Career Overview
Occupational health care is practiced for the benefit of the working population. Occupational health workers, whether nurses, physicians, or general health care practitioners often work for or with government agencies, health care facilities, insurance companies, consulting firms, or industry specialist programs to promote the health of and prevent injuries to workers.
Occupational health nurse practitioners often serve as primary care providers in this context for workers.
Career Requirements
To be accepted by a nurse-practitioner program, candidates must be registered nurses and hold at least a Bachelor's Degree in nursing from an accredited institution.
Nurse practitioner training programs last between 18 months and 24 months and typically involve both classroom study and clinical training. The classroom instruction is relatively basic, exploring the most basic issues of preventative health care, proper nutrition, and basic anatomy and physiology, because most nurse practitioners have only the most basic exposure to medical theory.
Practitioners who specialize in occupational health have experience in general medicine, amounting to usually at least one year's work of supervised clinical experience. Specialist training in oncology is also a requirement for this profession, typically met by the practical experience of each candidate. Experience is focused on the general care of individuals in work settings.
Specialist training in occupational health care is a requirement for this profession, typically met by the practical experience of each candidate. Experience is focused on providing effective outpatient care to the working population in a given community and also implementing measures to prevent injury and illness in the workplace.
Some institutions offer specialist training programs and certification in occupational health. More information about training programs and certification is available through the following organization:
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
P.O. Box 12846,
Austin, TX 78711
www.aanp.orgAmerican Nurses Credentialing Center
600 Maryland Ave., SW, Suite 100 West
Washington, D.C. 20024-2571
(800) 284-2378
American Nurses' Association
8518 Georgia Ave.,
Ste. 400,
Silver Spring, MD 20910
www.nursingworld.orgThe National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties,
National Directory of Nurse Practitioner Programs
1522 K St. NW, Ste. 702,
Washington, DC 20005
www.nonpf.comJob Outlook
The health care system is becoming more complex. Insurance is becoming a more complex field and industries are under increased pressure to take an active interest in the well-fare and general health of their employees.
In this context, looking also to the indications that nursing will be one of ten fastest growing professions over the next ten years, it is likely that nurse practitioners with advanced training in occupational health will find ready employment.
Ample employment opportunities are likely to exist for occupational health nurse practitioners, not only in hospitals and other medical facilities, but with government agencies, insurance agencies, and general businesses, that have reason to provide ready health care and education to their employees.
Career Track
See Nurse Practitioner
Compensation
See Nurse Practitioner
