Occupational Health Nursing Pulse: AAOHN Podcast

Betty Sanisidro, DNP, MSN, COHN-S. APHN-BC, FAAOHN, Executive Director of the American Board for Occupational Health Nurses (ABOHN), joins this episode to talk occupational health nursing certification. With an estimated 12,000 OHNs worldwide, and only around 2,000 holding the COHN/COHN-S certification, now is the time for OHNs to take the next step in their professional journeys. Dive into this episode to hear the history of ABOHN, the key differences between the COHN, COHN-S, and Case Management (CM) certifications, and what nurses need to know about the certification process and requirements. To learn more about certification, visit: https://www.abohn.org/certification.

Join this episode of the AAOHN podcast – recorded at the AAOHN Annual Conference in Pittsburgh, PA – to hear from three poster presenters on their research exploring sleep health. Yuan Zhang, PhD, RN, FAAOHN, Cara Harris, BSN, RN, and Beverly M. Hittle, PhD, RN, FAAOHN, discuss their findings across three different worker populations – long haul truck drivers, Black nurses, and healthcare workers.  Additionally, hear from all three on their experience at the Annual Conference and learn how occupational health nurses in all stages of their careers can get involved with AAOHN.

Sound is a frequently overlooked workplace hazard that affects nearly every industry. Exposure to excessive noise can lead to hearing loss, communication challenges, and even heart problems and cognitive decline. In this episode, Rick Neitzel, PhD, CIH, FAIHA, and Josh Lyon, RN, shed light on the hidden dangers of occupational noise exposure and the crucial insights occupational health nurses need to protect workers. Tune in to explore Lyon's research on noise exposure in landscaping, Neitzel's expertise as an industrial hygienist, and practical strategies nurses can implement to reduce sound-related workplace injuries. University of Michigan Exposure Research Lab  Michigan Public Health Apple Hearing Study  Job Exposure Matrix (noiseJEM)  Buy Quiet: Hearing Loss is Preventable – DHHS (NIOSH) Publication  Noise Exposure and Hearing Loss Among Landscape and Groundskeepers – Josh Lyon RN  *AAOHN members have access to the Workplace Health & Safety Journal for free! To view the full article, ensure you are logged into your AAOHN account, navigate here and select “Access Workplace Health & Safety Journal Online.”  Questions? Reach out to Rick Neitzel PhD, CIH, FAIHA at rneitzel@umich.edu, and Josh Lyon RN at joshualy@umich.edu.  

Katie Wells MPH, BSN, RN, FNE-A/P, GFN-C, SANE-A, SANE-P, joins Occupational Health Nursing Pulse: The AAOHN Podcast to share her work on adverse childhood experiences – also known as ACEs. The discussion will lean into workplace collaboration and the role awareness can play in workers' coping strategies. Tune into the podcast to get a sneak peek into Wells' poster presentation at the 2025 AAOHN National Conference in Pittsburgh, PA, while learning about workplace initiatives that center peer support, worker autonomy, and encourage nurse collaboration. Reach out to Katie Wells at kwells3@uab.edu. National Child Traumatic Stress Network Oklahoma State University on PACEs ASIST Training – Suicide Intervention Skills Training Program Psychological First Aid (PFA) and Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) Online Resources

Kicking off 2025, the podcast welcomes Sarah Bucic, MSN, RN, PMHCNS-BC, to discuss her impactful work with the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE). As temperatures rise, “forever chemicals” (PFAS) permeate workplaces, and the ongoing issue of access to clean drinking water persists, occupational health nurses (OHNs) are on the front lines of protecting patient and community health. Despite the challenges, there is hope. Bucic shares ANHE's valuable, free resources for OHNs, highlights the changes ANHE has already driven, and dives into some of today's most pressing occupational health issues.

Nicole Livanos JD, MPP, Director of State Affairs from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) joins our host in this episode to discuss public policy impacting nursing and regulation. In a fast-paced field with changing health and safety concerns, Livanos shares how important it is for nurses to get involved and stay informed on new legislation affecting OHNs and the workforce. Livanos shares her own experience working in public policy, recent NCSBN advocacy, and concurs with Stephanie Weinsier on how listeners can use resources at AAOHN to get involved.

In this episode, we'll dive into the unique patient-provider relationship between adults with autism and the OHNs caring for them in worksites. Autistic individuals bring unique perspectives and talents to their working environments, but often benefit from accommodations or additional support from their supervisors and OHNs. Our host is joined by Jake Hansen, M.S., BCBA, as they discuss behavioral differences in neurodiverse individuals, the medical history of autism, and the struggle for inclusivity, visibility, and acceptance. To learn more about Hansen and the work he does at Roots Autism Solutions, visit https://www.rootsautismsolutions.com/. For more information, to submit questions to our host or guests, or to suggest a topic or guest for a future AAOHN Pulse episode, please contact education@AAOHN.org.

Dr. Yang Li, PhD, RN, shares her research on the effect of trauma and her observations regarding the integration of trauma-informed care into medical practice on this episode of the AAOHN Pulse. She identifies a critical need for medical professionals to account for what patients have experienced, as well as for caregivers to acknowledge their own struggles. Host Stephanie Weinsier and Dr. Li discuss creating a safe space for patients, practices to treat physical and mental disruptions caused by trauma, as well as the way trauma specifically impacts high risk communities, such as the field of nursing, as seen in Dr. Li's research.                   To learn more about trauma-informed care and to access the rest of Dr. Li's work, click here. Check out Dr. Li's University of Austin page for her contact information. For further reading, visit the AAOHN Journal (free access for members!). For more information, to submit questions to our host or guests, or to suggest a topic or guest for a future Pulse episode, please contact education@AAOHN.org. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or suicidal ideation, dial 988 for the nationwide Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. For more information, click here.

Dr. Louise O'Keefe, Ph.D., MSN, BSN, ADN, CNE, FNP, CRNP, RN, joins this week's AAOHN Pulse to discuss her research on Post-Acute COVID 19 Syndrome – otherwise known as Long COVID. Post-2020, OHNs, RNs, and patients alike were – and still are – burnt out. It can be difficult to discern if the mental and physical symptoms patients exhibit – fatigue, “brain fog,” issues with sleep, shortness of breath, etc. – are caused by Long COVID or a rise in mental health conditions. Dr. O'Keefe and our host Stephanie T. Weinsier, DNP, ANP-BC, COHN-S, FAAOHN, dive into how to manage Long COVID symptoms and self-care recommendations for OHNs and RNs. They also discuss how the manifestation of symptoms in patients often associated with Long COVID can stem from larger, systemic issues exacerbated by the pandemic, but that Long COVID can simultaneously be the cause.                 To learn more about Post-Acute COVID 19 and access the rest of Dr. O'Keefe's work, click here. Check out Dr. O'Keefe's page on the University of Alabama in Huntsville website here. For further reading, visit the AAOHN Journal (free access for members!). For more information, to submit questions to our host or guests, or to suggest a topic or guest for a future Pulse episode, please contact education@AAOHN.org.

Dr. Stephanie Faubion, MD, MBA from the Women's Health Clinic at Mayo Clinic joins AAOHN to discuss menopause for women in the workplace. Menopause is a universal experience impacting most women from physical symptoms to cognitive or mental health issues affecting both working life and personal life.  While menopause typically happens at the mean age of 52, nearly 8% of women under the age of 45 will enter menopause with a long working life yet ahead of them. Join this conversation to learn so much more from our expert, and increase your ability to have those culturally competent and sensitive conversations.

Occupational stress is not unique to any industry segment or worker demographic, and certain professions certainly deal with repetitive toxic stress in their work environment. Stress has been proven to change the brain with negative outcomes to both personal and professional lives. Join us for an inspiring and educational discussion regarding the research into practice looking at the causes and contributing factors with mental health challenges, such as depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, suicidal issues that are faced by farmers and other rural workers. Join AAOHN with Paul Norrod, DrPH, M.Div., MA-C, RN from the University of Kentucky to learn more about occupational stress.

Robin Rone has been working with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) for years. Listen in for her conversation with host Stephanie Weinsier to learn how you can improve DEI in your workplace, and in your life.  Helpful Links from Robin: What is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion? (definition) What Are Personal Pronouns and Why Do They Matter?  (website/article) So You Want To Talk About Race, by Ijeoma Oluo (book)

Host Stephanie Weinsier sits down with Ann Marie Loiseau, DNP, RN, CSN, CCM, and Andrea Mantione, NP, to discuss the extensive research the two have been busy conducting on health literacy. 

Listen in to hear an in-depth dive into health informatics and how it pertains to the occupational health nurse. Our host, Stephanie Weinsier, sits down to talk with Anil Adisesh, an expert on the topic. 

Ageism can permeate nearly every aspect of our day-to-day life. Listen to learn how you, as an Occupational Health Nurse, can play a unique and vital role in minimizing ageism for your workers and in your everyday life.  Host: Stephanie Weinsier, DNP, ANP-BC, COHN-S, FAAOHN Guest: Tracey Gendron, PhD, Chair and Associate Professor Department of Gerontology, Virginia Commonwealth University

On Occupational Health Nursing Pulse, Jennylynn sits down with Athena Ramos, PhD, MBA, MS, CPM, Associate Professor, Center for Reducing Health Disparities, Department of Health Promotion, to discuss the behind-the-scenes of the workers who are responsible for the food that comes to our tables, and how we can keep them safe.

On Occupational Health Nursing Pulse, Jennylynn sits down with Carin Bennett-Rizzo MS, CNP-BC, COHN-S, Nurse Director for Occupational Health at Boston's Children Health to talk all things Return to Work in the healthcare setting, but also touching on new remote work policies in healthcare.   

In the latest episode of the Occupational Health Nursing Pulse, we are so excited to chat with another nursing organization, the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses (NAON). Our hosts Jennylynn Balmer and Bryan Combs converse with two Nurse Practitioner educators, Kathleen Geier and A.J. Benham from Jackson Orthopaedic Foundation. They focus on advanced practice nursing in the primary care setting for all musculoskeletal conditions. Through this conversation, we discover we have so much to learn from one another, including staying committed to the nursing role looking at the whole patient to improve care. Tune in for a new perspective.

Coming to you LIVE from the AAOHN Exhibit hall, Occupational Health Nursing Pulse sits downs with two first time attendees; Donette Price, MBA, BSN, RN, CCM from Renaissance Lakewood LLC and Caitlin Lang, MA from the National Safety Council to chat about their conference experience. One of our guests provides a glimpse of the session she will present on OHNs navigating a new normal in future workplaces, and the other, who is new to her occupational health nursing role, shares how she is experiencing that new normal. They reflect on the spirit of collaboration and community between OHN members and AAOHN partner organizations that they feel at the conference.

In this episode, Dr. Nicholas Monfries, MD joins us to discuss the Workplace Health & Safety Journal article on his pilot study on nurse burnout. Burnout affects both the individual's personal and professional life and deals with issues like emotional exhaustion, decreased productivity, and personalization. The economic impact of burnout to an organization can be significant. One interesting note from Dr. Monfries is that the interventions can be used as more generalized training for resiliency, mindfulness and meditation for other types of issues. As Dr. Monfries explains, there is wide application for occupational health clinics to adapt the study to their own worksite. Workplace interventions are feasible and potentially effective at reducing burnout amongst healthcare professionals. To read more information on Dr. Monfries study, please look for the article in the March 2023 WH & S Journal.

In workplace settings, active shooter incidents are unpredictable and not entirely preventable, but there are steps to take to increase awareness and develop action plans. Joining us on the Occupational Health Nursing Pulse is Georgia Reiner, MS, CPHRM, a risk analyst with Aon/Affinity in their Healthcare division. In her role with Nurses Service Organization, Georgia educates nursing professionals on risk safety in their practices.  Tune in for tips as a nursing professional on how to detect signs of threatening behaviors and steps to act quickly to protect themselves and others.

In this new episode, Jennylynn welcomes Dr. David Kuntz, PhD, F-ABFT, Executive Director of Analytical Toxicology at the Clinical Reference Laboratory. Spend some time with AAOHN to learn history on laboratory drug testing and the methods involved with workplace drug testing. While each state has different rules for drug testing, overall the testing is standardized to involve a two-step process: screening  and lab confirmation. We'll also hear about new designer drugs and the process to develop the tests to measure their presence.

We sit down with OHN, Melanie Hayes, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, to discuss her current role at OSHA and past roles with the Department of Navy. Melanie first gained experience with occupational health in her nursing role at the Department of Navy. From this experience, she prioritized advancing her education in occupational health nursing and was fortunate to have found a grant specific to occupational health nursing at an ERC DNP program to accomplish this goal. She started at the OOMN as a Graduate Nurse Intern after pitching her DNP project on Hearing Protection Device fit testing implementation into an OHN clinic and later filled a nursing vacancy within the department. The nursing staff at the OOMN works on issues such as the bloodborne pathogen standard, respiratory protection standard, workplace violence issues, and currently the preparation for regulatory heat standard rules. In addition, as the first Advanced Practice Nurse in the office of OOMN, Melanie also works on the more complex cases such as the enforcement consultation cases for medical issues and gives us insight into the work of the organization.

The onsite clinic model of occupational health nursing offer nurses more direct care of patient employees. Specific to the various industry settings, many opportunities exist for an LPN in occupational health nursing. Jennylynn Balmer talks with Candace Wilmoth, RN at Wayne-Sanderson Farms previously Wayne Farms. Candace has worked as an LPN in the poultry manufacturing industry with a scope a practice from clinical care of lacerations or repetitive motion injuries, health promotion, injury and illness prevention, return to work protocols, employee pre-employment drug screens and post offer assessments. As an on-site clinic nurse, day to day care varies and most beneficial to her, the setting allows for use of more critical thinking skills or even the development of new processes. Being onsite as the nurse responsible for over 700 employees, her skill set and experiences constantly expand. Providing a safe environment and the trust she builds with employees is the one of the most rewarding aspects of her job. She is always on the lookout to update the best practices within her industry setting and credits the great support of her employer.

Jennylynn sits down with Brenda Ruhrer, BSN, MPH, COHN-S to discuss her 32 year military nursing career serving in the National Guard. Brenda was Chief Occupational Health Nurse for the National Guard Bureau with oversight and coordination amongst the 54 occupational health nurses. While Brenda has served a dual role being a civilian OHN and serving in the Guard during her career, not every occupational health nurse serves in the military when they may work for a military facility or the department of defense. Some have access for direct care, while others like Brenda performed medical surveillance, safety hazards and industrial hygiene reports. Brenda worked the “flightline” at her facility where aircraft take off and land, with her office located in the hangar the helicopters were stored. She was the only OHN stationed at her facility in her state. She has had a lot of OSHA and DOD training for her role, as well as providing CPR and AED training for military personnel. No routine tasks with this type of nursing role and often a lot of fun, Brenda describes having to perform a noise survey while a helicopter took off as one of her favorite days. Weekend work was focused on medical readiness performing periodic health assessments. Brenda also discusses a deployment overseas as a nurse educator for Afghanistan military medics and a deployment here domestically with COVID-19 in a variety of occupational health/public health roles.

OHNs have played a critical role in their organizations throughout the pandemic, and navigating this brought professional and personal challenges. Join Jennylynn's conversation with Stephanie Weinsier, DNP, ANP-BC, COHN-S, FAAOHN to discuss her experiences leading a corporate wellness center and in caring for patients in the ER during the COVID pandemic. They'll talk about vaccine hesitancy in the workplace and other roles that moved to the forefront in occupational health nursing like practicing across state lines to contact tracing to even processing nurse grief.  With crisis there are always steps to move forward with positive changes.  Stephanie touches on one positive, personal influence for change when she began a new nursing journey marrying her population health and medical knowledge. We hope you join the conversation.

Do you have questions about certification in occupational health nursing? We did too! The Occupational Health Nursing Pulse sits down with Lucy Carlson, Executive Director, American Board of Occupational Health Nurses (ABOHN) to learn more about their certification programs, the COHN/COHN-S certification exams and the value to professional development in becoming a certified OHN. Make sure to join us.