Role of the occupational health nurse in the year 2000: perspective view.

From a historical perspective, occupational health nursing practice has changed in response to historic events and societal needs. The occupational health nurse today is expected to meet a variety of challenges and assume various roles within occupational health service settings. These roles require a sophisticated knowledge base and problem solving skills which are empirically based and multidisciplinary in their approach. The occupational health nurse can effect on local and public health issues through research and influence on public values and opinion. With the increasing demand for health care cost containment, occupational health nurses must meet the challenges of today and those of the future through program planning, research, and policy making.