The decision-making process of workers in using sick time.

The cost of employee absenteeism in the United States is significant in terms of sick pay, overtime costs, replacement personnel compensation, and lost productivity. Little is known about what workers consider when deciding to use sick time. Previous studies have examined work absence from an array of perspectives, including resulting work strain, job satisfaction, and job security, but absenteeism in the workplace has not been examined in terms of decision making. To scrutinize workers' decisions about using sick time, a descriptive pilot study was undertaken with a convenience sample (n = 94) of working college students. The responses to the survey revealed that the majority of the workers (73.4%) used sick time because they were too ill to work. These results are in direct opposition to previous research and suggest that workers may need education about preventing and managing minor illnesses before an absence is needed. Supporting and engaging employees and their significant others in healthy worker programs, regular surveillance examinations, and illness prevention strategies are wise investments in companies' financial futures. Future research should include a comparative study of worker absenteeism between worksites with occupational health nurses and those without nurses.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners and medical certification of interstate commercial motor vehicle drivers.

On April 18, 2012, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced plans to develop a National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. The new plan requires all medical examiners who conduct physical examinations for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers to meet the following criteria: (1) complete specific training about FMCSA's physical qualification standards; (2) pass a test to verify understanding of those standards; and (3) maintain and demonstrate competence through periodic training and testing. By May 21, 2014, all certified medical examiners must be in the National Registry database, after which all drivers must receive a medical examination from a certified medical examiner. Health care practitioners who wish to become certified medical examiners must meet the training and testing requirements set forth by FMCSA. After training and testing requirements are met, health care practitioners are added to the National Registry. In addition, certified medical examiners must complete refresher training every 5 years and recertify every 10 years. Medical examiners who fail to meet and maintain federal standards will not be included in the National Registry. This article provides information related to U.S. Department of Transportation driver medical certification regulations. These changes impact drivers, employers, medical examiners, and occupational health nurses and safety specialists who manage the certification of drivers.

Patient satisfaction with nurse practitioner and physician services in the occupational health setting.

The purpose of this research was to determine if patient satisfaction differed when clinical services were provided by nurse practitioners versus physicians in the occupational health setting. This convenience sample included 129 patients visiting community-based occupational medicine clinics for evaluation of a new work-related injury. There was high satisfaction with both nurse practitioner and physician providers. There was no significant difference in overall patient satisfaction between provider types. Results of this study support a practice model using nurse practitioners as primary providers in the occupational health setting.