Developing blended online and classroom strategies to deliver an occupational health nursing overview course in a multi-state region in the United States.

This article describes how hybrid online and classroom learning approaches were used to design and offer an occupational health nursing review course throughout a multi-state region of the northwest United States. In response to demand from practicing occupational health nurses for board certification preparation, a series of asynchronous and synchronous continuing education modules was created covering a range of occupational health nursing topics. This review course illustrates how innovative educational delivery models can serve the needs of occupational health nurses challenged by geographic and time constraints.

Relationship between system-level characteristics of assisted living facilities and the health and safety of unlicensed staff.

This study examined system-level characteristics of assisted living facilities and the association between these characteristics and the health and safety outcomes of unlicensed staff. Forty-two unlicensed direct care workers completed a survey related to system-level stressors and the individual stress responses of staff. Measurement tools included the Work Stressor Inventory (WSI), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), and Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI).

Using problem-based learning for occupational and environmental health nursing education: pesticide exposures among migrant agricultural workers.

Problem-based learning, which emphasizes group collaboration to solve real-world case scenarios, is an instructional approach that is well suited to occupational and environmental health nursing education. Learners actively work through case studies rather than passively receive information presented through lectures. Problem-based learning methods promote critical thinking skills and motivate learning, preparing learners for professional practice in complex, ever-changing environments.

Factors affecting Thai workers' use of hearing protection.

This study used an ecological model to examine Thai workers' beliefs and attitudes toward using occupational hearing protection. Data collection involved focus group sessions with 28 noise-exposed workers at four factories in Chiang Mai Province and an interview with a safety officer at each organization. Detailed content analysis resulted in the identification of three types of factors influencing the use of hearing protection: intrapersonal, including preventing impaired hearing, noise annoyance, personal discomfort, and interference with communication; interpersonal, including coworker modeling, supervisor support, and supervisor modeling; and organizational, including organizational rules and regulations, provision of hearing protection devices, dissemination of knowledge and information, noise monitoring, and hearing testing.

A theoretical model for understanding mental health, substance use, and work performance among Asian immigrants.

Mental illness and substance use disorders are prevalent among workers. Each year businesses lose billions of dollars to decreased work performance associated with these issues. This article discusses a theoretical model that depicts relationships between social discrimination, job concerns, and social support and workers' mental health problems and substance use and work performance.

An exploration of Hispanic workers' perspectives about risks and hazards associated with orchard work.

Orchard workers are a population at risk for serious and disabling occupational injuries and illnesses. The purpose of this descriptive, exploratory study was to gather information about orchard workers' perceptions and experiences related to their work to better understand factors that contribute to their occupational risk. The sample consisted of 180 Hispanic orchard workers from 3 counties in Washington State; about a third of these reported at least 1 occupational injury.

Ecological model of disaster management.

The ecological model of disaster management provides a framework to guide occupational health nurses who are developing disaster management programs.This ecological model assumes that disaster planning, preparedness, response, and recovery occur at various levels of the organization. These nested, increasingly complex organizational levels include individual and family, workplace, community, state, tribal, federal, and global levels.

Occupational hazards and risks faced by Chinese immigrant restaurant workers.

Historically, Chinese immigrants to the United States have worked in restaurants to support their families. Hazards and risks associated with this population's work in restaurants are underrepresented in the literature. This ethnographic study used interviews, participant-observations, and follow-up focus sessions with 18 immigrants from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan to identify potential physical, biological, enviromechanical, chemical, and psychosocial hazards that they face.

Occupational risk among orchard workers: a descriptive study.

Orchard workers are exposed to an array of occupational health and safety hazards that result in injury, illness, and, in some cases, death. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify and explore factors that contribute to occupational risks related to orchard work. Twenty-five Hispanic orchard workers were interviewed.

Defining the roles and functions of occupational health nurses in Japan: results of job analysis.

The purposes of this study were to obtain descriptive information about the job duties and tasks of Japanese occupational health nurses and to compare the roles and functions of occupational health nurses in the United States and Japan. A modified version of a job analysis survey developed by the American Board for Occupational Health Nurses was used to collect data. The findings indicated 62% of Japanese occupational health nurses perform direct care roles, approximately half perform educating or advising and consulting roles, and approximately 40% perform management roles.

Hispanic adolescent farmworkers' perceptions associated with pesticide exposure.

The migrant farmworker population in the United States is a vulnerable and understudied population whose characteristics are constantly shifting. The number of youth involved in agriculture work is increasing, and they, in particular, may be at increased risk for occupational hazards, such as pesticide exposure. The present study utilized an ecological framework for focus group discussions with 33 adolescent migrant farmworkers in Oregon.

Designing effective interventions for small businesses.

This study effectively demonstrated the usefulness of using multiple interventions to achieve worker health and safety. In particular, it illustrates the importance of including engineering and administrative controls in comprehensive programs. Similarly, its use of multiple evaluation techniques, such as self reports of workers, workplace observations, and measurements of toxins increases the reliability of the findings from program evaluations.

Occupational health services at ten U.S. Department of Energy weapons sites.

Background: Nuclear weapons sites are among thousands of federal facilities that are contaminated with a variety of hazardous wastes. Workers at these sites participate in a wide array of activities that can result in their exposure to a variety of hazards.

Methods: The purpose of this study was to describe the occupational health and safety services at ten U.

Applying research to practice. Practical guidelines for occupational health nurses.

Much has been written about the research practice gap--and there is no doubt this gap exists in occupational health nursing. It is an irony that the professionals who would benefit most from occupational health and safety research may be the ones who do not participate in or contribute to research. Closing the gap requires a commitment on the part of both practitioners and researchers.

Planning for biological disasters. Occupational health nurses as "first responders".

1. As a result of recent terrorist events, there is an immediate need for occupational nurses to review their disaster plans and to develop strategies to cope with bioterrorism in their workplaces. 2.

Defining the roles and functions of occupational and environmental health nurses. Results of a national job analysis.

1. Effective occupational health nursing practice requires expertise in the occupational and environmental health sciences, knowledge of principles of business and management, and an understanding of regulatory processes. 2.