Summary Abstracts
Fall 2010Journal
President’s Message
The President’s Message is a standing Journal column highlighting current hot topics. In this issue, Executive President Sandra Domeracki, RN FNP COHN-S, highlights the important partnerships AOHP has cultivated with the Alliance to Make U.S. Healthiest, American Board of Occupational Health Nurses, American Industrial Hygiene Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Joint Commission Nursing Advisory Council and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. She shares details of the work being accomplished through these partnerships and how those achievements are mutually beneficial to AOHP and each partner.
Vice President’s Update
AOHP’s Executive Vice President, Alfred Carbuto, MS RN FNP-BC COHN-S, provides a government affairs update by highlighting details related to recent federal legislation, including the Protecting America’s Workers Act and the Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act. He also documents World Health Organization activity related to the 2009-2010 H1N1 Pandemic, in addition to recent OSHA initiatives. Information is included on legislative activity in New YorkState regarding the Nursing Care Quality Protection Act and oral consent for HIV testing, in addition to legislation related to violence in healthcare settings that protects healthcare professionals.
Editor’s Column
This standard feature provides commentary from the current Journal Editor, Kim Stanchfield, RN COHN-S. She shares with readers her experiences in successfully adapting to change and encourages other occupational health professionals to embrace change as a way to not just survive, but to thrive.
Association Community Liaison Report
Through this regular Journal article, MaryAnn Gruden, CRNP MSN NP-C COHN-S/CM, details how AOHP is gaining visibility as an expert regarding occupational health issues. In this issue, she provides a detailed OSHA update, including Allianceactivity and AOHP’s opportunity to respond to two recent requests for public comments. In her NIOSH update, Gruden highlights a report from NORA’s Healthcare and Social Assistance Sector Council and how the association assisted NIOSH in a current research project by submitting a questionnaire to AOHP members about software used to track adverse occupational outcomes among hospital personnel. She provides details on valuable new information on the NIOSH Web site and blog, and explains why the AOHP Board has revised its Position Statement policy and procedure.
Interview with George Byrns, American Industrial Hygiene Association
In this interview with AOHP Executive President Sandra Domeracki, RN FNP COHN-S, George Byrns of the American Industrial Hygiene Association discusses his volunteer work as a member of both AOHP and AIHA. He explains the role of the AIHA Healthcare Working Group and the value of the AOHP and AIHA partnership in having industrial hygienists and occupational health professionals collaborate to advocate for the protection of healthcare workers in the areas of safe patient handling, chemical management, the control of airborne transmissible diseases and monitoring nanotechnology in healthcare, in addition to emergency preparedness and pandemic planning.
Ready to Research – Statistical Terminology Review
Column author Linda Good, RN PhD COHN-S, interviews Dr. Donna Agan, Nursing Data Analyst at Scripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego, CA. Agan provides a concise overview of some common statistical terms that are useful in conducting, reviewing and critiquing research studies. This experienced research, statistics instructor and analyst also describes various types of quantitative data that can be analyzed with statistics and demonstrates the value of evidence-based practice in occupational health.
AOHP Executive Board Member Spotlight
This interview with Sandra Domeracki, RN FNP COHN-S,AOHP Executive President, is the first of a series of Executive Board member interviews. This new column will provide members with a glimpse into the personal and professional lives of the association’s leaders, as well as a historical perspective of how they came to serve on the Board of AOHP.
Questionnaire Results on Software Used to Collect Healthcare Personnel Safety and Health Data
AOHP is supporting the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in its efforts to enhance occupational surveillance to protect healthcare workers. This article documents the results of data collected through a questionnaire distributed to AOHP members in the spring of 2010 on software programs currently used to track injuries and illness among hospital personnel. NIOSH plans to use the survey data in its development of a system to track traumatic injuries, including musculoskeletal disorders, workplace violence and slips, trips and falls.