Strategies to facilitate professional development of the occupational health nurse in the occupational health setting

Background: Education and experience are important components in the ability of occupational health nurses (OHNs) to promote high-quality care and competence. OHNs will increasingly require the skills and knowledge to base care on best evidence, to use critical thinking and demonstrate advanced lead...

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Main Authors: Nicolene de Jager, Anna G.W. Nolte, Annie Temane
Format: Article
Language:Afrikaans
Published: AOSIS 2016-10-01
Series:Health SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hsag.co.za/index.php/hsag/article/view/964
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author Nicolene de Jager
Anna G.W. Nolte
Annie Temane
author_facet Nicolene de Jager
Anna G.W. Nolte
Annie Temane
author_sort Nicolene de Jager
collection DOAJ
description Background: Education and experience are important components in the ability of occupational health nurses (OHNs) to promote high-quality care and competence. OHNs will increasingly require the skills and knowledge to base care on best evidence, to use critical thinking and demonstrate advanced leadership and decision-making skills to develop and enhance services in a more complex and diverse occupational healthcare environment. Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the needs for professional development of the OHN in the occupational health setting. Method: An explorative, descriptive, contextual generic and qualitative research method was used in this study. The purposive sampling method was used as the OHNs surveyed described their personal need for professional development in the occupational health setting. Data was collected by means of semi-structured individual interviews. Eight interviews were done by an interviewer who held a doctoral degree in community health nursing and a qualification in occupational health and was affiliated with a private occupational health institution at the time of the study. The interviews were conducted during August 2012. Results: The OHNs reported that professional development needs have to be identified by the OHNs. Short courses need to be designed by training institutions and should be attended by the OHNs to improve their operational functioning on a day-to-day basis in the occupational health setting. The OHNs experienced that their role and function in the workplace were not valued by their managers. The results of this study revealed four major themes, namely constraints hindering the OHN in developing professionally, positive aspects identified by the OHNs regarding the need for professional development, professional development needs of the OHN and suggestions of how to meet the OHNs' professional development needs. Conclusion: There is a need for OHNs to identify their professional development needs and recommendations were made to meet these needs.
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spelling doaj.art-a2bfafcebaba48c5a296044663348c9d2022-12-21T23:00:00ZafrAOSISHealth SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences1025-98482071-97362016-10-0121026127010.4102/hsag.v21i0.964665Strategies to facilitate professional development of the occupational health nurse in the occupational health settingNicolene de Jager0Anna G.W. Nolte1Annie Temane2Department of Nursing, University of JohannesburgDepartment of Nursing, University of JohannesburgDepartment of Nursing, University of JohannesburgBackground: Education and experience are important components in the ability of occupational health nurses (OHNs) to promote high-quality care and competence. OHNs will increasingly require the skills and knowledge to base care on best evidence, to use critical thinking and demonstrate advanced leadership and decision-making skills to develop and enhance services in a more complex and diverse occupational healthcare environment. Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the needs for professional development of the OHN in the occupational health setting. Method: An explorative, descriptive, contextual generic and qualitative research method was used in this study. The purposive sampling method was used as the OHNs surveyed described their personal need for professional development in the occupational health setting. Data was collected by means of semi-structured individual interviews. Eight interviews were done by an interviewer who held a doctoral degree in community health nursing and a qualification in occupational health and was affiliated with a private occupational health institution at the time of the study. The interviews were conducted during August 2012. Results: The OHNs reported that professional development needs have to be identified by the OHNs. Short courses need to be designed by training institutions and should be attended by the OHNs to improve their operational functioning on a day-to-day basis in the occupational health setting. The OHNs experienced that their role and function in the workplace were not valued by their managers. The results of this study revealed four major themes, namely constraints hindering the OHN in developing professionally, positive aspects identified by the OHNs regarding the need for professional development, professional development needs of the OHN and suggestions of how to meet the OHNs' professional development needs. Conclusion: There is a need for OHNs to identify their professional development needs and recommendations were made to meet these needs.https://hsag.co.za/index.php/hsag/article/view/964Professional developmentOccupational health nurseOccupational health setting
spellingShingle Nicolene de Jager
Anna G.W. Nolte
Annie Temane
Strategies to facilitate professional development of the occupational health nurse in the occupational health setting
Health SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
Professional development
Occupational health nurse
Occupational health setting
title Strategies to facilitate professional development of the occupational health nurse in the occupational health setting
title_full Strategies to facilitate professional development of the occupational health nurse in the occupational health setting
title_fullStr Strategies to facilitate professional development of the occupational health nurse in the occupational health setting
title_full_unstemmed Strategies to facilitate professional development of the occupational health nurse in the occupational health setting
title_short Strategies to facilitate professional development of the occupational health nurse in the occupational health setting
title_sort strategies to facilitate professional development of the occupational health nurse in the occupational health setting
topic Professional development
Occupational health nurse
Occupational health setting
url https://hsag.co.za/index.php/hsag/article/view/964
work_keys_str_mv AT nicolenedejager strategiestofacilitateprofessionaldevelopmentoftheoccupationalhealthnurseintheoccupationalhealthsetting
AT annagwnolte strategiestofacilitateprofessionaldevelopmentoftheoccupationalhealthnurseintheoccupationalhealthsetting
AT annietemane strategiestofacilitateprofessionaldevelopmentoftheoccupationalhealthnurseintheoccupationalhealthsetting