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Occupational health nurse

Alternative titles for this job include

Occupational health nurses care for the health and wellbeing of people at work.

Average salary (a year)

£22,000 Starter

to

£44,503 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

38 to 40 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends on a rota

How to become

How to become an occupational health nurse

You can get into this job through:

  • working towards this role

Work

You'll need to be a registered nurse and have the support of your employer to apply for occupational health nursing posts.

You'll take an approved programme in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing - Occupational Health Nursing (SCPHN - OHN).

The entry requirements vary between universities offering the programme, but usually have no minimum period of post-registration experience.

The SCPHN qualification can also be used for the health visiting or school nursing pathways.

More Information

Registration

Further information

You can find out more about occupational health nursing from Health Careers.

What it takes

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of medicine and nursing
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • a desire to help people
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to work well with others
  • thinking and reasoning skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

What you’ll do

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As part of your day-to-day duties, you may :

  • carry out pre-employment medical checks
  • assess and treat employees who are injured or become ill at work
  • provide counselling and support
  • give advice on health education, health and safety and sickness absence
  • carry out risk assessments
  • manage employee health records and statistics
  • develop and managing emergency procedures

Working environment

You could work in an NHS or private hospital or at a client's business.

Your working environment may be physically demanding.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Career path and progression

Career path and progression

With experience, you could move into a management position, leading a team of occupational health staff or running an occupational health centre.

You could become a self-employed occupational health consultant, work for a private company or take extra qualifications and go into nurse training.

Current opportunities

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for an occupational health nurse right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Access to Higher Education Diploma (Nursing)

  • Provider: EALING, HAMMERSMITH & WEST LONDON COLLEGE
  • Start date: 14 September 2021
  • Location: London

ACCESS TO HEALTH, NURSING & MIDWIFERY (JAN)

  • Provider: BARKING AND DAGENHAM COLLEGE
  • Start date: 19 April 2021
  • Location: Romford
Find courses near you

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