Certification and Management of Occupational Health Nurse in Korea

한국의 산업전문간호사 자격인증 및 제도운영방안

The purpose of this study was to develop the certification system, analyze the job profile of occupational health nurses, plan the education program and suggest the political recommendations. Many materials of KAOHN (Korean Association of Occupational Health Nurses) were collected and analyzed and many times of meetings and workshops were held to coordinate the various opinions from related organizations. The results were as follows; 1. The certification of occupational health nurse will be available to the nurses who have the careers more than three years, graduate the education program for certified occupational health nurse, and pass the certified occupational health nurse examination. 2. Two types of education program will be needed, one will be the one-year program for diploma nurses and the other will be master program for baccalaureate nurses. 3. The plan was made for 2000 occupational health nurses to be certified by 2010. By 2007, annually 200 occupational health nurses will graduate from one-year program and 40 occupational health nurses will graduate from master program. After than, 260 occupational health nurses will graduate from master program and 40 or 80 occupational health nurses will graduate from one-year program. 4. To facilitate the usage and motivation of certified occupational health nurse, political recommendations were suggested; revision of the related laws and regulations, the incentives for employers, and financial supports for the certified occupational health nurse educations by the government.