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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Occupational Health Nurse

💰 $60,000 - $100,000

HealthcareNursingOccupational Health

🎯 Role Definition

An Occupational Health Nurse (OHN) delivers clinical nursing care, injury and illness triage, case management, health surveillance and prevention services in workplace and industrial environments. The OHN protects employee health, supports return-to-work programs, ensures regulatory compliance (OSHA, HIPAA, workers' compensation), and partners with Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), HR, and leadership to reduce workplace risk, manage exposures, and deliver wellness and immunization programs. This role requires clinical judgment, strong communication with multidisciplinary stakeholders, and expertise in occupational health protocols, documentation, and program development.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Staff Registered Nurse (Emergency, Primary Care, or Urgent Care)
  • Clinic Nurse or Community Health Nurse
  • Safety Technician or Health & Safety Coordinator

Advancement To:

  • Senior Occupational Health Nurse / Lead OHN
  • Occupational Health Nurse Manager or Clinic Manager
  • Nurse Case Manager / Workers' Compensation Clinical Lead
  • Director of Occupational Health & Wellness or EHS Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Workers' Compensation Specialist or Case Manager
  • Corporate Wellness Program Manager
  • Industrial Hygienist (with additional training)
  • HR Benefits / Disability Management Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Provide on-site triage, first aid and clinical care for acute occupational injuries and illnesses, including wound care, splinting, sutures/steri-strips removal, emergency stabilization, and coordination of ambulance/ER transfers when required.
  • Conduct comprehensive case management for work-related injuries and illnesses: document clinical findings, coordinate with treating physicians, manage workers' compensation claims, facilitate medical referrals, and track return-to-work outcomes and restricted duty plans.
  • Perform pre-placement and pre-employment medical screenings (including occupational health questionnaires, physical exams, immunization verification, and baseline testing) to assess fitness-for-duty and compliance with role-specific medical requirements.
  • Administer and manage immunization and vaccination programs (e.g., influenza, hepatitis B, Tdap, COVID-19), maintain accurate immunization records, and lead mass vaccination clinics for site populations.
  • Deliver occupational health surveillance programs such as audiometry, spirometry, pulmonary function baseline and periodic testing, TB screening (TST and IGRA), and bloodborne pathogen exposure follow-up in accordance with OSHA and internal policies.
  • Coordinate respirator fit testing (qualitative and quantitative), maintain respirator medical clearances, and document fitness-for-duty determinations for respirator use and other PPE-dependent tasks.
  • Triage and manage employee exposures to hazardous substances (chemical, biological, radiation), perform exposure risk assessments, initiate appropriate medical surveillance and post-exposure prophylaxis, and liaise with industrial hygienists.
  • Develop, implement and review workplace health programs focused on injury prevention, ergonomics assessments, musculoskeletal disorder prevention, health promotion, chronic disease management, and lifestyle risk reduction.
  • Maintain HIPAA-compliant medical records and clinical documentation in electronic health records (EHR/EMR) and occupational health systems; ensure accurate OSHA 300/300A log entries and timely regulatory reporting.
  • Serve as the primary clinical liaison with physicians, specialists, case managers, HR, claims adjusters, and insurance providers to coordinate care plans, clarify work restrictions and ensure timely return-to-work or transitional duty placements.
  • Conduct job site walkthroughs and hazard assessments to identify health risks, recommend corrective actions, and collaborate with safety and operations teams to implement risk mitigation plans.
  • Provide ongoing health education and training to employees and leadership on topics such as infection control, bloodborne pathogens, CPR/first aid, ergonomic best practices, substance use policies, stress management, and wellness resources.
  • Lead occupational health clinic operations including scheduling, inventory management of medical supplies and controlled medications, maintenance of AEDs and emergency equipment, and oversight of clinic hygiene and quality assurance practices.
  • Manage drug and alcohol testing programs, including pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion, post-accident and return-to-duty testing; ensure chain-of-custody procedures, accurate documentation, and adherence to federal/state regulations.
  • Conduct fitness-for-duty evaluations and impairment assessments, document objective clinical findings, and provide recommendations for work accommodations, restrictions, or medical referrals when indicated.
  • Implement and monitor medical surveillance programs for specialty exposures (e.g., lead, asbestos, silica, isocyanates), coordinate lab testing schedules, and ensure regulatory compliance with industry-specific mandates.
  • Provide telehealth occupational health consultations and stretch-to-fit remote triage when onsite coverage is limited, documenting assessments and directing on-site personnel to appropriate care.
  • Prepare and analyze monthly/quarterly occupational health metrics and reports: injury trends, lost-time rates, case management KPIs, vaccination uptake, and health program ROI to inform leadership and improve programs.
  • Participate in emergency response planning and serve as a clinical resource during workplace incidents, mass casualty drills, disaster response, and coordinated clinic activation for outbreak control.
  • Supervise and mentor allied clinic staff, medical assistants, EMTs and contracted occupational health providers, ensuring clinical competency, adherence to policies, and continuous professional development.
  • Maintain current certifications (BLS/CPR, ACLS if required), licensure renewal, and professional development such as COHN/COHN-S, Certified Occupational Health Nurse credentials, or relevant public health certifications.

Secondary Functions

  • Support program-level data collection, quality improvement initiatives, and ad-hoc reporting to leadership and EHS partners to identify trends and drive preventive actions.
  • Collaborate with HR and benefits teams to support disability management, leave of absence coordination, FMLA documentation, and reasonable accommodation processes.
  • Participate in cross-functional teams to design and implement workplace wellness campaigns, health fairs, biometric screening events, and ergonomic interventions.
  • Maintain vendor relationships and manage contracts for on-site clinic services, mobile health units, laboratory services, and occupational health vendors.
  • Assist in budget planning for occupational health clinic operations, medical supplies, and training programs; recommend cost-effective clinical protocols and preventive measures.
  • Contribute to policy development for workplace health protocols, infectious disease preparedness (exposure control plans and pandemic response), and occupational medical guidelines.
  • Represent the occupational health function in incident investigations, root-cause analyses, and corrective action planning relating to employee injuries and health events.
  • Facilitate confidential employee counseling and connections to EAPs (Employee Assistance Programs) or community resources for behavioral health, substance use, and chronic disease support.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Active Registered Nurse (RN) license in state of practice; nursing license compact/reciprocity knowledge as applicable.
  • Certification or coursework in Occupational Health Nursing (COHN, COHN-S) preferred; demonstrated occupational medicine experience.
  • Clinical skills: venipuncture/phlebotomy, wound care, suturing/steri-strip management, IV/fluids (if clinic scope), medication administration and vaccine handling.
  • Proficiency with Electronic Health Records (EHR/EMR) and occupational health software (e.g., Medgate, OccHealth, Workhealth, or equivalent).
  • Expertise in workers' compensation processes, case management, and liaison with claims administrators and external providers.
  • Experience conducting and interpreting occupational health surveillance testing: audiometry, spirometry, TB screening, vision screening, and lab specimen coordination.
  • Knowledge of regulatory requirements: OSHA (recordkeeping, HCP, bloodborne pathogens), HIPAA, DOT/FMCSA protocols, and state-specific testing rules.
  • Respirator fit testing (qualitative/quantitative) and medical clearance processes; experience managing respirator programs and PPE medical evaluations.
  • Competence in managing drug & alcohol testing programs, including chain-of-custody and MRO liaison.
  • Familiarity with infection control, exposure control plans, post-exposure prophylaxis protocols, and vaccine cold chain management.
  • Basic familiarity with ergonomic assessment techniques and recommendations for MSD prevention.
  • Telehealth/remote triage capabilities and experience using telemedicine platforms for occupational consultations.

Soft Skills

  • Clear, empathetic and confidential communicator able to interact with employees, leadership, physicians, unions, and third-party administrators.
  • Strong clinical judgment and decision-making under pressure, including triage and escalation.
  • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail for accurate clinical documentation, reporting, and follow-up.
  • Collaborative team player with the ability to influence cross-functional partners and advocate for employee health.
  • Cultural sensitivity and confidentiality when managing diverse populations and sensitive medical information.
  • Problem-solving mindset with a focus on prevention, process improvement and measurable outcomes.
  • Time management and multitasking in a fast-paced onsite or multi-site clinic environment.
  • Leadership and mentoring capability to develop junior clinical staff and drive performance.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Active Registered Nurse (RN) license; Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or BSN required, depending on employer.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred; Master’s degree in Nursing, Public Health or Occupational Health is a plus.
  • Certification in Occupational Health Nursing (COHN / COHN-S) or Certified Occupational Health Nurse preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Nursing
  • Occupational and Environmental Health
  • Public Health
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Industrial Hygiene (supplemental coursework)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 2–5 years clinical RN experience with 2+ years in occupational health, urgent care, emergency, industrial or corporate health clinic settings.

Preferred:

  • 3–7+ years specialized occupational health nursing experience with demonstrable workers' compensation case management, occupational surveillance, and regulatory compliance background.
  • Experience supporting industrial operations, large corporate worksites, or remote/multi-site clinic programs preferred.
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