Occupational Health Registered Nurse

Occupational Health Registered Nurse Job Summary The Occupational Health Registered Nurse provides and coordinates services that protect the health and safety of Insight Coldwater Hospital employees and other covered workforce members. The RN applies the nursing process to prevent occupational injury and illness, assess workplace health risks, coordinate screening and immunization, manage exposure follow-up, and support safe return to work.

The RN reports administratively to the Director of CR-RISQ and practices within Michigan RN scope, organizational policy, and physician-approved standing orders and protocols. A designated physician provides medical direction, consultation, and escalation support. Duties All duties listed below are essential unless noted otherwise.

1. Provides evidence-based occupational health nursing assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation; escalates conditions requiring medical diagnosis, prescribing, treatment changes, or medical clearance to the designated physician or authorized provider.
2. Coordinates physician-approved standing orders, referral criteria, exposure pathways, and clinical consultation. Maintains an established after-hours referral process so urgent exposures receive prompt evaluation when the RN is unavailable.
3. Completes post-offer, pre-placement and job-related periodic or episodic health assessments; reviews essential job functions, occupational risks, health history, immunization status, and screening needs under approved protocols.
4. Administers or coordinates immunizations and immunity testing using current CDC and ACIP recommendations, authorized orders, and organizational requirements. Documents consent, contraindications, declinations, adverse events, and follow-up.
5. Coordinates baseline tuberculosis risk assessment, symptom review, and indicated testing; provides annual education and exposure follow-up. Uses current CDC recommendations and applicable state requirements to determine follow-up rather than routinely repeating annual tests for all personnel.
6. Provides immediate nursing assessment after sharps injuries, blood or body-fluid exposures, and other infectious exposures. Coordinates source evaluation, ordered baseline testing, prompt provider evaluation for post-exposure prophylaxis, counseling, and follow-up under current guidance; does not delay urgent referral while awaiting source results.
7. Works with Infection Prevention and the designated physician to assess communicable disease exposures and illness, identify affected personnel, and implement approved testing, monitoring, work restriction, and return-to-work protocols.
8. Assesses work-related injury and illness; provides first aid and nursing care within competency, initiates emergency response when needed, arranges medical referral, and monitors follow-up and recovery.
9. Coordinates occupational injury case management with the treating provider, Human Resources, department leadership, and the workers compensation administrator. Tracks appointments and restrictions and supports continuity of care without determining claim eligibility or benefits.
10. Coordinates fitness-for-duty and return-to-work processes using essential job functions and authorized provider documentation. Communicates necessary functional restrictions to authorized leaders and Human Resources; refers medical clearance and employment or accommodation decisions to the responsible provider and employer.
11. Supports respiratory protection by coordinating confidential medical evaluation and confirming the designated physician or authorized licensed clinician has provided clearance before fit testing or required use. Conducts or coordinates fit testing when trained, including initial, annual, and additional testing as indicated; tracks clearance, fit, training, and follow-up.
12. Collaborates with Safety, Infection Prevention, Pharmacy, and department leaders to identify biological, chemical, physical, ergonomic, and psychosocial hazards and recommend prevention measures. Participates in injury and exposure reviews and supports safer work practices, sharps prevention, safe patient handling, and workplace violence prevention.
13. Coordinates risk-based medical surveillance for identified workplace exposures, including hazardous drugs, chemicals, noise, or other hazards when applicable. Arranges indicated testing and provider review; performs specialized testing only when trained, validated, and authorized.
14. Maintains complete, timely, confidential occupational health records separate from general personnel records. Applies role-based access, authorized disclosure, employee access processes, and applicable record-retention requirements; shares only information needed for the authorized purpose.
15. Maintains screening, vaccination, exposure, injury, and respiratory-protection tracking systems. Identifies overdue requirements, arranges follow-up, and reports compliance status without unnecessary disclosure of medical information.
16. Collects and analyzes aggregate occupational health data to identify trends and improvement opportunities. Reports measures such as immunization coverage, screening completion, fit-testing compliance, exposure response, injury trends, and follow-up completion to CR-RISQ and appropriate committees.
17. Provides practical education on exposure reporting, infection prevention, immunizations, respiratory protection, injury prevention, and assigned occupational hazards. Evaluates understanding and reinforces prompt reporting and access to care.
18. Supports workforce wellbeing through education and referral to appropriate health, behavioral health, and employee assistance resources. Identifies workplace factors contributing to fatigue, distress, or burnout and collaborates with leaders on system improvements.
19. Develops and reviews occupational health policies, workflows, and emergency preparedness processes using current evidence and applicable requirements. Supports regulatory readiness and collaborates on assigned OSHA and MIOSHA documentation and reporting.
20. Maintains safe vaccine and medication storage, temperature monitoring, supply inventory, infection prevention, and equipment quality checks. Performs testing and clinical procedures under authorized orders and applicable quality requirements.
21. Maintains RN licensure, continuing education, and competency in assigned occupational health services. Seeks consultation when a concern exceeds authority, knowledge, or resources and communicates program needs to the Director of CR-RISQ.
22. Performs other related duties within RN licensure, demonstrated competency, and organizational policy as assigned. Required Qualifications Education: Associate degree in nursing from an accredited nursing program. Skills: Occupational health assessment and triage; injury and exposure follow-up; immunization and medication administration; confidential documentation; case coordination; staff education; data tracking and trend analysis; sound clinical judgment; and clear written and verbal communication. Ability to work independently and collaborate across departments. Working knowledge of CDC guidance, applicable OSHA and MIOSHA requirements, infection prevention, and employee medical-record confidentiality. Years of Experience: Three years of professional RN experience in a clinical setting. License: Current, unrestricted Registered Nurse license in the State of Michigan. Certification: Current Basic Life Support certification. Completion of competency validation for assigned immunization, testing, exposure management, and respiratory-protection duties before independent performance.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Skills: Experience with occupational health records or software, workers compensation case coordination, hazard surveillance, quality improvement, policy development, and healthcare regulatory readiness. Years of Experience: Two years in occupational health, employee health, infection prevention, emergency nursing, ambulatory care, case management, or a closely related setting.

Certification: Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN) or Certified Occupational Health Nurse-Specialist (COHN-S). Relevant training for specialized surveillance testing when assigned. Physical Requirements and Working Conditions Physical Requirements: Ability to perform nursing assessment and assigned clinical procedures; communicate in person, by telephone, and electronically; use a computer for sustained periods; and move throughout the facility.

Requires sitting, standing, walking, bending, reaching, and fine motor skills; occasional lifting or carrying up to 25 pounds; and use of required protective equipment.

Essential functions

may be performed with reasonable accommodation. Personal Protective Equipment: Uses gloves, gowns, eye and face protection, masks, fit-tested respirators, and other PPE appropriate to anticipated exposure and organizational policy. Physical Demands: Office and clinical work with possible exposure to blood, body fluids, sharps, infectious diseases, cleaning products, and other healthcare hazards.

Responds to urgent occupational health events during assigned coverage hours and follows established escalation and after-hours referral procedures.