An occupational health nurse (OHN) is a specialized registered nurse who focuses on the protection, promotion, and restoration of worker health within the context of a safe and healthy work environment. This role requires a blend of clinical expertise, knowledge of occupational safety, and business operations. The OHN acts as a dual agent, serving as a health advocate for the employee while simultaneously supporting the employer’s goal of maintaining a healthy and productive workforce. This specialty requires nurses to manage individual health issues and implement strategic programs designed to mitigate workplace risk and improve organizational well-being.
Primary Functions of an Occupational Health Nurse
Injury and Illness Case Management
A primary function involves the clinical management of work-related injuries and illnesses, starting with immediate first aid and triage. Occupational health nurses assess the severity of the condition, provide initial treatment within their scope of practice, and determine the need for external medical referral. They manage the entire recovery trajectory until the employee achieves maximum medical improvement.
The OHN coordinates care between the employee, treating physicians, and insurance carriers, managing workers’ compensation claims. A critical part of this process is developing and overseeing return-to-work programs, which involve modifying job duties or work hours to safely transition an injured employee back to the workplace. This case management helps reduce lost work time and the overall cost of claims for the employer.
Health Promotion and Wellness Programs
Occupational health nurses design and implement preventative programs aimed at encouraging healthy lifestyles and reducing non-occupational health risks that affect productivity. These programs are tailored to the workforce and may include campaigns for smoking cessation, weight management, or chronic disease monitoring. OHNs also organize annual influenza vaccination clinics and provide health education on topics like nutrition and physical activity.
The promotion of mental health is a regular part of the OHN’s practice, involving the development of stress management workshops and providing support for employees facing psychological challenges. By offering individual counseling and referring employees to assistance programs, the nurse helps cultivate a supportive work culture. These proactive measures are designed to improve employee morale and reduce absenteeism.
Regulatory Compliance and Recordkeeping
OHNs ensure the workplace adheres to all federal and state health and safety regulations, particularly those established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This includes maintaining accurate documentation of all recordable work-related injuries and illnesses using specific forms, such as the OSHA 300, 300A, and 301 logs. The nurse is responsible for the timely reporting of severe incidents, such as fatalities or inpatient hospitalizations, which must be reported to OSHA within strict timeframes.
Maintaining confidential health records is a paramount responsibility, requiring adherence to privacy laws and ethical standards to safeguard personal health information. The nurse analyzes this data to identify trends, spot potential hazards, and inform future health and safety interventions.
Workplace Hazard Surveillance
Workplace hazard surveillance involves systematically monitoring the work environment and the worker population to detect and mitigate potential health risks. This begins with worksite walk-throughs and inspections to identify physical, chemical, biological, and ergonomic hazards. OHNs collaborate with safety professionals and industrial hygienists to monitor environmental factors like air quality, noise levels, and chemical exposures.
A significant activity is the management of legally mandated medical monitoring programs, which include periodic screenings for employees exposed to specific hazards. Examples include audiometric testing for noise-exposed workers, or specialized screening for employees who work with hazardous materials like lead or silica. The nurse also reviews injury data to recommend and implement ergonomic solutions, such as adjusting workstations or modifying work processes, to prevent musculoskeletal disorders.
Education and Certification Requirements
Becoming an occupational health nurse requires a foundation in general nursing practice, starting with an active Registered Nurse (RN) license. The initial nursing education can be either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). A BSN is often preferred for OHN roles, especially in larger corporate or industrial settings, as it provides a stronger background in research and public health principles.
After gaining clinical experience, nurses can pursue specialized certification to demonstrate advanced competency in the field. The American Board for Occupational Health Nurses (ABOHN) offers two core certifications: the Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN) and the Certified Occupational Health Nurse-Specialist (COHN-S). Eligibility requires a minimum of 3,000 hours of occupational health nursing practice within the five years prior to application.
The COHN focuses on the clinician and case manager roles, while the COHN-S is designed for nurses in broader administrative, educational, or consulting capacities and requires a bachelor’s degree or higher. Certification involves passing a comprehensive examination that tests knowledge across clinical care, program development, and workplace hazards. Certification must be maintained through continuing education and renewal every five years.
Common Work Environments
Occupational health nurses practice in a wide variety of settings, driven by the size and risk profile of the employer. Full-time, on-site OHNs are often employed by large manufacturing plants, construction companies, and chemical processing facilities to manage high-risk environments and comply with federal regulations. These industrial settings require the nurse to manage injury care and administer specialized medical surveillance programs mandated by agencies like OSHA and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
OHNs are also employed in corporate headquarters and technology firms, where the focus shifts toward managing stress, ergonomics, and promoting general wellness in less physically hazardous environments. Government agencies, including military bases and public health departments, utilize OHNs for employee health services. Across all sectors, the nurse conducts pre-employment physicals, drug and alcohol screenings, and job-related screenings like respirator fit tests to ensure employees are medically fit for duty.
Essential Skills for Occupational Health Nursing
The OHN role requires a unique combination of clinical acumen and specialized technical knowledge. A foundational understanding of basic toxicology is necessary to assess the adverse effects of chemical exposures on employees, including recognizing common routes of entry. This is complemented by knowledge of industrial hygiene principles, which allows the nurse to collaborate with safety teams on controlling environmental hazards and implementing exposure monitoring programs.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills are necessary for navigating the complexities of the workplace, as the nurse must maintain a balance between the employee’s health needs and the employer’s operational goals. The ability to maintain strict confidentiality and demonstrate impartiality is paramount, allowing the nurse to build trust with the workforce and serve as a neutral bridge between employees, management, and external healthcare providers. Organizational and analytical skills are important for managing complex case files, tracking injury data, and using trend analysis to develop proactive safety strategies.
Career Growth and Compensation
The career path for an occupational health nurse offers numerous opportunities for professional growth and competitive compensation. The average annual salary for OHNs is competitive, though this varies based on geographic location and industry. Certification correlates directly with increased earning potential, particularly for those holding the Certified Occupational Health Nurse-Specialist (COHN-S) credential.
With experience and advanced education, OHNs can transition into management roles.
Management Roles
Director of Occupational Health
Director of Environmental Health and Safety
Another common advancement path involves moving into a consulting role, where the nurse advises multiple companies on health policy and regulatory compliance. Nurses may also pursue a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) to become an Occupational Health Nurse Practitioner, which expands their scope to include diagnosing and treating work-related conditions.