The Finnish Association of Occupational Health Nurses is a trade union focusing on the professional, salary related, educational and social interests of its members. FAOHN is a member of AKAVA, the Confederation of Unions for Academic Professions in Finland. At the moment there are approximately 2000 members in FAOHN.

The goals of FAOHN as an expert organisation are the development of occupational health nursing profession and the promotion of employment of occupational health nurses.

As an ideological organisation FAOHN promotes health care services for the working population, carries out information and publishing activities and participates in international collaboration to develop occupational health.

Services provided to members:

• The occupational health nurse annual calendar
• The professional- and trade magazine of the Association. Työterveyshoitaja – magazine
• Education
• Activities in local associations
• Unemployment compensation
• Liability insurance and legal aid insurance
• Supervision of the membership´s interest in relation to salary related issues and other conditions of employment

THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH NURSES IN FINLAND

Since 1982 training in public health nursing has been the basic requirement for all new occupational health nurses ( OHNs). In addition occupational health nurses have a complementary education on diploma level. The PHN training (160 credits) combined with the complementary education (20 – 40 credits) gives every OHN a solid multidisciplinary background. Some 100 OHNs also have a masters degree in either nursing, nursing education or health administration and 3 OHNs working at the field of OHS have doctor's degree.

The main focus in occupational health nursing is health promotion and preventive actions from a holistic point of view. The OHN acts as an impartial occupational health expert. The work requires personal and professional skills such as flexibility, creativity and collaboration.

THE GOALS OF THE WORK OF AN OHN ARE:

• To promote health and safety at the working environment
• To support the balance between the individual and work
• To support and strengthen the individual resources of the worker
• To support the working community in developing their working conditions

THE MAIN DUTIES OF AN OHN ARE:

• Surveillance of the working environment
• Health promotion
• Counseling and education on work-related illnesses
• Health education
• Health assessments and physical examinations
• Planning and implementation of first aid education at the workplace
• General health care services