COVID-19 has negatively impacted many working adults. Some working adults that have contracted the disease continue to experience symptoms and present case management challenges for Occupational Health nurses and employers.
Occupational Health Nurses are case managing many patients in the workplace with symptoms of long COVID and not enough information or evidence-based practice is available. There is a gap as to how an OHN may support employees in management of their symptoms and the known impacts for the employer in the workplace.
This webinar explains what is known about COVID long-haulers, their associated conditions, treatment, and how OHNs can assist these employees, their families, and employers. The session will address the employer's risk management role, along with the OHN's risk management and risk communication roles. In essence, occupational health nursing is risk-management operationalized through disability case management.
Upon completion of this session, the learner will be able to:
- Describe the signs and symptoms of long COVID
- Explain medical and self-management for long COVID
- Describe the OHN role in managing long COVID with employees
Presenter: Dianne Dyck, RN, BN, MSc, CRSP
Dianne Dyck is a Certified Occupational Health Nurse and Occupational Health & Safety Specialist and AOHNA member who has worked for private and public-funded agencies to develop Occupational Health, Occupational Health & Safety, Disability Management, and Workplace Wellness programs.
Dianne earned her MSc in Community Health Services at the University of Calgary (1989). The professional designation of Specialist in Occupational Health Nursing for Canada was attained in 1995. Her undergraduate education includes a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a Diploma in Public Health Nursing. Dianne also holds the CRSP certification. Career-wise, Dianne was an Advisor, Occupational Health Services at a major oil and gas company in Calgary; a Senior Consultant with a major human resources management firm; and a Director of Occupational Health & Safety for a Canadian utility company. In addition to this work experience, Dianne has over the years, provided instructional services in Disability Management through four universities (University of Fredericton, University of Calgary, University of Alberta, and Massey University, Wellington, NZ). For more than 12 years, Dianne provided on-line instruction in Disability Management for the National Institute for Disability Management, conducting five or more modules per year.
As a published author in the fields of Occupational Health and Disability Management, Dianne's greatest interest is in prevention - prevention of workplace illness and injury. This she is able to do through her teaching and learning endeavours in the areas of Occupational Health & Safety and Disability Management.