Meetings-the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Much has been written about how to facilitate an effective meeting, but apparently not every meeting facilitator has read the literature because every occupational health nurse has endured a "bad" meeting. Individuals who chair meetings have a responsibility to create meetings that are worthwhile to the attendees; attendees have a responsibility to be prepared for meetings so meetings are productive. This article reviews key meeting strategies, providing readers with ways to improve meetings they attend or facilitate.

The professional association and practice excellence.

Nursing practice in occupational settings is different from nursing practice in acute care settings. Due to the sparse professional practice resources available to most occupational health nurses at the worksite, belonging to the professional association is important for support and knowledge enhancement needed to maintain practice excellence and credibility.

The nursing process and program planning.

Occupational health nurses implement programs to promote health and prevent injury and disease. The nursing process that is commonly used for individual clients is appropriate and useful when the client is a population of workers. This article provides rationale for using the nursing process for aggregates in occupational settings and provides examples of its use in health promotion programs.

Image revisited.

The image that nurses project impacts their ability to influence others. Occupational health nurses who dress as other professionals at work dress will convince others that they can do more than treat injuries.

What's in a word?

Words provide meaning to concepts, but misuse of common terms can result in distorted understanding of concepts. Medicine and nursing are separate professions. Medical care and health care are distinct terms that are often used interchangeably.

Health care and politics: issues for the 2008 presidential election.

The presidential candidates for the 2008 election have outlined health care proposals that will ultimately impact the health status of Americans. Highlights focus on access to health care coverage, cost containment, improvement of the quality of care, and financing. This article provides a glimpse into the inherent challenges faced and the impact that nurses can make by casting their vote in this election as consumers and providers of health care.

Epidemiology basics for occupational health nurses.

Epidemiology speaks to the risk of disease, injury, or death. The purpose of epidemiology is to predict disease (or injury or death) based on risk factors or exposures. Results are communicated with caution, to avoid unjustly labeling a risk factor as a "cause" of disease.

Using financial metrics to prove and communicate value to management. Occupational health nurses as key players on the management team.

Successfully communicating value to management starts by gaining visibility and by knowing what management wants to hear. Communicating budget information, including cost savings and time value of money, is an essential skill for the occupational health nurse. The occupational health nurse must be able to speak the language of business to make a meaningful impact in the 21st century work environment.

Self assessment for quality and assurance. An essential component of effective health care delivery at the worksite.

Programs designed to ensure high quality performance, whatever name they are given, have the same basic elements. They measure compliance with established standards, provide feedback, institute changes as necessary to improve outcomes, and measure again. The first steps include determining which programs need evaluation and identifying the standards.

Hearing conservation: an industry-school partnership.

An informal observation of hearing test results of employees in hearing conservation programs noted hearing losses among younger workers. As part of a community service project for the Arizona Valle del Sol Association of Occupational Health Nurses, a pilot hearing conservation program was implemented in two junior high schools in Mesa, Arizona. Occupational health nurses conducted sound level measurements in band rooms and industrial technology (shop) classes.

Medical surveillance program evaluation. Successful program.

1. This program evaluation case example describes changes made to a medical/health surveillance program that resulted in cost savings while increasing services to employees. 2.

Hearing conservation. Community outreach program for high school students.

1. A community service project for a local constituency of the AAOHN involved teaching hearing conservation classes in junior high school shop classes. 2.

Childhood immunizations: an update for occupational health nurses.

1. Nationally, toddlers and preschool children are under-immunized against vaccine preventable diseases. 2.

Performance appraisal: a motivational tool.

To truly motivate employees, they must be challenged not only to improve, but to contribute significantly to the health service and the larger organization. Assisting employees to grow into their positions and gain competence in their work will result in satisfied employees who meet annual objectives and who are valuable assets to the company.

Use of computers among occupational health nurses: results of a survey.

1. A survey of occupational health nurses revealed that they are using computers at work for a variety of activities, and find computers to be useful tools in their jobs. 2.

Preemployment physical examinations. Report of a pilot program.

1. Due to costly workers' compensation claims, the state of Arizona instituted a preemployment physical exam program for state jobs. 2.