CORPORATE PERSPECTIVE OF THE ROLE OF THE OCCUPATIONAL-HEALTH NURSE

One hundred and twenty-three Ohio employers were surveyed about expect ations for occupational health nurse performance of 20 current and des ired future activities. Employers identified activities that (a) the n urse was currently performing, or (b) would be desired in the future, or (c) were not appropriate for the nurse. Findings showed occupationa l health nurses are counseling employees, treating illness and injury, evaluating safe return to work, and tracking workers' compensation ca ses. Activities most desired in the future are analyses of trends in h ealth programs and study of cost-effective health program alternatives . Activities most frequently selected require skills of evaluation, bu dgeting, and cost-benefit analysis. Most occupational health nurses ha ve not had the opportunity to learn skills of fiscal management; there fore meeting employer expectations will require new education. (C) 199 3 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.