Employee Health Nurse

Company Description

La Rabida Children's Hospital provides specialized, family-centered health care to children with medically complex conditions, disabilities, and chronic illness. Through expertise, compassion, and advocacy we help children and their families reach their fullest potential, regardless of their ability to pay.

Our not-for-profit hospital, licensed for 49 beds, helps transition children from neonatal or pediatric intensive care to home, by providing medical, rehabilitative and developmental care, and by training families to continue treatments and manage the necessary equipment in the home. La Rabida also provides extensive rehabilitation for those recovering from wounds or burns and treatment for exacerbations of chronic conditions.

The hospital's enhanced pediatric patient-centered medical home provides primary care to children with complex medical conditions and their siblings. Children with medical homes elsewhere come to La Rabida for specialty services. La Rabida offers a wide range of specialty services provided to children with sickle cell disease, diabetes, and many others. Children are supported in their emotional and developmental growth, particularly in cases where such growth has been interrupted by accident or disease.

Finally, La Rabida provides forensic and treatment services for children exposed to abuse and neglect, comprehensive assessments for wards of the state, early intervention for children between 0 and 3 years of age. Care coordination services for medically complex children are also provided for those who are covered by a health plan and receive care from providers in Cook County

Job Description

SUMMARY: The Employee Health Nurse (EHN) is a Registered Nurse at La Rabida Children's Hospital responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of comprehensive occupational health programs for all hospital employees and volunteers. Reporting to the Manager of Infection Prevention and Employee Health, the EHN operates within a specialized pediatric acute-care hospital environment in Chicago, Illinois, and ensures that all employee health activities are conducted in strict compliance with federal, state, and local regulatory requirements, including standards set forth by The Joint Commission (TJC), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). The role advocates for a safe and healthy workplace while supporting La Rabida's mission of providing exceptional care to children with complex medical conditions and their families.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Occupational Health Program

• Administer pre-placement, periodic, and return-to-work health screenings and assessments per OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910 and TJC HR standards.

• Coordinate and document employee and volunteer immunization programs per CDC/ACIP guidelines and IDPH mandates, including influenza, hepatitis B, MMR, and Tdap.

• Conduct tuberculosis (TB) screening and management programs compliant with CDC TB Elimination guidelines and IDPH Title 77, Illinois Administrative Code, Part 697.

• Manage post-exposure follow-up for bloodborne pathogens per OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) and the hospital's exposure control plan.

• Oversee respiratory protection medical clearance and fit-testing program per OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134.

• Maintain confidential employee health records in compliance with HIPAA (45 CFR Parts 160 & 164) and Illinois Confidentiality of Medical Information standards.

Workers' Compensation & Disability Cases

• Coordinate work-related and non-work related injury/illness case management per the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305), accommodations and short-term/long-term disability, and Illinois Workers' Occupational Diseases Act.

• Collaborate with HR, department managers, and legal counsel on return-to-work programs, modified duty assignments, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and ADA Title I reasonable accommodation processes.

• Interface with third-party administrators and treating physicians to ensure continuity of care and timely return to work.

Surveillance, Infection Prevention, and Emergency Preparedness

• Partner with Infection Prevention & Control to monitor and respond to healthcare-associated exposures, outbreak investigations, and healthcare worker illness surveillance per CDC and TJC IC standards.

• Maintain the hospital's written Exposure Control Plan and ensure annual review and updates.

• Support employee health components of the hospital Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) per CMS Conditions of Participation (42 CFR Part 482) and TJC EC/EM chapters.

• Participate in drills and activations related to mass casualty, pandemic response, and biological/chemical exposure scenarios.

Regulatory Compliance & Documentation

• Maintain and submit OSHA 300/300A/301 Injury and Illness logs per 29 CFR 1904 recordkeeping requirements.

• Ensure timely reporting of occupational exposures and communicable diseases to CDPH and IDPH per the Illinois Communicable Disease Report Act (745 ILCS 45).

• Prepare reports for TJC survey readiness, CMS audits, and other external regulatory reviews.

• Participate in performance improvement activities, quality audits, and EH metrics reporting to leadership.

• Maintain compliance with Joint Commission and other applicable accreditation body standards.

Education & Training

• Develop and deliver mandatory employee health training including bloodborne pathogens, hazard communication (HazCom/GHS), and respiratory protection per OSHA standards.

• Educate employees on proper PPE selection, donning/doffing procedures, and sharps safety consistent with the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act (PL 106-430).

• Serve as subject matter expert for department managers regarding occupational health regulations, ergonomics, and safe patient handling.

ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS:

• Participates in committee meetings (Infection Prevention, Emergency Management/Safety/Environment of Care).

• Participates in Continuous Quality Improvement projects.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited institution; Master's degree preferred.

Related Work Experience: • Minimum of three (3) to five (5) years of clinical nursing experience; at least two (2) years in occupational health, employee health, or a related specialty. • Demonstrated knowledge about legal and regulatory compliance and reporting requirements for OSHA standards, TJC requirements, CDC guidelines, HIPAA, ADA, FMLA, Drug-free workplace, NIOSH, and Illinois Workers' Compensation law.

• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification (AHA or equivalent). • Proficiency in electronic health records (EHR) systems and Microsoft Office Suite.

Licensure/Certification: Active Registered Nurse (RN) licensure in the State of Illinois (Illinois Nurse Practice Act, 225 ILCS 65).

CPR required:

PALS required:

Effective 7/1/2026 New hires will obtain RQI BLS within 30 days of hire or prior to direct patient care and will maintain certification quarterly. New hires will obtain RQI PALS within 6 months of hire and will maintain certification quarterly.

Preferred Qualifications: • Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN) or Certified Occupational Health Nurse-Specialist (COHN-S) through the American Board for Occupational Health Nurses (ABOHN). • Certified in Infection Control (CIC) • Case Management Certification (CCM) or other relevant credentials. • Prior experience in an acute-care hospital or integrated health system. • Familiarity with Chicago Department of Public Health reporting protocols and Illinois Administrative Code health mandates. • Experience with Workers' Compensation case management software and occupational health EMR platforms (e.g., OHM, Cority).

Additional Information

La Rabida Children's Hospital is very proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

La Rabida is a place unlike any other. We understand the needs of families with children dealing with the most serious or complicated of conditions. With teams of the best healthcare providers in Chicago, we give continuous, comprehensive care, education, and support, helping families face their unique obstacles head-on.


La Rabida Children's Hospital is very proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.