Enhancing baccalaureate student nursing education. Collaboration with occupational health nurses for hands-on experience.

Historically, occupational health nursing has been underemphasized in most baccalaureate nursing education programs. Advances in medical technology resulting in higher costs for hospital care, increasing need and support for nursing students, and curriculum emphases on holistic health care are factors pointing to the potential for broader clinical experiences for students outside the traditional hospital setting. One school in Louisiana has found that providing opportunities for occupational health nursing affiliations with students in baccalaureate programs has benefitted practitioners, students, and faculty.