~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please remove this footer before replying.From: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">Anne HarrissTo: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2006 3:44 PMSubject: Re: [OCC-HEALTH] Training to OHN status before RN trainingon 15/10/06 1:49 pm, subscribe occ-health NITA at [log in to unmask] wrote:
....Well they did it with Midwives.................
Neet!!
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Are the two professions comparable? I am not sure that they are. I endorse the concept of midwives undertaking direct entry training. However there are significant differences between direct entry as a midwife and direct entry as an OHN:
- Although midwives deal with women who may have other health problems I think I am correct in stating that midwives only deal with women having normal pregnancies. Those who have abnormal pregnancies would have obstetric care given by an obstetrician. OHNs, on the other hand, deal with people of a variety of ages with a variety of nomral and " abnormal" health statuses. Midwives do not have to develop any form of "recovery / rehabilitation programmes" which requires a detailed knowledge of illness, medical and surgical interventions, as well as health issues.
- Midwives working in a hospital setting have a number of other clinicians employed in the same clinical setting from whom they could get immediate advice when necessary. Many OHNs work alone with no other health care practitioner at the end of a phone never mind in the same building. Seeking advice from the person's GP may also be inappropriate for reasons discussed at length on this site in the past. The OHN may experience brow beating by members of the management team who have no interest in health their only interest is productivity. Sound advice is based on a breadth of sound knowledge and judgement. I eschew the concept of work based treatment services but I am of the opinion that the knowledge I gained during my practice as a general and A & E nurse is essential in my practice as an OHN.
- Midwives, on initial registration, do not immediately practice in the primary care setting. They undertake their initial education in primary and secondary setting but on initial registration they would be working in a hospital based team. Further experience (and ???further education/training) is required before embarking on practice in the primary care setting
- It is likely that initial course of education is of 3 years duration. I am unsure whether this would be long enough to gain enough knowledge and skills to become competent. The move to immediate registration as a SCPHN means a practitioner would be qualified to practice in the primary care setting from the minute their registration comes through. Many may be employed as lone practitioners with little support. They will not know what they do not know. Would the General Medical Council endorse an occupational physician to be able to become qualified to work in OH without first having registered as a general physician with MBBS or MBChB?
Any others have views on this. What are the opinions of those OHNs who are also midwives and of occupational physician subscribers?
Anne
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