All three registered nurses on the staff of the HOVENSA medical unit have become certified as occupational health nurse-specialists by the American Board for Occupational Health Nurses.
Donna Ashley, Jill Doran and Margaret Nelthropp completed the requirements for board certification. Dan F. Garde, HOVENSA health, safety and fire manager, said only 30 percent of the nation's occupational health nurses are board certified.
"Certification of its nurses in occupational health is not required by HOVENSA," a release from the refinery stated. It added that such certification "is generally recognized as an indicator of the nurses' expertise and leadership, representing broad knowledge of the discipline and its application to promote the health and safety of workers."
HOVENSA management commended the nurses "for their long hours of study in preparation for the exams to achieve certification."
Dr. Cora Christian, HOVENSA medical director, described the certification as "independent verification of the excellent nurses" that the medical unit has to provide periodic medical examinations required by the Occupational Safety and Health Adminstration and on-site emergency medical car to its employees.