Celebrating Occupational Health Nurses: The Unsung Heroes of Workplace Wellness

It’s Occupational Health Nurses Week, April 6-12, a time for us to recognize the nurses who work tirelessly to protect and promote the health, safety, and well-being of workers.  

We particularly want to take this opportunity to honor the contributions of WorkCare’s 240+ nurses. You’ll find them on-site at client workplaces, providing care guidance to employees via our 24/7 telehealth program, and performing essential functions such as program administration, client account oversight, clinical quality assurance, case management, absence and leave management, and wellness education. 

WorkCare employs occupational health nurses (OHNs), registered nurses (RNs), nurse specialists, licensed practical nurses, licensed vocational nurses, nurse case managers, and nurse practitioners.  

“Our on-site nurses are the backbone of workplace wellness, providing immediate care, reducing injuries, ensuring regulatory compliance, and fostering a culture of health that enhances both employee well-being and business productivity,” said Allison Khosroshahin, senior vice president for WorkCare’s on-site operations. 

“We rely on the expertise of our telehealth nurses to ensure that employees with work-related injuries or illnesses receive the best possible care at onset,” said Justin Gauser, senior vice president, occupational health solutions at WorkCare. “Their guidance helps relieve an employee’s anxiety about recovery and provides supervisors with the information they need to make sound job placement decisions.” 

Educational Standards 

According to the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN), OHN Week marks the founding of the American Association of Industrial Nurses on April 12, 1942, by 300 nurses from 16 states. That organization became the AAOHN, which helps nurses and allied professionals achieve their educational goals and supports them throughout their careers. 

Nurses must pass an exam to obtain a license to practice in the state(s) where they work. An associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing is required to become an OHN. Nurse practitioners must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, complete a focused graduate master’s or doctoral nursing program, and pass a national board-certification exam.  

The American Board for Occupational Health Nurses is the only U.S. provider of exams to become a Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN), Certified Occupational Health Nurse – Specialist (COHN-S), or to receive a related case manager designation. To qualify to take the COHN exam, an applicant must have a current RN license or an international equivalent and proof of 3,000 hours of occupational health work experience earned during the past five years.   

Nurses who practice in occupational health settings often have experience in emergency medicine, urgent care, public health, medical specialties such as orthopedics, or family practice. Nurses may obtain a master’s degree in nursing with a focus on occupational, public, or environmental health, or they may seek a doctoral degree to attain an academic, research, or senior leadership position.  

The Nurse’s Role 

Nurses and nurse practitioners who specialize in occupational health often work behind the scenes. Consequently, they may not be visible to the general public. They collaborate with physicians, physician assistants, and medical technicians, human resources directors, risk managers, insurers and claims administrators, and environment, health, and safety professionals.  

They may be the only nurse at a manufacturing plant or part of an on-site clinic team. In some settings, such as hospitals and academic institutions, they are a go-to resource for internal employee health. Some OHNs are employed in occupational health programs or clinics, where they routinely encounter employees from all types of industries, or they respond to calls to telehealth or telemedicine contact centers.  

At WorkCare, nursing responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

• Evaluating work-related symptoms and providing guidance for first aid or medical treatment 
• Managing workers’ compensation cases with the goal of functional recovery 
• Monitoring requests for leave, managing absence, and facilitating return to work 
• Coaching and educating employees on measures for optimal health and well-being 
• Ensuring that all medical exam components are completed and adverse findings are addressed 
• Advising employers on industry-specific legal and regulatory compliance issues 
• Identifying workplace health hazards and recommending mitigation measures 
• Implementing population health management strategies and tracking outcomes 
• Participating in disaster planning and first response in the event of an emergency 

Nurses make critical contributions on a daily basis to protect and promote employee health and contribute to a healthy bottom line for businesses.

“It’s an honor to work beside such knowledgeable, compassionate, and talented professionals,” said Kathleen Wilhelmsen, RN, BSN, CCM, COHN-S, vice president of on-site clinic operations at WorkCare. “Their dedication and commitment to best practices and continuous improvement is impressive. They make a difference in the health and well-being of employees every day.”

We are proud to have them on our team. Contact us to learn more about WorkCare or, if you’re interested in becoming part of the WorkCare team, check out the latest posting on our Careers site.