UNC-Chapel Hill Offers Non-Degree Seekers Coursework in Occupational Health
| School Overview | |
|---|---|
| Serves: | USA |
| Accredited by: | SACS-COC |
| Enrollment: | Rolling |
| Financial Aid: | Yes |
| Scholarships: | Yes |
Web-Based Curriculum Appeals to Working RNs
The Occupational Health Nursing Certificate, through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is appropriate for RNs working in the field that want targeted and relevant career training, but may not want a full-fledged nursing masters degree.
RNs working as Occupational Health nurses may work in a diverse array of settings and with a variety of clients, both nationally and internationally. The curriculum denotes the type of know-how that professional nurses working in the field must possess: heavy on industrial safety and related information. Occupational Health nurses may work in business and industry where the healthcare and safety of employees is a principle concern.
Requirements for Admission
Applicants must be licensed RNs with at least two years of occupational health experience. Nurses planning on pursuing their MSN in the field may also be able to transfer the credits earned in the certificate program. Applications must have an attached statement supporting the candidates' educational and career choices.
Distance learners must be willing to schedule their own time to study. Online programs are convenient, but are often more demanding than traditional studies.
Curriculum
This is an 11-credit program that targets nurses with experience in the field. Courses are exclusively designed to offer the latest industry information. Coursework includes toxicology, workplace hygiene, epidemiology, and safety and ergonomics. These courses give workplace RNs the expertise they need to make informed healthcare decisions within clinical jobs or low-level management. Within these curriculums nurses learn to analyze worker environments and implement scalable changes and modifications.
Career Opportunity
Occupational health nurses may work in large industrial environments in which they are part of a larger risk management team, or even in management of the same. Those that pursue upper level management may be required to earn their Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN). Because expertise is similar, OH nurses may also find themselves in community and public health positions, as nurses in school systems, or as lead RN administrators in smaller businesses.
UNC-Chapel Hill is one of the leading research universities and has been developing its online degree programs for a few years. Distance nursing programs are affordable and designed for working professionals.
