Nursing Profiles

Carolyn H.

Conroe, TX
RN, COHN-S (Certified Occupational Health Nurse-Specialist)

After I graduated from a diploma nursing program, I went to work in a general hospital ward. Soon after, I went back to my training hospital and became the charge nurse in Labor and Delivery. My dad worked in a chemical plant and asked me if I would be interested in working vacation relief for the nurse at his plant. I had no idea that there were nurses working in those settings, so I said I would be interested in trying it out. That was 29 years ago and I am still in the occupational health nursing field. Occupational health nurses have a diversified role in their jobs. We perform annual physical examinations on the employees of our work places to be sure that they are remaining healthy while working in the environs of our work sites. When someone is injured, we are on site to treat the injury, refer him or her if necessary, and do case management for that injury. We maintain the workman’s compensation and OSHA records. I also perform or schedule drug screens, administer immunizations, do employee counseling, and maintain all the medical records. I love to help others, and nursing was definitely the right choice for me. Now, 35 years after I graduated from nursing school, I still love my profession.