An analysis of the employment patterns, roles and functions of master's-prepared occupational health nurses. II

A specialty field that has been attracting more and more attention of nurses in recent years is occupational health. As part of this trend, and renewed funding, the number of master's-prepared occupational health nurse (OHN) programs and specialists has been growing in the past decade. Yet there is little known about them that is based on empirical data. It is difficult for nurses to make decisions regarding training and education, employment, and career planning without evidence on which to base their decisions. Educators and leaders in health care and business also need information for planning purposes. This paper is Part II of a study designed to analyze the employment patterns of master's-prepared occupational health specialists and to identify emerging roles and functions. The data were taken from the National Occupational Health Specialist Survey (Richard & Abanobi, 1983). The survey was sent to 121 occupational health nurses who graduated from 11 of the National Institutes of Health (NIOSH)-sponsored Educational Resource Centers (ERC) located throughout the country from 1978 to 1983. A final sample size of 73 was obtained. Part I of the study (Occupational Health Nursing 1985) described the group of 73 master's-prepared occupational health nurses who completed the survey with regard to demographic data, education, work experience, job characteristics, roles and functions and employement patterns. It also includes an introduction and methodology for the study. Part II of the study focuses primarily on master's-prepared occupational health nurses who are employed in occupational health settings. An expected outcome of this study is to show where and how the master's-prepared occupational health nurse can play a part in the health care system.