Ann R. Cox

Competencies in occupational and environmental health nursing. Practice in the new millennium. American Association of Occupational Health Nurses.

T he rapidly changing climate of health care, with advances in scientific and professional knowledge and technology, is characterized by growing expectations on the part of employers, consumers, and regulatory bodies for high quality, cost effective, and competent care. Occupational and environmental health nurses increasingly are held accountable for possessing the skills and abilities necessary to provide competent care and produce desired outcomes. As changes in the health care delivery system have been proposed and implemented to address these issues, many nursing and non-nursing groups and organizations have spearheaded initiatives related to competency development and verification for health care professionals. It is the responsibility of the American Association of Occupational Health

Expanding horizons: Integrating environmental health in occupational health nursing

1. Environmental hazards are ubiquitous. Many exist in the workplace or occur as a result of work process exposures. 2. Environmental health is a natural component of the expanding practice of occupational health nursing. 3. AAOHNs vision for occupational and environmental health will continue to set the standard and provide leadership in the specialty.

Advancing the profession of occupational health nursing: AAOHN's strategic planning process

1. AAOHNs strategic plan for 1993-98 was developed through a collaborative effort with emphasis on member input. 2. A model for the strategic plan which emphasized data acquisition and analysis was developed. 3. A revised mission statement and standards for occupational health nursing practice, along with expanded scope of practice, were developed.

The art of strategic planning. Creating the future path.

I n 2002, the American Association of Occupational Health Nursing (AAOHN) will celebrate 60 years of leadership in workplace health and safety. A significant activity in ensuring the long term success of AAOHN is planning strategically for the future and determining the organizational strategy that effectively positions the profession of occupational and environmental nursing as the authority on health, safety, productivity, and disability management for worker populations. Strategic planning is not new to AAOHN. The Association completed work on its first strategic plan (5 year) in 1989. Because of the rapidly changing environment and the need to respond faster, subsequent plans were for 3 years. Common to all of the strategic planning processes is the concomitant progression of the Association to the next level of organizational complexity and maturity, which in tum creates both challenges and opportunities. Recognizing that the Association operates in a dynamic and demanding environment and needs to remain relevant as a business and competitive as a profession, the planning team, comprised of board members and staff, knew it had to embrace the new rules of strategic planning. Strategic planning is now viewed as an ongoing process. Environmental scanning, a component of strategic planning, is given the highest priority.As AAOHN scans the profession it serves and examines trends affecting all associations, the association will need to make adjustments in its strategic plan on an ongoing basis. Starting in September 1999, AAOHN initiated the fourth strategic planning process with facilitated planning sessions of board members and staff. As a part of this process, the planning team addressed the following: • The AAOHNs current mission, goals, and objectives. • Organizational assessment, both internal and external. • Analysis of trends (e.g., business, health care, profession, competition, nonprofit sector) • Analysis of AAOHNs position in the marketplace.

Planning for the future of occupational health nursing. Part II: Comprehensive membership survey.

T his article presents the more significant results of the comprehensive membership survey. It describes in general terms some of the findings related to demographics and reasonsfor joining AAOHN, including work environment, government and public relations, future challenges for the profession of occupational health nursing, and member services. Approximately 3,500 surveys were distributed and 1,799 postage-paid anonymous responses were returned and analyzed to form the final report.