Occupational Health Nurse
What is the work like?
As an occupational health nurse you would encourage better health and wellbeing in workers. Your main duties could include:
- carrying out pre-employment medicals
- assessing and treating employees who are injured or become ill at work
- providing counselling, support, health education and advice
- advising management on health and safety issues
- giving sickness absence advice
- carrying out risk assessments
- training employees in first aid
- maintaining and analysing employee health records and statistics
- developing and managing emergency procedures.
You may also carry out vaccinations and phlebotomy (taking blood samples for testing).
You could work alone or as part of a team of health and safety experts. You may be based in a large organisation, such as a hospital, local authority, airline or retail chain, or work with a private consultancy firm used by some smaller employers to give specialist, one-off advice.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You will usually need between one and two years' professional experience as a qualified nurse before you can train as an occupational health nurse. Traditionally, you needed to be qualified in the adult or mental health branches of nursing. However, many course providers and employers will now accept registered nurses in any branch.
To qualify as a nurse you need a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) approved degree or Diploma of Higher Education. To get on to a course, you will usually need:
- nursing diploma – five GCSEs (A-C) preferably in English, maths and/or a science-based subject
- nursing degree – the same GCSE grades as the diploma, plus two or three A levels, possibly including a biological science
- a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check
- to show evidence of your ‘good health and good character’.
Check with course providers (listed on the UCAS website) for exact entry details because alternative qualifications, such as an Access to Higher Education course, may also be accepted. See relevant nursing job profiles for details.
Training as an occupational health nurse involves taking a (shortened) degree or postgraduate occupational health nursing programme leading to registration as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse.
Courses are run on a one-year full-time or two years part-time basis, including placements in the workplace (public or private sector). You would also study subjects such as:
- health surveillance and the effect of work on the health of the workforce
- health promotion (physical and psychological)
- health and safety legislation
- managing occupational disease.
NHS Careers and the NMC have details of course providers.
What further training and development can I do?
As a qualified occupational health nurse, you will be expected to keep your nursing skills up to date and continue to develop your knowledge of health and safety legislation.
You must also renew your professional registration with the NMC every three years. To re-register you need to have worked a minimum of 450 hours and completed at least 35 hours' professional development in the past three years. Check with the NMC for details.
If you have had a break from working as a nurse and your registration has lapsed you will need to take a return-to-practice course. Courses are available throughout the UK and include a mixture of theory and clinical placements. Contact your local NHS Trust for details.
Where can I go for more information?
PO Box 376Bristol
BS99 3EY
Tel: 0845 606 0655
Bridgend Road
Llanharan
CF72 9RP
Tel: 01443 233 333
Shore Road
Newtownabbey
Co Antrim
BT37 0QB
Tel: 08700 400 700
London
W1B 1PZ
Tel: 020 7637 7181
Registration contacts
Overseas: 020 7333 6600
General: 020 7333 9333
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
Related profiles...
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Newly qualified nurses working in the NHS can earn around £20,200 a year.
- Occupational health nurses can earn between £24,000 and £32,000.
- Managers can earn around £38,000 to £53,000.
Extra allowances may be paid to those living in or around London.
Figures are a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
Your hours of work could vary depending on your employer. However, you are likely to work 37.5 to 40 hours a week, which may involve a rota or shift pattern, including weekends, evenings and nights. Part-time or flexible hours may also be available.
You will usually work in a clean, bright examination room.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- good communication skills
- the ability to relate to people from a variety of backgrounds
- the ability to teach people (about health and safety issues, for instance)
- assertiveness to make sure instructions on heath and safety issues are carried out
- good powers of observation, with the ability to deal with health and safety risks as they arise
- the ability to remain calm and think clearly in an emergency
- awareness of issues surrounding confidentiality and data protection
- the ability to work on your own initiative and as part of a team
- a responsible attitude to work.
What opportunities are there?
You could work with a variety of organisations in settings ranging from factories and department stores to offices, universities and hospitals. You may be employed directly or through a private consultancy or NHS trust.
With experience, you could move into self-employment and work as an occupational health consultant.
Alternatively, you may be able to progress into a management position, leading a team of occupational health staff or running an occupational health centre. It may also be possible to move into health service management or nurse training (lecturing).
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