Nurses may specialize in occupational health.
Training for occupational health nursing is generally given through certification programs. According to the Office of Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the American Board for Occupational Health Nurses (ABOHN), Inc. has a leading occupational health nurse program. The organization offers both the Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN) and the Certified Occupational Health Nurse-Specialist (COHN-S) credentials.
Registered Nurses
Training for occupational nurses begins with training as a registered nurse (RN). Before you are eligible to be an occupational nurse, you must first complete the requirements to become a registered nurse. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this includes finishing an Associate, Diploma or Bachelor's program in nursing. After completing one of those programs, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) which is the national licensing tests.
Eligibility
The requirements for the COHN-S are more extensive than those for the COHN. For the COHN, you must have an RN license and either have 3,000 hours of occupational health experience or you must have completed a certificate program in OHN. If you are interested in the ABOHN's COHN-S credential, you must minimally have a Bachelor's in Nursing as well as your RN license. Also, you have the same experience options as the COHN, but you also have the option to complete a graduate degree with a concentration occupational health.
Costs
The costs for the COHN and the COHN-S are the same. As of April 2010, the general application fee is $125 for either certification. The application remains valid for 90 days after ABOHN approval. Within these 90 days, applicants must pay $350 for the examination. If unable to do so, it is possible to pay an additional $50 for a 60-day extension. After passing the test, an applicant must pay a $320 initial certification maintenance fee.
Examination
The computer-based tests for the COHN and COHN-S cover 150 multiple-choice questions. The test lasts for three hours. The COHN exam covers four areas of nursing: the clinician's role, the coordinator's role, the advisor's role and the case manager's role. The test deals with assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of each role. The COHN-S exam also covers the clinician's role, but that's all the two tests have in common. The rest of the COHN-S exam covers the manager's role, the educator's role and the consultant's role.
Recertification
Training for occupational health nurses extends beyond the initial certification. After five years, both registered nurses with COHN and COHN-S must apply to renew their credentialing according to the ABOHN. To be eligible for recertification, certified occupational health nurses must maintain their RN license and have 3,000 hours of work experience specifically in occupational health nursing. Candidates must also have 50 hours of occupational health nursing continuing education hours.
Tags: occupational health, COHN COHN-S, have hours, health nursing, occupational health
