Find the Best Occupational Health Nurse Jobs and Vacancies Here’s

Are you interested in a career that involves working with others caring about health and safety, and being good in emergency situations? If so, becoming an occupational health nurse might be the right path for you. In this profession, you'll need to complete a four-year post-secondary education and earn certification in occupational health and safety. The average salary for this position is $46.21 per hour. Additionally, there is a demand for approximately 38,900 occupational health nurses per province each year.

Role of an Occupational Health Nurse

As an occupational health nurse, you will play a crucial role in delivering health education programs to employer organizations. Your primary focus will be promoting employee health, safety, and wellness in the workplace. You'll also be responsible for helping sick or injured employees recover and return to work. This involves identifying and treating work-related injuries and illnesses, conducting various testing and screening programs, providing emergency care, and collaborating with other healthcare professionals.

Responsibilities and Skills

Your duties may also include planning and implementing employee wellness programs, ensuring compliance with occupational health and safety laws, managing disability cases, identifying hazards in the work environment, collecting and analyzing data, and maintaining employee health records. Additionally, you may be involved in designing and leading training programs, managing budgets, operating medical equipment, and suggesting health and safety policies based on research findings.

Work Settings and Requirements

Occupational health nurses can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, government agencies, educational institutions, and industrial environments. Although they typically have standard weekday office hours, they may need to work evening or weekend shifts in industrial settings. Some travel may also be required for companies with multiple locations.

Skills and Qualifications

To excel as an occupational health nurse, you'll need strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, excellent communication skills, and the ability to make quick decisions under pressure. Additionally, having patience, understanding, and a caring attitude is essential. You should be flexible, enthusiastic, and able to work independently as well as with others. Good negotiation and leadership skills are valuable for resolving conflicts and leading teams. Basic knowledge of business principles and research principles is also beneficial.

Job Classifications and Growth

In terms of job classifications, occupational health nurses fall under various NOC (National Occupational Classification) codes, including 2006 NOC: Occupational Health Nurses (3152.2), 2006 NOC-S: Registered Nurses (D112), 2011 NOC: Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (3012), 2016 NOC: Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (3012), and 2021 NOC: Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (31301).

Embarking on a career as an occupational health nurse can be rewarding both professionally and personally. If you have a passion for helping others, ensuring workplace safety, and promoting wellness, this field may be a perfect fit for you.