Job security for occupational health and safety professionals in the 21st century. What you need to know about the institute of medicine (2000) report.

The IOM study does an admirable job of discussing trends affecting the future of workers and the workplace. Based on theses trends, there will be vast unmet needs, as well as tremendous opportunities, for occupational health and safety professionals, particularly occupational health nurses, to help meet these needs. Individual occupational health and safety professionals will do well to study the trends, assess their current knowledge and skills, and seek the education and training required to develop and enhance the necessary competencies. They will need to: pay special attention to areas of behavioral health, work organization, communication (especially risk commnication), management, team learning, work force diversity, information systems, prevention interventions, health care delivery systems, and evaluation methods (IOM, 2000). They will need to develop, document, and communicate new and creative models for providing occupational health and safety services. Also, see the Advisory, "Job Security for the 21st Century," on page 164A.