September 26, 2022 | Net Health

3 Minute Read

The Role of OccHealth Nurses as Teachers and Health Experts

Occupational Health (OccHealth) nurses need to stay abreast of changing public health situations and regulations to keep the workplace healthy and compliant. They also need to communicate this knowledge to employees.

Below, we’ll look at ways OccHealth nurses can manage their roles as teachers and health experts in healthcare settings.

Managing Challenges in Healthcare Settings

It’s not uncommon for nurses in charge of employee compliance to face challenges when explaining regulations and compliance mandates to other workers in the healthcare field. OccHealth nurses must find a way to deliver this information despite potential issues such as:

  • Challenges to their authority or expertise from medical doctors.
  • Opposition from staff without the benefit of a health background.
  • Conflicting political and religious beliefs towards public health mandates.
  • Colleagues with busy schedules who think of regulatory compliance as a low priority.
  • Changing healthcare regulations, especially in light of the COVID pandemic.

These challenges conspire to limit OccHealth nurses’ influence when managing risk, complying with health regulations, and educating staff on new health protocols.  

Tools and Tips for Improving OccHealth Nurses’ Skills as Teacher-Experts

While workplace health management is complex, it’s crucial for OccHealth nurses to hone their skills and onboard the right tools to make education, data collection, and compliance more manageable and more efficient for everyone.

Nurses can take advantage of the following tools and tips to help them establish their authority as health experts and serve as educational leaders in the healthcare workplace:

  • Work with hospital administrators to highlight the role and authority of OccHealth nurses in maintaining a compliant workplace.
  • Gather evidence-based resources (such as federal and state public health websites), so you have easy access to news on changing regulations.
  • Make communication skills a priority when hiring staff into OccHealth positions.
  • Recognize that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to educating employees in the healthcare workplace since educational backgrounds vary widely.
  • Tailor your approach to educating workers to fit the specific needs of each audience.
  • Research OccHealth software that allows you to track compliance and provide employees with easy access to the best health resources.
  • Use OccHealth healthcare software to track compliance, so you have detailed information on where problems lie.

Nurses as Healthcare Leaders

Nurses in charge of employee health have many responsibilities and serve different groups. But by managing expectations, getting support for their authority, staying up-to-date on the latest health mandates, and using software to organize occupational health data, nurses can step into leadership roles and serve as teachers and health experts to a wide range of healthcare workers.  

3 Best Practices for OccHealth Nurses

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