Introduction:

Many environmental toxins enter the body via the respiratory tract, and injury to the respiratory system is the most common injury to internal organs. The American Association of Occupational Health Nurses has published competency levels for respiratory protection, as this is such a large area of practice for occupational health nurses. OHNs should be competent in the clinical practice, surveillance, regulation, leadership and training when it comes to respiratory protection.

This module is part of the 19-module OHN Prep Course Package.

Learning Objectives:

● Assess potential respiratory hazards that workers may encounter in the work environment.

● Identify Initiate appropriate goal-directed interventions using results of clinical, environmental sampling, and trending data to minimize workers' exposure to respiratory hazards and attain expected, positive respiratory health outcomes.

● Describe how to conduct respiratory surveillance of individuals/groups exposed to respiratory hazards.

● Interpret worker respiratory health outcomes.

● Develop respiratory protection programs.

Major Takeaways:

● Knowledge of respiratory protection is needed in many industries where respiratory hazards are present.

● Understanding the elements of a respiratory protection program will assist the OHN in developing a comprehensive program for workers.

● Respiratory protection competencies are a major practice are for OHNs.

Lecturer:

• Roberta Smith, MSPH, RN, CIC, COHN-S, has more than 20 years of experience in infection prevention, occupational health, and industrial hygiene. Her background focuses on immunization, infectious diseases, biosafety, and occupational health surveillance. She has experience working within occupational health clinics and assisting a variety of companies to develop workplace policies and procedures to bring them in compliance with OSHA and state-specific requirements.

The University of Colorado College of Nursing is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the Colorado Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. A maximum of 1.25 contact hours is available for this course. For questions about contact hours, please email nursingce@ucdenver.edu.

This course covers topics outlined in the ABOHN Candidate Handbooks for COHN and COHN-S.

Criteria for Successful Completion: You must fully complete this module and all assessment questions, along with the OHN Prep module survey.

Conflicts of Interest: No individuals in a position to control content for this activity has any relevant financial relationships to declare.

Commercial Support: There is no commercial support being received for this event.

Expiration date for Enduring Materials: Origination Date: May 1, 2020 through Expiration Date: May 1, 2022

Joint Providers: This activity is being jointly provided by the University of Colorado College of Nursing Office of Continuing Education, The Center for Health, Work & Environment at the Colorado School of Public Health and The Johns Hopkins Education and Research Center for Occupational Safety and Health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The Center for Health, Work & Environment at the Colorado School of Public Health has partnered with the The Johns Hopkins Education and Research Center for Occupational Safety and Health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health to deliver continuing education to occupational health nurses.