Ch 43 Nursing in Occupational Health

Hazard Communication Standard

-first established in 1983 -requires all worksites with hazardous substances inventory their toxic agents, label them, and provide info sheets call material safety data sheets MSDSs

disaster plan

-must have disaster plan and it must be created by someone who is knowledgeable with that work environment -designed by those familiar with work processes and materials, workers, workplace, community resources -involves local hospitals, fire departments, ER

occupational health history

1-list of current and past jobs 2-exposure to agent and relationship btw symptoms 3-lifestyle history (factors that influence susceptibility - underlying condition or injury, smoker who works in a unit with asbestos)

The first industrial nurse is considered to be:

Ada Mayo Stewart

An occupational health nurse refers an employee to an employee assistance program. Which problem will most likely be addressed?

Alcohol abuse

A nurse is pursuing certification as an occupational health nurse. Which organization will provide this certification?

American Board for Occupational Health Nurses

Which statement about chemical agents is accurate?

Chronic exposure to low-level doses of workplace chemicals below standards constitutes a potential health risk.

A nurse working in an occupational health setting will most likely work as a nurse:

Clinicians/practitioners

Slippery floors are an example of which type of hazard?

Enviromechanical

Which population would have been the focus of care for an occupational health nurse in the early 1900s?

Families

Which item found in the workplace would require a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)?

Hand soap

An occupational health nurse working in an occupational health and safety program is likely to provide which services? Select all that apply.

Health/medical surveillance, Health screening, Case management, Job task analysis

A worker who has a health reaction to "safe" low-level exposures is experiencing:

Hypersusceptibility

An employee has come into contact with a biological agent. The occupational health nurse recognizes that a biological agent:

Indicates exposure to bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites

Why would a nurse conduct an occupational health assessment?

It helps to identify agent and host factors that place employees at risk.

Which types of industries are noted for high degrees of hazards associated with the work?

Manufacturing, mining, and agriculture

Which was the first legislation that specifically required certain prevention programs for workers?

Mine Safety and Health Act

An occupational health nurse has conducted a walk through assessment and has identified potential hazards in the workplace. The nurse recognizes that it will be easiest to modify exposure to which hazard?

Noise

Which action would an occupational health nurse take while involved in disaster planning?

Prevent injuries and death of workers.

The nurse doing a walk-through to identify workplace hazards is providing which level of prevention?

Primary prevention

Which activity would be the primary role of an occupational health nurse?

Providing health promotion and emergency care

Secondary prevention in the occupational health arena may include:

Screening for hearing loss resulting from noise levels in the plants

Which is a requirement of the Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act (SARA)?

Sharing written disaster plans with key resources in the community

The most disabling occupational condition reported in 2005 was:

Sprains and strains

Which would be considered agents in the epidemiologic triad?

Temperature extremes and crowding

Limited duty programs after a cumulative trauma injury is an example of which level of prevention?

Tertiary prevention

What is the purpose of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration?

To educate employers about occupational health and safety

What is the purpose of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health?

To examine potential hazards of new work technologies and practices

An occupational health has become a member of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN). Why would a nurse join this organization? Select all that apply.

To promote the health and safety of workers, To advance the profession by supporting research, To promote and provide continuing education in the specialty

Which is the best method an occupational health nurse can use when assessing workplace hazards?

Walk through the worksite.

In the epidemiologic triad, an example of a host factor would be:

Worker's family

Which population is at greatest risk for experiencing work-related accidents with subsequent injuries?

Workers with less than 1 year of experience

Which work-related hazard may be encountered by all workers?

Workplace stress leading to hypertension and cardiovascular disease

AAOHN

american association of occupation health nurses professional organization promotes health and safety of workers

primary prevention

assessing for workplace hazards WORKSITE WALKTHRU education of PPE, how to don and remove prevent accidents from happening worksite walk throughs

COHN

associate degree RN certified occupation health nurse COHNS (specialist, BSN, RN) preferred levels of entry for plants in 337 - BSN RN (certifying body = ABOHN)

occupational and environmental health nursing is an ______ specialty and nurses make _____ judgments in providing health care services

autonomous, independent nursing

purpose of workplace assessment

become knowledgable about the work process, materials, requirements of the job -potential hazards -work practices of employees (WORKSITE WALKTHROUGH/ SURVEY) find safer ways to do things

worksite survey

begins with an understanding of the type of work that occurs in the workplace

worksite walkthrough

best PRIMARY prevention tactic done to determine good fit btw job and worker and identify host factor potential risk for worker see firsthand where workers work

Lake Area Industry Alliance

communication between 20 local industries to dispel or confirm rumors, warning system

NIOSH national institute for occupational safety and health

deals with RESEARCH purpose - examine potential hazards of new work technologies and practices by conducting research on safe/minimal exposure limits to chemicals/hazards parts per million exposure measurement

health promotion

diabetic friendly restaurants, brown bag lunches

secondary prevention

emergency care screening for hearing loss and respiratory function annual OSHA test

primary roles of occupational nurse

emergency care (injuries on site) basic first aid health promotion (prevent them from missing work days) currently: -risk management -reduce health related costs in business

"Hats" of occupational health nurses

emergency care/first aid drug screens (random "lottery", post accident, suspicion "fore-caused") health promotion OSHA screenings - yearly - hearing and respiratory PFT - asbestos - chest x-rays

Initial step in workers assessment

emphasizing exposure to occupational hazards and individual characteristics that may predispose the client to the increased health risk of certain jobs

Mine Safety and Health Act of 1968 MSHA

first legislation that specifically required certain prevention programs for workers

Purpose of the workplace assessment known as the "work site walk through"

get info about work process and materials, requirements of various jobs, presence of actual or potential hazards

worker assessment

occupational health history any factors that could increase their susceptibility

SARA superfund amendment and reauthorization act

requires that written disaster plans from companies be shared with key resources in the community -fire departments -emergency rooms -hospitals "superfund sites"

foundation for occupational and environmental health nursing

research based

superfund site

site that has been shut down from some horrible ecological disaster

Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970

states that workers must have a safe and healthful work environment

Workers compensation

these acts vary by state

workers compensation acts

vary by state, each state has their own laws disability insurance for people who have been hurt at work

MSDS material safety data sheet

what is used in hospitals for nurses as guide for exposures

tertiary

work with chronic illness - diabetes urine for ketons, blood glucose checks

OSHA

yearly physical screenings, hearing and respiratory mandated by all companies (also asbestos and benzene) "enforce safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women" -MSDS- used by nurses as guide for exposures come within 24 hours of a fatality - can search anywhere can fine for anything