Occupational Health Nursing
Nursing Jobs in Canada in Industry and Business
In the specialty of occupational health nursing jobs in Canada, the registered nurse works with a specific
clientele in a work environment, with the goal of promoting and protecting the health and safety
of the workers.
The registered nurse who works in industry (OHN) will require additional education in occupational
health and safety that may include subjects such as toxicology, industrial hygiene, ergonomics, and
disability management. An in depth working knowledge of the health and safety legislation
and regulations is also required.
Nursing practice in an industrial setting will have some distinct differences from nursing practice
in some of the other more conventional settings of nursing jobs in Canada such as the hospital or the
community. Even the uniform is different! The nurse may be wearing a hard hat and steel toed boots instead of nursing scrubs and duty
shoes.
While all nurses are responsible for creating a safe environment for their clients, the OHN will be much more involved in specific assessments of the work environment in order to
determine the effect it may have on the health of the workers. Managing the workplace environment in order to protect
and promote the health of the worker is the main focus of occupational health nursing practice.
All registered nurses are required to engage in collaborative
nursing practice. Nursing jobs in Canada in the industrial setting
will require collaboration with employers,
the labor union, and other
professional and regulatory agencies.
Typically nursing practice in the industrial setting will include activities such as:
- performing regular health assessment of workers.
- conducting and monitoring workplace safety through various environmental assessments.
- designing and conducting health and safety education programs such as how to use the proper personal protective equipment.
- offering counseling intervention programs.
- monitoring and analyzing trends in particular illnesses and injuries.
- developing health and safety policies.
- maintaining accurate health records for workers.
- ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.
In some settings the OHN may also be the first responder to workplace accidents but this is not always the case.
