Occupational health nursing offers work-life balance
Occupational health nursing can offer greater flexibility and a better work-life balance than ward or community nurse jobs. Find out what’s involved
As an occupational health nurse, I provide care in the early stages of a person’s condition, where timely advice and intervention can make an enormous difference to their outcomes.
I have been a registered nurse for almost three years and have been working in occupational health since November 2023.
After qualifying, I worked as an intensive care nurse for a year, then as a disability assessor, before taking up my current post, which is the equivalent of a band 7 on Agenda for Change (AfC).
I chose occupational health because I wanted to tackle ill health at the source. I work from home full time as a case worker for a company that provides occupational health services for a variety of organisations, with my appointments with their employees undertaken via telephone.
Many occupational health nurses work for large service providers, with some even setting up their own independent companies. Others work directly for an organisation, particularly one with a larger workforce, such as the NHS.
Occupational health nurses employed in the NHS usually start at AfC band 5 or 6, with more senior roles at band 7.
I love my job, particularly because of the work-life balance it offers, and my time feels like my own to manage. I choose when my lunch is and my start time, and I’m free to finish up my work when I want to. The ability to plan leisure and social activities around work is one of the benefits of the role.
Grant Byrne is an occupational health nurse in Scotland
This is an abridged version of the article Work-life balance: what I gained in occupational health nursing which was first published in Nursing Standard. Read the full article to learn more about what occupational health nursing involves, what to do if you are interested in a role like this, and some top tips for starting a new role.
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