Sponsored by the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN), this year's observance recognizes and applauds the contributions of the occupational and environmental health nursing profession.
"Our goal in observing an official week for occupational and environmental health nurses (OHNs) is to help employees, employers and the general public better understand the roles and responsibilities of OHNs in furthering the health and safety of the millions of people in our nation's work force," said Susan A. Randolph, president of AAOHN.
Nurses not only are capable to function in a medical environment, but they also are very business savvy, according to Randolph. Many OHNs engage in case management, counseling, health promotion and wellness activities, legal and regulatory compliance, and workplace hazard detection, which aim in improving the health of employees and help contribute to a positive bottom line for business, she said.
The April dates commemorate the inception of the first professional association for occupational and environmental health nurses, which occurred on April 19, 1942, when 300 nurses from 16 states founded the American Association of Industrial Nurses (AAIN), the predecessor to AAOHN.
To learn more about occupational health nursing, AAOHN or National Occupational Health Nursing Week, visit www.aaohn.org/about/ohn_week.