Big Demand for Occupational Health Nurses in Next Decade

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There's no doubt that the need for nurses keeps going up (the number of nurses in the U.S. is expected to reach a projected 3.1 million by 2016). But as the healthcare industry continues to expand, the demand for Occupational Health Nurses should grow faster than average--by 23 percent between now and 2016.

Occupational Health Nurses are registered nurses who observe and assess a worker's health while workers perform job-related tasks. Using their specialized training and education, these nurses prevent health problems that may arise form exposure to hazardous materials or environments. They also help treat workers who are injured or become ill while on the job.

Due to the aging population of the baby boomers, employment opportunities for occupational health nurses will be in high demand over the next ten years. As nursing home populations continue to grow, these facilities will require the expertise of occupational health nurses to run safely and efficiently. The growth in home health care will further fuel demand for these specialized nurses who will be called upon to provide a variety of preventative services.

Which states will see the highest demand for of Occupational Health Nurses? Big population states like Florida, Texas and California. In those states, the cities of Miami, Houston and San Francisco will need the most nurses with this subspecialty.

Nurses who wish to pursue a career in this field are urged to join the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN). With its membership of over 9,000 occupational health nurses in the U.S., the AAOHN helps to advance, guide and promote the profession of occupational health nurses.

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.
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