NAOHP Support for Integrated Occupational Health & Safety Nurse Roles
To support members managing integrated Occupational Health & Safety Nurse roles, NAOHP offers a focused set of training modules, implementation toolkits, and peer-sharing resources that address the real-world, hands-on aspects of this dual-function position.
Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety Leadership
🔹 The Growing Burden on Occupational Health Nurses
The Role Keeps Expanding—But the Support Doesn’t
Occupational Health Nurses have long been essential to employee wellness—handling immunizations, exposures, screenings, and return-to-work evaluations. But in recent years, their roles have quietly expanded far beyond clinical boundaries.
In many healthcare systems, OHNs are now expected to lead or support workplace safety functions once owned by separate risk or facilities departments. They’re being pulled into workplace inspections, asked to lead committees on violence prevention, and tasked with documenting and resolving employee injuries using OSHA-aligned workflows.
And all of this is often added without formal training, without clear scope, and without operational authority.
The result?
Many of these professionals are left juggling complex expectations—without the structured tools or recognition they need to succeed. There’s confusion, duplicated effort, delayed hazard correction, and burnout. Meanwhile, the risks they’re meant to manage—like safe patient handling failures or behavioral incidents—continue to expose the organization to real harm.
🔹How We Solve It – Tools + Training for Impact
Support RNs with Structure, Not Just Expectations
The NAOHP approach addresses this head-on with practical tools and credible training designed specifically for healthcare settings.
With the Safety Rounds Toolkit, we give RNs:
- Clinical and administrative safety inspection checklists
- A follow-up form to track hazard correction and resolution
- An OSHA crosswalk to tie findings to real standards
- Reporting slide templates for safety and EOC committees
And with the Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety Leadership, we provide:
- On-demand modules that teach OSHA compliance, RCA, BERT, inspections, and more
- A digital credential that validates their new responsibilities
- Connection to a national peer network for real-time support
- CE credit options and recognition through NAOHP’s member network
Together, these resources replace ambiguity with clarity—and equip Occupational Health Nurses to lead confidently in their expanded role.
🔧 NAOHP Support Tools for the Occ Health & Safety RN Role
Core Training Modules
CE-eligible online courses or live virtual sessions.
Guides and SOP Templates
Editable guides and templates based on best practices from hospital programs already using these roles.
Interactive Tools and Dashboards
Monitor safety performance and plan program improvements.
Peer Collaboration & Case Sharing
Facilitate structured community sharing and learning.
1. Core Training Modules
Targeted training modules for professionals in this integrated role. CE-eligible online courses.
Suggested Modules:
Safety Inspections & Analysis
- Conducting Effective Workplace Safety Inspections (with checklists by setting: clinical, admin, facilities)
- Incident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis for Employee Injuries
- Injury Surveillance and Trend Analysis in Healthcare Settings
OSHA & Compliance
- OSHA Essentials for Employee Health Leaders (including 300 log, BBP, Hazard Comm, etc.)
- Safe Patient Handling Program Implementation and Oversight
Emergency Response & Support
- Behavioral Emergency Response Team (BERT): Setup and Role of Occ Health
- De-escalation and CPI: Occ Health's Role in Supporting Frontline Staff
- Bridging Psychological Safety and Physical Safety at Work
Outcome: 🪪 Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety Leadership
2. Guides and SOP Templates
Downloadable, editable guides and templates based on best practices from hospital programs already using these roles.
Job Descriptions & Checklists
- Model Job Descriptions: "Occupational Health & Safety Nurse," "Employee Injury Prevention Coordinator"
- Workplace Safety Rounds Checklist (daily/weekly templates)
- Incident Investigation Report Template and Escalation Pathways
- OSHA Compliance Calendar & Program Checklist (with links to Bloodborne Pathogens, HAZCOM, PPE, etc.)
Sample SOPs
- BERT Activation Protocol
- Post-Incident Debriefing Script
- Safe Patient Handling Procedure
- Sample Committee Reporting Template (for Safety, WPV, SPH, Environment of Care)
3. Interactive Tools and Dashboards
Monitor safety performance and plan program improvements.
Injury Tracking & Trending Dashboard Template
(Excel or Power BI)
Workplace Inspection Tracker Tool
assign, schedule, and track hazards and resolutions
ACA/RCA Action Plan Tracker
log, assign owners, and monitor safety improvements
Training Compliance Tracker
staff participation in OSHA-required and internal safety training
4. Peer Collaboration & Case Sharing
Facilitate structured community sharing and learning.
Quarterly Virtual Roundtable
for those in combined OccMed + Safety roles
Case Library
De-identified examples of successful interventions (e.g., WPV reduction, RCA follow-through, BERT effectiveness)
Ask-the-Experts sessions
(with peers or external experts in occ health & safety)
5. Consulting/Coaching Services
On-demand or scheduled NAOHP expert guidance.
Safety Program Start-Up Coaching Package
4 to 6-week engagement to set up safety rounds, inspection program, committee engagement
Custom OSHA Compliance Review
for hospitals
Workplace Violence Readiness Assessment
with roadmap
BERT Development Toolkit + Coaching
6. Member-Only Resource Portal Section
Check out our dedicated portal section titled "Occupational Health & Safety Program Support" for these resources.
Training & Webinars
Templates & Checklists
OSHA & Regulatory
Workplace Violence & BERT
Safe Patient Handling
Peer Forum & Case Studies
7. Recognition & Benchmarking
Encourage program adoption and excellence.
NAOHP Recognition Badge
NAOHP "Integrated OccMed & Safety Leader" recognition badge
Annual Safety Impact Award
Annual safety impact award for members showing measurable improvements
Benchmark Reporting
Benchmark report: "What Leading Health Systems Are Doing with Their Safety RNs"
📣 A Message for Members
"Many of our members are being asked to do more with less—especially when it comes to workplace safety and injury prevention. NAOHP recognizes the expanding scope of occupational health professionals and is proud to support those bridging OccMed and Safety. Our new training modules, ready-to-use toolkits, and peer forums are built specifically for you—so you can reduce injuries, meet compliance goals, and protect your workforce."
Download Your Comprehensive Safety Inspection Guide
Begin your journey to the Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety Leadership
Streamline your workplace safety protocols with our step-by-step inspection guide. Developed specifically for healthcare settings to identify hazards, prevent injuries, and maintain OSHA compliance.
Ready-to-Use Checklists
Department-specific inspection forms tailored to healthcare environments.
Hazard Identification Guide
Visual references for common safety issues in clinical settings.
Documentation Templates
Standardized reporting tools that satisfy regulatory requirements.
Implementation Roadmap
Practical timeline for establishing an effective inspection program.