Corporate expectations for occupational health nurses' activities

Abstract

1. Reports from corporate management personnel indicated occupational health nurses currently performing fewer activities than the reports from occupational health or medical personnel, but they did not differ in regard to future activities. 2. Two areas, ''generate analyses on trends in health promotion, risk reduction, and health care expenditures'' and ''conduct research to determine cost effective alternatives for health care programs and services,'' may represent an opportunity for occupational health nurses to expand their roles and receive recognition for their contributions. 3. Occupational health nurses can use this information regarding corporate expectations: to promote support for the development of new programs; to select educational programs which will prepare them to perform these activities; and to justify corporate support for advanced education. 4. Many of the desired future activities relate to corporate interest in cost containment. Occupational health nurses may be able to use this knowledge to obtain support for new programs they wish to develop.