OH, but I do have lots of oncology and med/surg experience. I have always wanted to do OH, but never really knew how to get into it. I have been thinking of going back to school for my masters in public health, but that's not a possiblity just now. There has to be someplace that would give me a chance with my BSN! So what do I need to put on my application to make them say, "yeah, she's cool!"???

There is an "occasional" position open near me now. I think I'm going to apply for it, but even if they did like me, it might be kind of tough. It covers vacation time for their FT OHNs, which is fine, but it also covers unscheduled absences. I already have a full time job, so I don't know how that would work out.

Anyway, someone please help me! I have a BSN, I did take a class on public health, and I can't afford to go back to school right now, but the whole reason I got iinto nursing was to do something like OH. I now feel like I have plenty of experience to be able to do a great job, but I need help getting started!

Sorry this is so long, thank you for reading!!!!!

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Sorry, don't know what happened, the title was supposed to say "Can Someone Give Me Some Tips?" - sorry! That's anoying!

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Sorry, don't know what happened, the title was supposed to say "Can Someone Give Me Some Tips?" - sorry! That's anoying!

Edited title

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It is no secret that you generally have to know someone to get into OHN. My advice would be to find a local OHN organization. The one that I belong to generally has a new opening posted for the region every other week or so. Go to AAOHN.org also, the site has openings and contacts for your area. Once you get your foot in the door employers are more receptive. Hope this helps,

Jim

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Specializes in Medical, ortho/neuro, jail, occupational.

I will tell you that I sort of "fell" into my OHN job but they were looking for a nurse to build rapports with their nurses. However, the things that I needed to know were OSHA recordkeeping (you can learn that at OSHA.gov) many of the OSHA requlations that might govern the business (we're a manufacturing plant so we have Hearing Conservation areas that require testing, Chrome and acids that require checks, testing for air purfying respirators) and a large part of my job is to identify ways to reduce workplace injuries and track the injuries that we do have.

Look for online trainings that you can take for these issues and add them to your resume. Also, if you get a interview, ask about their hazards and health issues.

Good luck.

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Specializes in Occupational Health.

Hello,

I am relatively new to OHN after working on Med/Surg for the past 7.5 years. I was lucky enough, without experience, to have gotten the position I have. I work for a hospital, nursing home, and physician practices. I actually attended a conference in Conn. and one of the topics was "securing the future of Occupational Health Nursing". The speaker was from Simmons College in Boston, Ma. Her name is Susan Duty, ANP-BC, ScD. She was actually looking for RN's who want to work in this field. I do not have an email address for her. You could try www.occhealthconnections.com they provide Occ health nurses for ST and LT assignments. I am not sure where you are from, but they might be able to point you in the right directions.

Good Luck!!!

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