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Occupational and environmental health nursing's basic philosophy includes a population-focused (i.e., work force) approach to protecting worker health, preventing disease and injury, conducting health surveillance, and providing a safe and healthful work environment. Contemporary occupational and environmental health nursing emphasizes health promotion, evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, improved quality of life, and program and policy development. Environmental health, deeply rooted in nursing's heritage, is integral to the specialty practice (Pope, Snyder, & Mood, 1995 ).
Many factors have influenced the evolution of occupational and environmental health nursing practice, including the changing population and work force; work and organizational factors such as downsizing, increased work demands, and significant stress; the introduction of new work processes, new biological agents, and increased use of potentially hazardous agents (i.e., nanoparticles), with a concomitant increase in hazards in the work environment; technological advances and increased regulatory mandates; emphasis on integrated health care; and an increase in complex ethical health issues at the worksite coupled with rising health care costs and workers' compensation claims. Consequently, interprofessional approaches to address work force health problems must be emphasized. Occupational and environmental health nurses work in a variety of settings (e.g., pharmaceutical companies, furniture factories, food processing, oil refineries, cosmetic and meat packing companies, construction sites, government and insurance agencies, apparel finishing)--wherever a work force needs occupational health services. Given the changing demography of the U.S. population (i.e., aging and ethnically diverse), health care professionals will provide a wider array of services and need additional occupational health resources to meet demands (Rogers et al., 2011 ). Occupational and environmental health nurses can meet these challenges.
This article provides an overview of ethical issues related to the practice of occupational and environmental health nursing and possible strategies for resolution, and a discussion of professionalism related to professional growth and advancing the specialty.
Code of Ethics
Occupational and environmental health nursing practice is regulated by state nurse practice acts and guided by standards of occupational and environmental health nursing practice (American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. [AAOHN], 1999 ). The occupational and environmental health nurse must be knowledgeable about laws and regulations that govern the occupational health and safety of workers (e.g., Occupational Safety and Health Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Record-keeping...