Future direction OH Nursing...?

[qatrat]

I'm thinking about my future as an OHN - I like what I do but it's groundhog day...

10 years (onshore / offshore heavy industry, remote are support) and wondering what's next. I live / work in jurisdictions (Middle East / Australia) that don't and probably wont recognize OH NPs, so why bother fighting it. I watch my profession being dumbed down and the wages with them - 2 years ER will get you a job with OHN title in most countries, in some you can call yourself a OHNP with no OH background at all. Guess I took the long / wrong route: BNursing, hyperbaric and ICU certification, Post Grad Dip Safety Science, Master Occ Med, chartered professional membership of safety institutes, certified auditor etc etc...

Looking at opportunities for senior corporate level positions, it appears the preference (outside the US - dunno about that market, not eligible to work there) is for Occ Therapists or Occ Hygienists (IHs) and rarely Occ Physicians - most Health, Safety and Environment Managers generally only have either an engineering degree or a trade certificate / NEBOSH dip etc without any specific specialty in any of the disciples (H,S or E)... I'm yet to see a high level position that invites OHN's. Typically the interview goes something like, "...oh I see you are a nurse. That's nice but we're looking for someone with more experience in engineering / process control / construction / safety. Thanks for coming..".

I pride myself on being a good ambassador of OHNs, I strive to educate junior nurses entering the profession, but I find it harder every day. What do I tell a bright young thing - that you will rapidly hit a ceiling and to chose another specialty.

Reading the boards it seems that RNs want to transition to OHN because they don't like hospitals - that's fine, but OH nursing is somewhat more complex than just nursing outside a hospital. Throw in case management, business management, administrative law and compliance, health promotion, emergency medicine, pre-hospital care, travel medicine, public health, cross overs in safety / occ hygiene / IH and you have a much better description of our role. Or perhaps I'm the one looking at this all-wrong...

So, I'm looking for global thoughts. To all the experienced / certified / qualified OHNs out there - how do you see the future of the specialization going? What would you recommend to a new grad planning an OH career? How do we claw back our professional credibility? Or do we bother?

[42pines]

Odd, are you asking for yourself or for another?

You say: "What would you recommend to a new grad planning an OH career? How do we claw back our professional credibility? Or do we bother?"

In America for a new grad I'd recommend at least six months in Med/Surg, then transfer to ED or ICU (via a fast-track course of study) and spend a year there.

Then I'd recommend, or while still working at the above if possible, accruing the 1000 hours of Occ-Med work necessary to sit for the COHN-S exam. Then I'd work for a year or two in an environment where you can get some quality exposure to Occ-Med stuff.

Then, because let's face it RN's are NOT in shortage at all, and I think that will get worse since schools have doubled or quadrupled their RN output over the past 4 years, (My alma mater has) I suggest quitting and becoming an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Occ-Med via a NIOSH Research college.

Now you have the necessary background to make $70 to 90,000 US$/year. Four years ago I'd see a dozen ads for Occ-Med RN's, today I see a dozen ads for Advanced Nurse Practitioners and maybe one for a RN part-time.

You of course have an MSN, but the ANP especially from an Occ-Med program is highly saleable. As for global, since you're from Oz, I certainly hope that Occ-Med improves. After all, though not in Oz, but in Asia, all the jobs that caused all the RSI's, Ergo, and toxic exposures have simply been shipped from the US (and maybe from Oz too) to China, Malaysia and so on.

It saddens me to read that there seems to be little interest internationally because the price tag in 20 years will be monumental.

[mickylynn969]

I guess my perception of the future of OHN is different than most. What I foresee is the OHN becoming a huge asset to any company. As the companies look for ways to help reduce insurance costs, etc., the OHN will/can come into play by being an educator and wellness advocate.

Many OHN's lack the ability or tools to show their worth/value. You have to be able to not only do a good job, but actually prove your worth. Why is the OHN a good choice over a less expensive MA or even an EMT? See where I'm going with this?

OHN's need to band together and develop a strong voice. We have the power to affect legislation. We typically have backgrounds in multiple areas such as case management, business, leadership, safety, etc. We can serve a multipurpose role in any company!

This is one of the times you absolutely have to TOOT YOUR OWN HORN!!

[Nurselizy]

The last time I posted was May 2010. Just one month later I was laid off.... I somewhat saw it coming yet was in denial. I loved every part of OHN and was very saddened. Many who post on this thread are correct in that OHN's are VERY desirable to companies. After having my position terminated I worked for a NP and loved it! A OHN job came up and I was not going to apply (until 3 people asked me if I had yet)! I applied and by the grace of God was hired. Of course the experience helped, their were so many applicants and only 4 of us were called for an interview. Happy to write that this company LOVES their employees and I LOVE this job. LOVE BEING AN OHN :)