Defining the roles and functions of occupational and environmental health nurses. Results of a national job analysis.

1. Effective occupational health nursing practice requires expertise in the occupational and environmental health sciences, knowledge of principles of business and management, and an understanding of regulatory processes. 2. Certification is an effective mechanism for occupational health nurses to demonstrate their mastery of knowledge. The validity of the certification examination is established through the completion of a job analysis, a systematic process that provides a means to describe the various elements of a job including the duties and tasks, responsibilities, worker characteristics, and working conditions. 3. The job analysis conducted for this study found that respondents who were Certified Occupational Health Nurses are more likely to practice in the clinician role and those who were Certified Occupational Health Nurse-Specialists were more likely to practice in the educator and management role. 4. Because of the dynamic and multidimensional nature of occupational health nursing practice, it is essential that job analyses be conducted on a regular basis to ensure the validity of the certification examination.     

Use of computers among occupational health nurses: results of a survey.

1. A survey of occupational health nurses revealed that they are using computers at work for a variety of activities, and find computers to be useful tools in their jobs. 2. Occupational health nurses who use computers at work differ from nonusers in level of education, experience, and salary. 3. Nurses who do not use computers at work are interested in learning more about computers, and are willing to and interested in attending seminars to gain additional knowledge in this area.     

Agricultural health nurses. Job analysis of functions and competencies.

Agricultural health nurses address the health and safety issues of farmers, agricultural workers, and farm families. This nurse role incorporates both public health and occupational health nurse specialty practice. The purpose of this study was to describe agricultural health nurse job functions and competencies used in providing services to agricultural populations. A two round modified Delphi technique was used to attain a consensus among participants related to agricultural health nurse functions and competencies. In Round I, a mailed survey assessing demographic characteristics, and job functions and competencies was sent to an identified list of 61 nurses. A second mailed survey, with categorized job function and competency responses elicited through Round I, was sent to the 32 Round I respondents to assess the importance of the job functions and competencies and the frequency of performing each job function. Twenty four Round II surveys were returned. Job functions rated highest were: Serve as a liaison for the agricultural, health and medical, and nonfarm communities. Promote agricultural health and safety issues through the media. Implement educational courses for various groups. Conduct follow up assessment of injury, illness, or disease occurring as a result of an agricultural exposure. Function as a resource for information to victims of agricultural injury and illness and their families. The competencies of greatest importance were interpersonal communication skills, knowledge of injury prevention principles and measures, ability to recognize potential hazards within the work and home environment, and demonstrate a strong sense of self. This study adds to the body of knowledge needed to define the agricultural health nurse role.     

社区护士工作压力源现状分析及对策

目的:了解深圳市社区护士的工作压力源及其影响因素,探索改善社区护士心理健康状况的途径。方法:采取方便抽样调查的方法,对深圳市100名社区护士进行问卷调查,采用社区护士工作压力源量表。结果:社区护士的主要压力源分别来自:工资收入低、福利待遇差、工作负荷重、社会地位低等。结论:社区护士工作压力大是心理健康水平低的主要因素之一,建议管理者采取切实有效的措施,维护他们的心理健康。     

Defining risk from the perspective of nurses in clinical roles

Although the nursing literature suggests that nurses generally avoid risk, their willingness and ability to take risk are fundamental to their professional advancement, job satisfaction and patient advocacy. The definition of risk as it pertains in clinical practice, however, may not be synonymous with risk as defined in other fields. This study defines risk in nursing from the perspective of three registered nurses in clinical roles. Grounded theory methodology indicated that 11 risk categories comprised six core concepts. The latter formed the basis for the following: risk in clinical nursing practice is defined by uncomfortable and typically unavoidable role-related situations characterized by high unpredictability and negative or hostile overtones, dependency on others, exceedingly high performance expectations from self and others, unpleasant emotions, and health threats that extend beyond working hours. Findings of this study refute the notion that nurses avoid risks. Risk, ever present in the nurse's clinical practice and environment, requires strategies to minimize its negative impact.     

护士身心健康与工作投入的相关性分析

目的了解护士身心健康状况与工作投入的相关性及影响作用,为改善护士身心健康状况和护士工作投入状态、稳定护理队伍及开发人力资源提供政策依据。方法采用自测健康量表、贝克抑郁量表第2版中文版和Utrecht工作投入量表对828名护士进行身心健康、抑郁水平和工作投人现状进行调查。结果护士自测健康得分为（75．06±18．78）分,抑郁倾向得分为（18．94±5．33）分,工作投入得分为（3．28±1．10）分,护士工作投入与自测健康呈正相关,与抑郁倾向呈负相关（P〈0．01）。结论护士工作投入对其自测健康和抑郁倾向有一定影响作用,提高护士工作投入水平有利于提高其身心健康水平。     

Travel health nursing: expanding horizons for occupational health nurses.

Pre-travel care, with its focus on disease prevention and health promotion, is the cornerstone of travel health nursing practice. Pre-travel nursing services include risk assessment, immunizations, health counseling, and referrals. Individual travel health and safety risks vary and depend upon a number of different factors. These include: traveler health status, destination, trip duration, season of travel, type of accommodation, trip activities, and prevention efforts. More than 35% of U.S. international travel is business travel. Occupational health nurses have an important role to play to keep traveling employees, including frequent flyers, long stay expatriates, and special needs travelers, healthy, safe, and productive in the "global marketplace."     

Selling health promotion programs: recommendations for occupational health nurses.

1. Although some suggest that health promotion programs should not be conducted in the workplace, there is generally strong support for workplace programs by both the public and private sectors. 2. Many published reports of cost savings attributed to health promotion programs are available. The calculations of cost savings contain many flaws and generally do not reflect a comprehensive analysis of all costs associated with programs, especially those associated with changes in death rates and longevity. 3. Specific recommendations for occupational health nurses include: analysis of the corporate situation; integration of programs with occupational health and safety activities; involvement of all levels of workers in planning and promoting the programs; evaluation through employee participation and satisfaction, not by cost benefit analysis; and consideration of offering programs to family members. 4. Nursing as a whole should provide leadership for implementing programs to promote health and prevent disease. The worksite offers unique opportunities for occupational health nurses to implement the Healthy People 2000 objectives to enhance the health of working adults.     

Environmental justice: implications for occupational health nurses.

Through the use of innovative tools, such as clinical mnemonics, exercises in risk and asset mapping, and strategic program development, occupational health nurses can incorporate dimensions of environmental justice (EJ) into the workplace. Occupational health nurses who also take on educational roles can use case studies and network with labor and EJ groups to provide clinical experiences for occupational and environmental health nursing students, thereby integrating EJ into occupational and environmental health nursing practice. Occupational health nurses are well positioned to serve as technical experts within community-based participatory research projects. Occupational health nurses must share their knowledge and experience as members of coalitions that represent workers in their fight for worker health and safety.     

手术室护士职业紧张与职业倦怠状况调查分析

目的:探讨手术室护士职业紧张与职业倦怠状况.方法:采用职业紧张量表(OSI-R)、工作倦怠量表(MBI)对174名手术室护士(观察组)和180名其他科室护士(对照组)进行问卷调查并分析.结果:观察组在工作环境方面高于对照组(P<0.01),观察组中度、重度情绪疲惫感人数比例明显高于对照组(P<0.01).结论:手术室护士工作环境特殊,其职业倦怠可从个体干预、优化管理、员工援助计划(EAP)等方面改善是关键.     

Epidemiology basics for occupational health nurses.

Epidemiology speaks to the risk of disease, injury, or death. The purpose of epidemiology is to predict disease (or injury or death) based on risk factors or exposures. Results are communicated with caution, to avoid unjustly labeling a risk factor as a "cause" of disease. Although an individual may be at increased risk for a given disease, there is often no way to predict if or when that individual will actually contract the disease. Rather, epidemiology is a tool to assess populations and improve the health of the general public.