ANZSOM - The society supporting
Occupational Health Nurses
Nurses' Focused Learning Opportunities from ANZSOM
#itswhatyouknow
Respiratory Protection Programs and the role of the OHN
Nurses' Focus Webinar
Presenters: Helen Truscott & Emma McCartney
Date: Wednesday 25 May 2022, 7pm (AEST)
Session outline
- Why do we conduct fit testing?
- What does the legislation say?
- Fit testing and the OHN Competency Standards
- Who can perform a fit test?
- Quantitative Vs qualitative testing
- Policies and procedures
- Trouble shooting when fit testing
- Respirator types and how to use different adaptors
- Workplace Respiratory Protection Programs - where do I start?
- Selection of RPE for my workplace
- Medical evaluation
- Education and training
- Maintenance
- Record keeping
OHN Competencies Diagram
About the presenters
Helen Truscott is a practicing Registered Nurse and Midwife with experience in managing Occupational Health surveillance and assessment and infection control programs in a diverse range of industries, including health and emergency services. Helen has worked in Government, private organisations and hospitals, vaccination clinics and public health, in varied roles, as a Tutor for nursing, injury assessment, rehabilitation and health management services. Helen is an Adjunct Lecturer in Public Health & Tropical Medicine at James Cook University.
Helen completed her Master of Public Health and Graduate Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene at James Cook University and has a diploma in Work Health and Safety. In addition to the above skills and experience, Helen has practical skills and qualifications in audiometry, spirometry and PPE Fit testing and an Authorised Health Professional with RIW to conduct Category 3 rail Medicals.
Helen also takes on the National role in TruHealth Solutions as the Clinical Manager and develops industry standards into the day-to-day organisation to exceed benchmark. Helen serves on the Australian and New Zealand Society of Occupational Medicine (ANZSOM) Nurse Working Group.
Emma McCartney is Registered Nurse and Hygiene Technician with extensive experience in Occupational Health and Occupational Hygiene.
Throughout her career, she has experience providing health services to a range of industries including:
- Mining
- Transport
- Petrochemical
- Manufacturing
- Healthcare
- Energy
- Aviation
- Civil and Engineering
She currently works at Ampol Lytton Refinery as Occupational Health and Hygiene Specialist.
WA Branch Mandurah Mini-Conference
For the second year running the WA Branch is please to announce their weekend mini-conference - this year with a dedicated occupational health nurse stream.
Date: Saturday 6 August 2022
Time: all day, including dinner
Venue: The Sebel Mandurah
1 Marco Polo Drive,
Mandurah WA 6210
#itswhatyouknow
Topic TBC
Nurses' Focus Webinar
Presenters: TBC
Date: Wednesday 26 October
Other resources and opportunities
The American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN) is the professional association of licensed nurses engaged in the practice of occupation and environmental health nursing in the US. AAOHN have a number of resources that are freely available - see the website for details.
Occupational Health Nursing Pulse: The AAOHN Podcast provides a deep dive into the hot topics, new trends, best practices, and trending research in occupational health nursing. Featuring interviews with industry experts and current AAOHN members, each episode aims to address best practices in an easy, on-the-go format. The AAOHN Podcast Series will release on a bimonthly schedule.
Subscribe to Occupational Health Nursing Pulse: The AAOHN Podcast on your preferred platform, and stay up to date with each episode release.
The AAOHN National Conference is going virtual and set to take place on June 8-9, 2022.
The AAOHN National Conference Virtual Event will deliver the high-quality continuing education you’ve come to expect from AAOHN, with scheduled sessions covering a wide breadth of timely topics to meet the continuing education needs of all attendees.
Click here to register
What it means to be an occupational health nurse
This video introduces you to some of the specialist community public health Nursing/Occupational health nurses that share their roles in the industry.
Career pathways & courses
Are you looking to expand your career or improve your skills in occupational medicine or occupational nursing? Head over to our Career pathways and courses page to help you along your career journey.
For more information about Occupational Health Nursing visit the Career in nursing FAQ page
Nurse Strategy Working Group
The Nurse Strategy Working Group meets every two months, aiming to progress the representation of Occupational Health Nurse (OHN) interests in ANZSOM. The group focuses on growing nurse membership, and securing education, support and recognition for occupational health nurses. The group is currently working on a recognition program aimed at providing formal recognition of occupational health nursing as a field of specific expertise.
If you're interested in joining the Nurse Strategy Working Group, please contact the Secretariat.
Nurse liaison roles
The Federal Nurse Liaison Officer role provides a nursing perspective at the level of the Executive and General Council and thus ensures the needs of occupational health nurses are addressed in our ongoing strategic development and operational planning. Sally Kane from Victoria is the current Nurse Liaison Officer.
Nurse Liaison representatives are also involved in each state branch - click here for details.
ANZSOM joins CoNNMO
ANZSOM is pleased to be a member of the Coalition of National Nursing & Midwifery Organisations (CoNNMO). CoNNMO is made up of more than 58 national nursing and midwifery organisations in an alliance to work collectively to advance the nursing and midwifery profession to improve health care.
Earning and recording CPD points
ANZSOM provides continual professional development opportunities via online learning resources, the Annual Scientific Meeting and state branch meetings. Generally these activities are not formally accredited with the Royal Australian College of Nursing, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners or Royal Australasian College of Physicians (AFOEM) however, you can claim CPD points for participation in non-accredited activities. Participation in ANZSOM Committees may also count towards CPD points.
Completion of ANZSOM CPD activities, including the ASM, Branch educational meetings, webinars and online learning modules, can be recorded in My Profile (CPD activity record).
For more details regarding profession-specific CPD requirements and how ANZSOM CPD contributes, download the document below or for more details please contact your governing / registration body directly.