COHN study guide
COHN · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN) credential is awarded by the American Board for Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. (ABOHN), an organization whose examinations are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and which holds membership in the American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS). The COHN is a board certification for registered nurses who deliver direct occupational health care to workers - assessment, treatment, case management, health surveillance and worker education - as distinct from the COHN-S, which ABOHN offers for nurses in broader safety and management roles. ABOHN also publishes a "Which Exam Should You Take - COHN or COHN-S?" guide and separate eligibility handbooks for each credential. The COHN study guide has 4 sections and about 1,358 words.
01Occupational Health Nursing Practice: Clinical Care and Health Assessment
Every occupational health encounter starts with a targeted work history: current and past job titles, specific tasks, agents handled, duration and frequency of exposure, ventilation, PPE use, and the latency between exposure and symptom onset. The same complaint means different things in a welder, a call-center worker, and a farm laborer.
346 words, about 2 min02Management and Administration: Programs, Policy, and Regulatory Compliance
Sound occupational health programs follow a cycle: needs assessment, goal setting, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Objectives should be specific, measurable, and time-bound.
331 words, about 2 min03Health, Safety and Environmental Protection: Hazards, Prevention, and Workers' Compensation
The single most tested concept: controls ranked from most to least effective are elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and PPE . PPE is last because it depends on human behavior and correct use.
341 words, about 2 min04Health Promotion, Education and Research: Wellness, Counseling, and Evidence-Based Practice
Start with a needs assessment of the specific workforce, not a generic package. Prioritize risks that are prevalent, modifiable, and tied to business outcomes.
340 words, about 2 min