health education topics i can share here in the oil rig

[mikolagarde, BSN, MSN, RN]

Hello colleagues,

I just started working here in an Oil Rig in Abu Dhabi, UAE. My first day was overwhelming since it is my first time to see many machineries and equipment in an oil drilling facility in the middle of the sea. It's like a scene in a movie.

I was hesitant to roam around the facility after my co-nurse left for his vacation because I'm afraid I could encounter an accident or something will flare up. I gained confidence over time and I'm starting to blend with the crew (mostly are Indians, a few British, Filipino and Arab).

Because of the company protocol most of the crew are worried to go to the medic/sick bay for fear of being recorded and not called back for the next hitch. The only chance that I have to do health education is whenever I'm called during to share something in the daily safety briefings. It's hard to set up a meeting with the staff since most of them are busy in their routines (12 hour shifts) and after work most of them are exhausted.

So far me and my co-nurse shared insights about weight management, BP checks, body mechanics, CPR and AED use, exercise and hydration. I am actually looking for future health topics which I can associate with safety procedures that might be of interest to the crew. Hope you can share something on this one. Thanks!

[Sue Salisbury RN BSN, BSN, RN]

Mikolagarde, Sounds like a tough occupational nursing job, but challenging and interesting. It sounds like you are largely doing this already with the education topics you mentioned, but seems if it is clear to management and workers that your primary job is to maintain ideal health and fitness for the crew (maybe via posters or announcements), then a visit to you could both cover any problems the workers have while getting health maintenance coaching. I'm not sure what kind of documentation you do, but seems HIPAA would cover that issues workers raise are private. Maybe an education session on HIPAA would allay some concerns of the crew.

Also, do you and employees have access to computers on site? If so, could you setup a Health site for the employees, where you post links and articles that may be helpful to issues you would expect to see in your particular worker's age group? Your workers might be interested in reading about health problems that relate to them, and that could lead to being willing to work more closely with you on issues of concern.

Would your workers be willing to fill out a short one page survey to see how you could best serve them? For instance you could ask about their concerns for various health issues, about their family's health, care of elderly parents, or health care finances. Then you could become a resource for them in the areas they care about. As I'm sure you know, nurses can sometimes be the most approachable access to health care.

Best wishes, and let me know how you are doing.

Aloha, Sue Salisbury Maui Hawaii

[trishmsn]

[quote=Sue Salisbury;7806791. I'm not sure what kind of documentation you do, but seems HIPAA would cover that issues workers raise are private. Maybe an education session on HIPAA would allay some concerns of the crew.

.

Would your workers be willing to fill out a short one page survey to see how you could best serve them? For instance you could ask about their concerns for various health issues, about their family's health, care of elderly parents, or health care finances. Then you could become a resource for them in the areas they care about. As I'm sure you know, nurses can sometimes be the most approachable access to health care.

Best wishes, and let me know how you are doing.

Aloha, Sue Salisbury Maui Hawaii

I would add that HIPAA is a US law that may not apply in this situation, depending on the nationality of the corporate/company owners....esp. since so many employees are NOT US citizens and the rig is not in US territory.

I have found that just being out and about gives you a chance to hear about the health concerns that employess will not bring to you "officially" or in your clinic. I try to eat meals with different groups of employees and just "BS" and stear the topic into health, stress,and in your case, missing family, long hours, etc.

[42pines]

Posters about Lyme Disease?

Seriously though, Health Education's importance has been rising rapidly in many Occupational Health Settings, it's now far more likely that a corporation will lose the Director of Research and Development to a Syndrome X related MI than it is to have that person be crushed on a factory floor.

You're in a unique environment where the above statement is not true, (your workers are more likely to be crushed) and I imagine there is a mix of overwork combined with periods of boredom in an overall high stress place so I suspect that overeating and smoking is an issue. You've multiple cultures do deal with. It's a challenging place for health education.

AAOHN (AAOHN.org) has a discount for the National Society of Health Coaches Evidence Based Health Coaching for Healthcare Providers. Consider becoming a Certified NSHC Health Coach. The course will give you a good base for attaining your goal. It's not cheap (I think $440 or $400 if you're a AAOHN member) but I'm doing it now and though only part-way through I'm impressed.

In safety nobody will ever thank you for the accident that never occurred, and the same holds true in Health Education. You won't get a lot of thanks but over the years you will come to know that you've made a huge difference is the lives of some.

I don't know if getting a Cholestek device is possible but I've had great success with one in the past. High BP + elevated lipids (often Syndrome X aka Metabolic Syndrome) is often easy to address with lifestyle changes and/or meds. Workers in your scenario often are invulnerable to the "keep it (smoking/overeating) up and you'll die" spiel, but if you've ten minutes with them in the face of high BP + high lipids + smoking, verbalizing quality of life loss if ignored (diabetes, neuropathy (eventually loss of ability to walk), stroke, kidney failure, atherosclerosis and one if its common sequelae: erectile dysfunction (the latter is a powerful motivator regardless of culture, though one you must approach carefully)) sometimes achieves a real turn around in attitude and some great successes.