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Trends and the Expanding Role of Occupational Health Nurse Practice in the United States Peggy Berry, MSN, RN, COHN-S, SPHR; Denise James, MBA, BSN, COHN-S/CM, FAAOHN; Cynthia Shadie, MSN, RN, COHN; Denise Prentiss, RN, COHN; Megan Ruckert, BSN, RN, COHN-S; Deborah Waymack, BSN, RN, COHN/CM; Pam Foreman, PhD, RN; Florence Dyer, MSN, RN, NP ABSTRACT AAOHN is the premier source of professional occupational safety, health and environmental nurses (OHNs). OHNs work in multiple settings from one person Employee Health Services clinics to the C-Suites of global corporations. To provide better service our constituents, AAOHN commissioned a forward thinking qualitative survey of OHN leaders to determine the developing educational needs and trends for professional AAOHN OHNs. The purpose of this study was to determine the future trends and issues impacting the OHN practice. Seventeen OHN RN leaders (2 consultants, one with global practice, 2 clinical practice, 5 in management roles from larger corporations or hospitals, 1 nurse practitioner, 1 hospital, 1 journal editor, 1 recruiter/VP, 1 epidemiologist, 1 certified safety professional, and 2 educators) were interviewed over a four month period focusing on three major questions with one additional component to the questions on the expanding role of the OHN. The role of the OHN has and will continue to expand globally, not only within corporations, but in to the community through consultation and health coaching. OHNs will increase involvement within Human Resources with benefits planning, policy development, and auditing employer and employee safety and health needs. Industry demands will focus more OHN Advanced Practice Nurses for onsite management. However, the demand for doctors of nursing practice may impact PhD OHNs who are needed to conduct scholarly research. BACKGROUND The OHN’s environment of care is changing. The intersection and convergence of the OHN’s job duties stretch from healthcare in to state and federal, and global regulations and laws. Although OHNs practice in traditional settings, tracts in wellness, infection control/travel health, ergonomics, education, consultation services, disaster preparedness, policy writing, management, and research activities are emerging. These changes are not limited to the U.S. OHN but seen worldwide OHN’s practice addresses high-risk and industrial business sectors References: Alleyne, J., & Bonner, A. (2009). Occupational health nurses’ roles, credentials, and continuing education in Ontario, Canada. AAOHN Journal: Official Journal of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, 57(9), 389-395. DOI: 10.3928/08910162-20090826-01 Mellor, F., & St. John, W. (2007). Occupational health nurses’ perceptions of their current and future roles. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 58(6), 585-593. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365- 2648.2007.04263.x Thompson, M. C. & Wachs, J. E. (2012). Occupational health nursing in the United States. Workplace Health & Safety, 60(3), 127-133. DOI: 10.3928/21650799-20120227-89 OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to illuminate the future trends in employment, educational preparation, and the challenges for OHNs. Objective 1: List the traditional and non-traditional work environments OHNs are currently practicing. Objective 2: Determine the educational preparation necessary for OHN practice. Objective 3: Discuss the future trends of OHN employment given economic and governmental policy changes. METHODS A qualitative descriptive design was used to query occupational health nurse leaders on the expanding roles of occupational health nurses. Specific Interview Questions: 1)List the areas where you are aware that OHNs work…give the sub-specialties of clinical practice, management (if management, what do they manage), disability management, safety/risk management, coaching, health promotion/wellness, other, etc. Do you have or do you know of nurses that perform in less traditional subspecialty roles, e.g., benefits planning, leadership development? 2)What do you think would better prepare nurses to assume roles in these practice areas? Do you have thoughts about educational preparation for expanded roles? 3)What trends do you see for an expanded role of the OHN for the future? How do you foresee the Affordable Care Act impacting OHN practice in your business? Occupational Health Nurse Setting Result 1 Rsult 2 Result 3e CONCLUSIONS “If OHNs don’t step up, others will: MDs, nutritionists, exercise physiologists, insurance staff with no qualifications—yet nurses are the only ones with all the required skill sets.” Because the demand will be for more “fully bundled OHNs”, there will be more demand for risk management (HRA and assessments); coaching for chronic disease; fully prepared hearing, ergo, drug testing and respiratory programming; financial management i.e. cost effectiveness planning and certification in emergency preparedness…not one role. Never consider primary licensure as all that is needed. OHNs must continue to educate themselves to integrate in to the multiple roles associated with OHN. QUESTION 1: WORK ENVIRONMENT QUESTION 2:PREPARATION QUESTION 1: WORK ENVIRONMENT QUESTION 3: TRENDS