Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree – Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing

The UCLA School of Nursing offers a two-year graduate program for the Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) with a focus in Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing. The primary aim of the Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing Program within the M.S.N. program is to develop advanced practice registered nurse practitioners with an extensive body of occupational health and safety knowledge and a high level of competence in the area of worker health. In their practice, Occupational and Environmental Health Nurses use logic and reason distinguished by intellectual curiosity and individual creativity. Advanced practice registered nurse practitioners in occupational and environmental health apply multidisciplinary theories, including nursing, public health, biologic, behavioral, management, and organizational theories as well as content in industrial hygiene and safety to develop, implement, and evaluate models of worker health and quality of occupational health and safety services. They are able to assess, diagnose, plan, implement, manage, and evaluate the care of workers, their families, and communities from diverse economic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds.

Students elect to do an Occupational and Environmental Health focus in one of two areas:

1. Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
   The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner provides primary ambulatory care for adult populations. Practitioners evaluate the individual as seen within the work setting as well as within the family and community group. Primary focus and emphasis is on total worker health including health status assessment, health promotion, illness/accident prevention, hazard control, screening, surveillance, and rehabilitation of adult workers. Requirements are met through a combination of courses and experiences specific to the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner role as well as the delivery of occupational and environmental health care services.
2. Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
   The Family Nurse Practitioner provides high quality, continual and comprehensive wellness and illness care to children and adults in ambulatory care settings by providing preventive health services, patient education, disease management and  prevention. The FNP practices in the context of community, workplace and family with a focus on total worker health including health status assessment, health promotion, illness/accident prevention, hazard control, screening, surveillance, and rehabilitation of adult workers. Requirements are met through a combination of courses and experiences specific to the Family Nurse Practitioner as well as the delivery of occupational and environmental health care services.

All graduates of the M.S.N. program are qualified to take national certification examinations in their specialty areas.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree – Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing

The goal of the UCLA School of Nursing PhD program is to develop the foundation of knowledge upon which the practice of the Nursing profession is based. Students pursing a PhD in Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing (OEHN) are registered nurses who advance their research education through specialty training and the conducting of original research in worker safety and health, philosophy, theory, concept development, nursing science and biostatistics. The program offers preparation in quantitative and qualitative research methods. Graduates are prepared for academic teaching appointments and to conduct research on issues related to the NIOSH National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA), and to serve as regional and global resources for industry, labor, government, and the public.

Paul Boy, RN, PhD Student
School of Nursing, University of California Los Angeles

Adeyabeba Lowrie, RN, MSN (’21)
School of Nursing, University of California Los Angeles