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Occupational and Environmental Health Minor
The broad and interdisciplinary field of occupational and environmental health is experiencing growing interest with the wider emphasis on safety in our environment whether in the community (work, school, home) or the natural ambient environment.
The Occupational and Environmental Health (OEH) nursing minor affords students in a Master's program the opportunity to enroll in a sequence of five courses. This additional training prepares nurses for advanced practice roles in OEH nursing in a variety of settings (e.g., health care facilities, community programs, schools, industry, or government agencies). The set of courses in the OEH minor can also support PhD students with OEH-related research to better prepare them to meet the needs of working populations. Students have the opportunity to enroll in an additional sequence of courses in Occupational and Environmental Health. Students from other disciplines across the University, including environmental science and public health or business administration, may also want to take advantage of the distinctive courses offered. The field of occupational and environmental health (OEH) is growing steadily and the master's option addresses the need for well-educated professionals in the workplace to provide direct care, develop creative health care approaches and prevention programming, and administer occupational environmental business. The OEH program has been in place since 1986, and in recent years has received NIOSH funding to support tuition for eligible students. The course of study is diverse and the curriculum stresses the multidisciplinary, independent, and innovative nature of OEH. A strong clinical focus provides a precepted practice in corporate and plant settings, community practices, and entrepreneurial businesses. Students work with prominent business and health care executives, environmental science leaders, and occupational health business owners. Alumni are routinely sought by a wide variety of businesses and health care delivery systems to provide occupational health expertise. Nurses can function in multiple roles (e.g. clinician, consultant, manager, educator, and researcher) as they promote healthy, safe environments and prevent occupation-related illness/injury.
Students completing the OEH minor are eligible to become NIOSH-funded scholars. Preference is given to full time study. Students who complete this minor, in addition to certifications available in their primary programs, are eligible for certification as occupational health nurses from the American Board of Occupational Health Nurses.
In 2005, funding from the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) was received to support nursing doctoral students interested in conducting research relevant to occupational and environmental health. This research training opportunity takes advantage of the portfolio of nationally recognized research projects in occupational and environmental health within the school of nursing. These studies include issues such as immigrant workers, environmental exposures among children, shift work and fatigue, needlestick injuries in health care workers, violence in the workplace, chemical exposures, biomarkers of exposures and health effects and management of chronic diseases in the workplace. In addition to support for doctoral tuition and/or stipends, numerous funding opportunities are available for doctoral student research.
Students interested in either the OEH minor or doctoral study should contact contact Dr. Victoria Pak
directly.
**** THIS PROGRAM IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE! ****
Course of Study Suggested Plan(s) of Study
Core Courses (3 course units)
NURS500 - Introduction to Principles and Methods of Epidemiology
NURS677 - Environmental Toxicology: Risk Assessment and Health Effects
NURS678 - Exposure Assessment and Safety in the Workplace
Theory Courses (1 course unit)
NURS679 - Issues in Occupational Health Nursing
Clinical Courses (1 course unit)
NURS680 - Advanced Practicum/Residency in Occupational Health