[Taiwan occupational health nursing: practices, policies and future trends].

The steady evolution of domestic industries and the continued expansion of the workforce have outdated Taiwan's traditional model of occupational health nursing, which focuses on preventing work-related diseases and ensuring workplace safety. Professional-competency evaluations, now widely used within the medical and other professional communities to confirm that individuals have mastered relevant knowledge and skills, are a fixture in service quality management and related strategies. Occupational health nurses have a critical role in promoting and ensuring the quality of occupational-health related services. A multifaceted strategy is needed to update the domestic model of occupational health nursing. This strategy should include: 1) Set professional standards and create standard teaching materials for national occupational health nurses; 2) Enhance the professional efficacy of nurses in this field; 3) Survey the relevant role functions and education/training needs of occupational health nurses; 4) Develop relevant elective courses; and 5) Format courses/curricula for e-learning and for multimedia platforms. Furthermore, after implementation of this strategy, the model should be evaluated in terms of the knowledge and skills acquired by occupational health nurses. It is hoped that by reflecting local needs and experiences this new model will update the field of occupational health nursing to meet the needs of the current and future workplace in Taiwan and increase nursing knowledge and skills in order to foster and sustain healthy workplace environments.

[The role and future task of the occupational health nurse].

The Industrial Safety and Health Act was enacted focusing on occupational disease prevention in 1972. It has been revised over the years to include consideration of work associated diseases, and the participation and cooperation of employer and employees. From now, positive participation of employer-and-employees in occupational health activity becomes important in order to achieve the expanded purpose of the law. It is necessary to empower all workers to be able to perform occupational health activity independently. Florence Nightingale defined nursing in the 1850's. "Nursing is to put the patient in the best condition by improvement of environment, including a population approach. The goal of nursing is to enable the patient to use his faculty fully." The Public Health Nurse is, "assistance to the process of solving one's health, identifying health issues based on a community, using systematic measures which lead to prevention, and aiming at public responsibility." The daily activity of Nurses including Occupational Health Nurses (OHNs) is based on the theory and technology of "empowerment". In promoting the employer-and-employees independent Occupational Safety and Health Activity, the OHN's professional specialty of "empowerment" can play an important role.

The future of nursing--opportunities for occupational health nursing.

In this article, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health report is summarized, and opportunities for occupational health nursing are proposed.

Focus on the aging worker.

This article discusses select characteristics of the aging work force, health-related issues that can impact work productivity, and strategies and resources that can foster a more productive work environment. The older work force is vital to the future of the U.S. economy. Employers should recognize the value of older workers. Occupational health nurses can assist older workers in maintaining and optimizing their health.

Need and Capacity of a Toolkit for Occupational Health Nurses to Promote a New or Enhanced Drug-Free Workplace Program.

Background: A drug-free workplace program (DFWP) has been shown to be effective in reducing workers' drug misuse. The purpose of this project was to determine the need and capacity for a new or enhanced DFWP in a large health system. If determined to be needed, the next step would be to develop, implement, and evaluate a toolkit to assist occupational health nurses to promote a new or enhanced DFWP. Methods: A strategic prevention framework was used to assess the need and capacity for a toolkit to prepare occupational health nurses to promote a new or enhanced DFWP. The project was conducted in the occupational health services department at a large health system in the Midwest U.S. occupational health nurses and employee assistance counselors in the hospital system completed a survey assessing the need and capacity for a new or enhanced DFWP. Findings: A gap was identified in the perceived effectiveness of training about DFWP and current DFWP components. The findings reflect the need and capacity for a DFWP toolkit. Optimally, a DFWP toolkit would include evidence-based drug and alcohol screening tools. We found that a toolkit for occupational health nurses to promote a new or enhanced DFWP in the project site was warranted. Conclusion/Application to practice: A DFWP can be an effective method of promoting workplace health and safety. Occupational health nurses can contact state and national representatives to encourage monitoring of drug-related work injuries to provide evidence to influence health policies to support effective DFWPs.

Managers' perceptions of the current and future role of occupational health nurses in Australia.

Occupational health nurses face competition from other professionals in the field of occupational health and safety. This study investigated managers' perceptions of Australian occupational health nurses' roles. Managers were asked to rate the importance of occupational health nurses' activities and the time they believe occupational health nurses do or should dedicate to each activity now and in the future. The questionnaire included 22 activity statements grouped into eight areas of practice that were thought to constitute the occupational health nurse role, based on the Australian College of Occupational Health Nurses standards. Data revealed that emergent roles focused on injury prevention, health promotion, management, and research were of increasing importance, with more time being needed for them in the future. Fulfilling these expectations may place occupational health nurses in competition with other occupational health and safety personnel for particular responsibilities and may require negotiation to gain support for taking on these role activities. Fulfilling these emergent role activities effectively will require appropriate professional development and advanced education.

Occupational Health Nursing: Competence and experience to achieve the safety, health and well-being of the working population. / Enfermería del Trabajo: competencia y experiencia para alcanzar la seguridad, la salud y el bienestar de la población laboral.

From 1953, with the appearance of the Company Occupational Health Technical Assistant Specialist, until 2005, with the recognition of the specialty of Occupational Health Nursing, socio-cultural and technological changes have determined the evolution of work, its processes and conditions, but have also specified the occupational risks to which workers are exposed, as well as how to organize prevention, safety and occupational health. Occupational Health Nursing is defined as a nursing specialty that addresses the health status of individuals in their relationship with the workplace, in order to achieve the highest level of physical, mental and social well-being of the working population, taking into account the individual characteristics of the worker, the job and the socio-labour environment in which they develop. Occupational Health Nursing undertakes its basic functions through the surveillance of workers' health, and constitutes, beside Occupational Medicine, the basic health unit, which in turn is part of the prevention services of both public and private companies. Today there are about 9,000 specialists in Occupational Health Nursing in Spain, an insufficient number to guarantee the prevention of accidents at work and occupational diseases, the early detection of occupational pathology, the promotion of health through modification of lifestyles and the improvement of the well-being of the Spanish working population. Occupational Health Nursing is aware of the challenges that it must face in the coming years and therefore, it relies on competences as fundamental as teaching, management and research to integrate into interdisciplinary projects in occupational health that provide solutions to increasingly complex health and safety problems at work.

Computer Vision Syndrome: Implications for the Occupational Health Nurse.

Computers and other digital devices are commonly used both in the workplace and during leisure time. Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a new health-related condition that negatively affects workers. This article reviews the pathology of and interventions for CVS with implications for the occupational health nurse.

Occupational nursing in portugal: context and perspectives / Enfermería del trabajo en portugal: contexto y perspectivas / Enfermagem do trabalho em portugal: contexto e perspetivas

Objective: to know the perception of nurses at work regarding the areas of knowledge and intervention. Method: quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study. It involved a sample of 472 occupational nurses. A questionnaire was used as a data collection instrument, which took place between May and September 2017, based on the core areas of knowledge and competencies of the occupational nurse and on the scale of perception of the areas of knowledge and intervention of the occupational nurse. Results: Occupational Nursing was understood by the majority as a transitory professional activity, because it was exercised as a financial complement to the main activity or because they could not be placed in the area of professional practice of their preference. Conclusion: the professional practice in the areas of knowledge and intervention was devalued or not recognized and seen by the majority of nurses as transitory, because almost half aspire to work in the future in this area, but only on a part-time basis.

Objetivo: conocer la percepción de las enfermeras en el trabajo con respecto a las áreas de conocimiento e intervención. Método: estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo y transversal. Involucró una muestra de 472 enfermeras de trabajo. Se utilizó un cuestionario como instrumento de recolección de datos, que tuvo lugar entre mayo y septiembre de 2017, basado en las áreas nucleares de conocimiento y competencias de la enfermera de trabajo y en la escala de percepción de las áreas de conocimiento e intervención de la enfermera de trabajo. Resultados: la Enfermería Ocupacional fue entendida por la mayoría como una actividad profesional transitoria, porque se ejercía como complemento económico de la actividad principal o porque no podían ubicarse en el área de práctica profesional de su preferencia. Conclusión: la práctica profesional en las áreas de conocimiento e intervención fue devaluada o no reconocida y vista por la mayoría de las enfermeras como transitoria, porque casi la mitad aspira a trabajar en el futuro en esta área, pero solo a tiempo parcial.

Objetivo: conhecer a perceção dos enfermeiros do trabalho no que respeita às áreas de conhecimento e intervenção. Método: estudo quantitativo, descritivo e transversal. Envolveu amostra de 472 enfermeiros do trabalho. Utilizou-se como instrumento de recolha de dados, que decorreu entre maio e setembro de 2017, questionário, alicerçado nas áreas nucleares de conhecimentos e competências do enfermeiro do trabalho e na escala de perceção das áreas de conhecimento e intervenção do enfermeiro do trabalho. Resultados: a Enfermagem do Trabalho foi entendida pela maioria como atividade profissional transitória, pelo facto de ser exercida como complemento financeiro à atividade principal ou porque não conseguiram colocação na área de exercício profissional da sua preferência. Conclusão: o exercício profissional nas áreas de conhecimento e intervenção foi desvalorizado ou não reconhecido e encarado pela maioria dos enfermeiros como transitório, pelo facto de quase metade ambicionar trabalhar no futuro nessa área, mas apenas em regime de tempo parcial.

Occupational health nursing in Canada: its social foundation and future.

Our purpose in examining the social foundation of occupational health nursing is to better determine the future direction of the profession and its impact on a diverse workforce. Part of what makes up the profession of occupational health nursing is found in its definition: a process that is determined by the interaction between the occupational health nurse, worker, work and workplace; its goal is to assist the worker to achieve his or her optimal level of functioning, primarily through health education, health promotion, prevention of disease and injury and crisis intervention. Much of occupational health nursing is also based on its history and the traditions that have been established. A true understanding, then, of what occupational health nursing's future can be comes from a solid understanding of the history of the profession. As social trends in the past affected the profession, so will they in the future.

Occupational health. Nursing in the workplace.

Occupational health nursing is a community nursing specialty that will assume greater importance in a reformed health care system. Maintaining a safe and healthy workplace is an occupational health priority, the goal being to reduce work-related injury and illness. This article describes the complexities of this role.

[The present situation of occupational health nursing education and how to apply it to the fundamental nursing system].

The purpose of this study was to determine the present situation of occupational health nursing (OHN) education and to discuss future problems facing the fundamental nursing teaching staff. We conducted a questionnaire among fundamental nursing teachers, and our results showed that in occupational health nursing there is a gap between what is being taught at present and what the teaching staff thinks should be taught. In addition, the questionnaire showed that nursing teachers desire to teach such subjects as understanding of clients, health problems, methods of health management, the definition of OHN and concrete care in OHN, from 2 to 10 hours in the community health nursing course of the future. Because we believe that occupational health nurses can acquire a deeper knowledge and practice in continuous training, including postgraduate training, than in a fundamental nursing course, we suggest that there is the problem of how to combine fundamental nursing and continuous education in the future should be carefully studied.

Current issues in occupational health nursing. A Canadian perspective.

The National Association of Occupational Health Nurses is still in its infancy and is striving to become an interest group under the umbrella of the Canadian Nurses Association. This will bring together the provincial associations in a common goal of promoting worker health and safety. The diversity of the country and the sheer magnitude of the various occupations of Canadians reflect the need for the occupational health nurse to be well educated and kept abreast of new developments. Changes in the worksite echo changes in health and safety legislation that will help to improve conditions in the workplace. Future challenges arise from changes in the work force and the nature of work and include: ergonomic issues, job stress, older workers, EAPs, and increased competition.

Crafting strategy: a constituency plan for the future.

1. The difference in planning and crafting strategy is the level of involvement in the process. It is the crafting of strategy that requires the involvement of state and local constituencies. 2. Creating vision enables constituencies to clarify and realize what they really want, independently of what presently seems possible at the state or local level. 3. By developing an ideal reality or vision first, a bridge can be built between the current and desired organization without loss of purpose. The purpose of the organization is defined by AAOHN's Mission Statement. 4. The bridge is built by using a decision making process similar to the nursing process.

Occupational response to terrorism.

Occupational health nurses are facing new challenges that seriously imperil health and safety in the workplace. The risks faced in the current world pose threats for which the occupational health nurse may not be prepared. These threats go beyond any unexpected workplace emergency. It is critical for all occupational health professionals to understand the implications of these modern threats and the proper response procedures, including the limits of a safe and prudent response. This knowledge will prevent further fatalities. Occupational health nurses need to translate this knowledge into corporate policies and procedures written so safety is the paramount consideration.

The future of occupational health nursing in space.

Space offers the occupational health nurse a unique occupational environment and many challenges. Zero gravity and severe limitations on working space will require many changes in methods of operation. The health maintenance facility within the space station will not be equipped to deal with all conceivable emergencies, but personnel will be able to diagnose and treat injuries and illnesses which are most likely to occur and are easily treated. Occupational health nurses are uniquely qualified to meet NASA's health maintenance facility objectives.

A remembrance of the past, an investment for the future.

Occupational health nursing has evolved from a single dimension practice into a complex role providing primary care, health maintenance, and disease prevention programs at the worksite. The focus of the 1990s will be on managed care, health care reform, and competition for resources. Occupational health nurses are in a strategic position to foster the objectives set forth in Healthy People 2000. Occupational health nurses must take the lead in the development and implementation of cost effective health care programs at the worksite. Occupational health nurses must communicate and demonstrate the nature and value of their contributions; demonstrate their competencies; and become knowledgeable in all areas of occupational health and safety. They must acknowledge that they are leaders in workplace health and safety.

Occupational health nursing and the advent of managed care: meeting the challenges of the current health care environment.

1. The evolution of occupational health nursing and the advent of managed care enable today's practitioners to play strategic roles in planning, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of new health care delivery models. 2. Workers' compensation cost control strategies should include: 1) a focus on primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention and health promotion; 2) quality health care by trained and experienced occupational health professionals; 3) case management to ensure quality of care and to control unnecessary expenses; 4) effective communication between management and injured client to reduce litigation. 3. Many employers go beyond the traditional catastrophic cases and include chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and asthma, and high risk pregnancies for case management. 4. Worksite health and safety programs are a critical component of the nation's health care system.