The OSHA Graduate Nurse Internship is a purposefully designed experience for registered professional nurses pursuing a graduate degree in occupational health or related fields. The internship facilitates a professional relationship between the graduate nurse student and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The intern will be provided research opportunities and educational experiences in the field of employee safety and health. The internship integrates occupational health theory with professional practice.

1. To blend the student's learning needs with specific and contemporary OSHA activities.



2. To analyze an occupational health and/or safety concern in collaboration with OSHA's allied professionals.



3. To construct an innovative approach to an occupational health and/or safety concern.



4. To explore the role of the occupational health nurse and other safety and health professionals in OSHA's complex regulatory activities at the federal level.

• Receive a general orientation to OSHA, including an overview of the various Directorates and their missions.



• Observe compliance activities through worksite visits with an OSHA compliance safety and health officer (an inspector).



• Participate in current regulatory process activities relating to occupational safety and health.



• Attend congressional and/or public hearings related to current agency activities.



• Participate in informational visits to external stakeholder groups, e.g., American Nurses Association, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, industry representatives, etc.

Applicants must:

1. Be a registered professional nurse with current licensure
.


2. Be a student in good standing in a graduate occupational health nursing program or public health program with an occupational health focus.



3. Have at least 6 months experience in occupational health nursing or related field (if pursuing an advanced degree in occupational health nursing); OR
   
   Have at least 5 years experience in occupational health nursing, safety or industrial hygiene (if pursuing an advanced degree outside of the discipline of occupational health nursing, e.g., MPH),
   AND
   Hold board certification in occupational health nursing.



4. Have completed 50 percent of the required credit hours toward completion of the program of study by the start of the internship.



5. Provide clearly defined educational objectives compatible with contemporary OSHA activities.

Selection Process:

1. The Agency will select interns without regard to race, color, ethnic or national origin, religion, gender, sexual  preference, lawful political affiliation, marital status, age or disability.



2. Staff from the Office of Occupational Health Nursing will review and evaluate all applications.



3. Candidates recommended for selection will be referred to OSHA's Director, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, for appointment.



4. Final selection will be made based upon Agency need and funding.



5. Candidates will be notified in writing of the outcome.



6. The Director, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, or his/her designee will sign the original Letter of Intent. A copy of the signed original Letter of Intent will be forwarded, one each, to the university and the student.

Performance Criteria:

Ethical and professional behavior is expected throughout the internship. The intern must abide by all the rules and regulations that have been established for the United States Department of Labor (DOL) employees as described below.

The graduate nurse intern is expected to complete specific program objectives, produce a product by the end of the internship, and assist in the evaluation of the program. This requires the intern to:

1. Complete DOL online training requirements, e.g., computer security awareness training, document encryption, workplace violence and harassment prevention, ethical behavior.



2. Complete a statement of personal and professional objectives for the internship.



3. Complete a selected project(s) of significance to OSHA and the student’s needs.



4. Participate in the evaluation of the internship. At a minimum, this will include a written mid-point, and final conference with their preceptor and internship coordinator.



5. Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.

At the completion of the internship, the intern is expected to be able to describe the primary activities of OSHA and articulate:

1. OSHA’s mission and the role of the Office of Occupational Health Nursing in that mission.



2. An understanding of the regulatory process.



3. The scope of OSHA's efforts to protect workers.



4. The relationship between Federal OSHA and State Plan States.