If you're interested in pursuing a career in occupational health nursing, there are several important steps you must take to get started. You must be licensed as a registered nurse, attend an accredited nursing program, pass the NCLEX-RN examination, and complete two years of professional nursing experience. You will prefer a job that is focused on occupational health nursing. Here are the steps you should take:
Be a registered nurse
A career as an occupational health nursing nurse is a great way to interact with workers. Every workplace has its risks. An occupational nurse is able to provide medical care on-site and help prevent injuries and accidents. An occupational nurse is responsible for preventing workplace injuries and accidentalities and developing plans to reduce the likelihood of work-related illness and injuries. A Master of Public Health degree will prepare you for a wide range of careers in occupational health care.
A career as an occupational health nurse can offer rewarding opportunities. However, you will need to have a nursing degree if you are looking for a more lucrative job. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree is the minimum education required. Each of these degrees takes two or four years. After you have earned your degree, the National Council Licensure Examination will be required. Each state has different licensure requirements.
Earn your COHN certification
The national exam can be taken by occupational health nurses to earn COHN certification. While certification is not required for practice of nursing, licensure is. COHN certification represents the achievement of standards beyond those required by licensing boards. It is a symbol of advanced knowledge in the field of occupational health nursing and requires a national examination. Many nurses seek certification to fulfill professional or personal reasons. Once you have your certification, you can practice in any setting and work with patients in all stages of their recovery.
The COHN examination is computer-based, and contains 160 multiple choice questions. Pretest questions are available to test your knowledge. The questions are divided into categories based on two aspects of occupational health nursing. Two of the major categories are based around the four roles that an OHN has. These roles can then be subdivided in to subcategories. Assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation are just a few of the four categories.
Many settings allow you to work.
An occupational nurse is a registered nurses who focuses on safety in the workplace. As part of their job, they assess risks to the health of workers, develop policies and procedures to reduce risks and protect workers from injury. They might also be able to provide general nursing care, routine checks, or administer vaccinations. The salary for this profession is highly variable depending on education, experience level, geographical location, and company size. Occupational health nursing is a great choice if you're looking to be flexible and challenge yourself.
An occupational health nurse has many responsibilities. This career path allows you to expand your skills and expertise while preparing for the ever-growing need for occupational health services. Many occupational nurses are responsible for organizing patient files, schedules, test results, and work space. OSHA nurses also have to keep their work spaces clean. You must be organized and good at time management.
Renew your license
You must renew your occupational health nurse license in Texas to continue practicing. You can renew your license online or by mail. After the renewal deadline, your license expires and you can't practice until it is issued again. You could be penalized up to $1,000 if you practice after the expiration deadline. In some cases, you may also face disciplinary action.
You need to continue education in order to keep your license valid. You must complete 50 continuing education units relevant to your area. These units can be taken online or at a local exam. Flexible CEU options are available from the American Board for Occupational Health Nurses. You can reapply for licensure after you have completed all of your CEUs. To earn your COHN certification, you can also take a test.