Susan A. Randolph

Health and Gender Comparisons in the Long-Haul Trucking Industry: A Pilot Study

This descriptive pilot study was conducted to determine whether health conditions and health care access differ between male and female long-haul truck drivers. Data indicated that 54% of men and 66% of women had a health care provider, but 21% of men and 35% of women had no health insurance. Male and female drivers both reported common health problems (e.g., back pain, sinus problems, hypertension, headaches, and arthritis). While working, drivers of each gender often waited until returning home to seek treatment for health problems. Approximately half of the drivers expressed dissatisfaction with health care while “on the road.” Occupational and environmental health nurses could address the health needs of drivers by conducting examinations and distributing wellness information at truck stop clinics and from mobile health vans, posting health information within truck stop driver lounges, creating interactive websites with real-time health care information, attending trucker trade shows to conduct health screenings, or providing health information through occupational or trade magazines and newsletters.

What Makes a Successful Hearing Conservation Program

Acute influenza disease is characterized by the abrupt onset of respiratory and other general signs and symptoms such as cough, sore throat, rhinitis, fever, myalgia, headache, and malaise. Common complications include pneumonia, exacerbation of underlying health conditions such as cardiac and respiratory disease, sinusitis, and otitis media. More serious complications include myositis, myocarditis, and encephalitis. In recent years, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pneumonia has been on the rise as a complication of influenza, in both individuals with chronic health conditions and those who are otherwise healthy (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2008). Early in the 20th century, influ-

The Opioid Epidemic

The opioid crisis has been declared a national emergency. A multifaceted approach is needed to reduce opioid morbidity and mortality, and occupational health nurses should be actively involved in their workplaces.

Fatigue Risk Management

The occupational and environmental health nurse can be instrumental in developing a fatigue risk management system.

Occupational health nursing education

Occupational health nursing academic education is generally provided at the specialty level through masters and doctoral degree preparation. This graduate education provides preparation for administrative, occupational health specialist, practitioner, academician, and researcher roles. Guided by nursing science, this specialty education encompasses a comprehensive curriculum that requires occupational health and safety coursework, practicum experience, and interdisciplinary learning.

Limited duty work: an innovative approach to early return to work.

One of the costly and difficult problems facing industry today is providing work for employees who have been injured on the job and are limited to some degree following the injury. Limited duty work is a job that is appropriate to an injured workers skills, interests, and capabilities. One method of developing a plan for limited duty work is to set up a multidisciplinary task force to determine the most appropriate type of program for a particular organization. Intervention by the occupational health nurse is essential to the positive outcome of the rehabilitative process. Early return to productive work is an important facet of rehabilitation.

Synthetic drugs: bath salts and spice.

Occupational and environmental health nurses should be aware of bath salts and spice as drugs of abuse that have increased in recent years and educate workers and management about their harmful effects.

The Family and Medical Leave Act: implications for occupational and environmental health nursing.

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was enacted in 1993 to balance the demands of the workplace with the needs of families. Balancing work and family responsibilities will affect most workers as they experience their own serious illness or care for a child or a parent. The FMLA continues to present challenges regarding medical certifications, recordkeeping, intermittent leave management, and lack of understanding by employees and employers about rights and responsibilities under the law. This article discusses the rights and responsibilities of both parties. It also discusses how the occupational and environmental health nurse can bridge the gap between meeting the needs of the employee and those of the employer by serving as educator, advocate, and liaison/collaborator, leading to measurable cost savings for the employer and immeasurable benefits for the employee.

Medication management in the workplace.

M edications have long been recognized as part of a treatment regimen for workers with occupational or non-occupational injuries and illnesses. They are viewed as an accepted and essential service for employees. The use of employer provided medications is beneficial for several reasons: the employees injury or illness is treated promptly, the employees symptoms are relieved, the employee spends less time away from work, and the employer saves money in production costs (AAOHN, 1995; Tolbert, 1987). However, minimal attention has been devoted to overall medication management in the workplace. Before occupational health nurses make decisions about what medications are provided, they need to consider several factors: regulations and practice setting variables, options for over the counter (OTC) medication administration, use of prescription medications in the

Using social media and networking in health care.

Occupational health nurses must understand the benefits, risks, and consequences of participating in social media and networking.