Occupational Health Nursing Education

As Japan's industries pursue technical innovations, the responsibilities of occupational health nurses are becoming increasingly complex. With such change, continuing professional development (CPD) and continuing education (CE) are crucial to the provision of appropriate care for workers. This study examined current practices of occupational health nurses and identified barriers to conducting occupational CPD and CE activities. A survey questionnaire was sent to 2,077 occupational health nurses late in 2010, asking about factors affecting attendance at and participation in CPD and CE activities, including challenges for occupational health nurses in practice. Findings demonstrated that many occupational health nurses do not work for companies that support CPD and CE. A significant finding was that occupational health nurses in Japan desire CPD activities and recognize the importance of attending CE activities. Continuing education is viewed by occupational health nurses as essential for their professional development and advancement with broader practice responsibilities and authority. Findings from this study are useful in crafting recommendations to increase occupational health nurse participation in both CPD and CE, leading to improvement in overall workplace health and safety in Japan.

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Barriers to Continuing Education and Continuing Professional Development among Occupational Health Nurses in Japan

Mizuno-Lewis¹,

Kono²,

Lewis³

et al. 2014

“…Occupational health nurses are uniquely positioned to promote, protect, and advocate for the improvement of nurses' health and QOWL and to implement strategies to address the QOWL concerns of nurses (ANA, 2001(ANA, , 2010Rogers, Randolph, & Ostendorf, 2011;Witkoski & Dickson, 2010). For example, occupational health nurses can continue to promote a work culture supportive of improving nurses' health and safety (Clarke, 2007), educate nurses about QOWL issues, and monitor injury, illness, absenteeism, and overtime rates of nurses in their work settings (Witkoski & Dickson, 2010).…”

Section: Strategies To Improve Qowl and Outcomesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating and Improving Nurses' Health and Quality of Work Life

Horrigan¹,

Lightfoot²,

Larivière³

et al. 2013

This article discusses evaluating and improving the health and quality of work life (QOWL) of nurses. Nurses are reported to have higher illness, disability, and absenteeism rates than all other health care workers. Research suggests that QOWL impacts nurses' health and the provision of quality health care, particularly patient safety. Occupational health nurses have a pivotal role in evaluating and improving nurses' QOWL and health. This will ensure quality health outcomes for nurses and patients and reduce costs for the health care system.

“…The roles of today's occupational health nurses are diverse and their position responsibilities have greater breadth. Numerous writings note the expanding role of the occupational health nurse and describe that role as one of autonomous practice (Garrett, 2005;Rogers, Randolph, & Ostendorf, 2011;Salazar, Kemerer, Amann, & Fabrey, 2002).…”

Section: Professional Autonomy In Occupational Health Nursing Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

Professional Autonomy of Occupational Health Nurses in the United States

Thompson¹

2012

Autonomy, the freedom to practice independently and to exercise professional judgment in practice activities, is a central element for professional practice. Numerous articles and studies have reported on professional autonomy in general nursing practice; however, professional autonomy for occupational health nurses has not been explored in depth. This article advances the development of a body of knowledge relative to professional autonomy in the practice of occupational health nursing. This article also provides an overview of professional autonomy in nursing practice; discusses the nature and importance of professional autonomy in the occupational health practice setting; reports findings from a seminal study of occupational health nurse autonomy; and addresses professional autonomy in the context of collaborative practice.