Using the Omaha System in Occupational Health Nursing Applications: Advantages of a Common Language in the Diagnosis, Intervention and Evaluation of Nurses’ Health Problems

This study was conducted to determine the suitability of applying the Omaha System to the occupational health problems experienced by nurses working in hospitals. The Omaha System is a system which will facilitate the use of a standard common language in occupational health nursing applications. This semi-experimental study was conducted with two follow–ups. The first follow–up evaluations were carried out in a private hospital with 175 nurses out of a total of 208 nurses. The second follow-up occurred with the evaluation of 162 nurses out of a total number of 187. All nurses were scheduled to take part in the study. In between follow-up sessions, at least three interviews were conducted with the nurses experiencing problems, and applications and evaluations for the occupational environment were also carried out. Their problems were assessed according to the Omaha System. Surveillance initiatives were implemented in the nursing interventions for all diagnostic areas, and most of the nursing diagnoses were concentrated within the physiological domain. For nurses working in hospitals, the Omaha System was found to be useful in nursing diagnoses, interventions and evaluations within the practice of occupational health nursing.