A Conceptual Model of Occupational
Health Nursing
William E. Wilkinson
1990
The Wilkinson Windmill Model is one conceptualization of
occupational health nursing an occupational health nurse may use
for guidance in practice, research, and education that may prove
valuable as a tool for conducting research.
Abstract
Occupational health nurses can practice and research in their profession better if they
approach occupational health nursing with a well developed conceptual model. The
Wilkinson Windmill Model is one conceptualization of occupational health nursing an
occupational health nurse may use for guidance in practice, research, and education. The
model consists of five primary components. This conceptual model may be a useful
framework for understanding the role of the occupational health nurse in many different
environments and may prove valuable as a tool for conducting research.
Scholarcy Highlights
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Occupational health nursing has a specialized interest: the health care and safety of the
adult working population
The occupational health nurse attempts to convert managed labor into production; and
it is this aspect of occupational health nursing in particular that the Windmill Model
tries to take into account
Looking more closely at the Wilkinson Windmill Model (WWM), the occupational health
nurse is at the hub or center of the windmill
The occupational health nurse must ensure that health care professionals continue to
work together as a team
The occupational health nurse may function in varied roles while practicing alone or as
a staff member, a manager or corporate director, a consultant, a nurse practitioner, or a
researcher
The Wilkinson Windmill Model-with its core, hub, base, blades and winds-symbolically
represents a conceptualization of nursing practice in an occupational health setting. It
may be a useful framework for understanding the role of the occupational health nurse
in many different work environments
Scholarcy Summary
Wilkinson Windmill Model of Occupational Health Nursing
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Preparation Work Output Productivity & Efficiency models for practice and research are
available from a number of authors (Bernhardt, 1989; Morris, 1985; Dees, 1984; Gifford,
1984; Long, 1984; Wilkinson, 1984; javid, 1983; Keller, 1971)
COMPONENTS OFTHE MODEL
Looking more closely at the WWM, the occupational health nurse is at the hub or center of
the windmill.
The support structure represents the qualities, skills, and professional education that the
occupational health nurse must have to be efficient and effective
These levels of achievement build up, as bricks, forming the structure to which the blades
and hub are attached.
Occupational health nurses serve as mediators between these blades of the windmill,
moving between employees, management, work environment, and health programs, while
drawing on their background of professional practice, interdisciplinary knowledge base,
and research.
The winds of influence affecting the occupational health nurse role and programs are: social
values and change, the economy, health care trends, laws and regulations, and politics.
The occupational health nurse must ensure that health care professionals continue to work
together as a team
CONCLUSION
The occupational health nurse may function in varied roles while practicing alone or as a
staff member, a manager or corporate director, a consultant, a nurse practitioner, or a
researcher.
The Wilkinson Windmill Model-with its core, hub, base, blades and winds-symbolically
represents a conceptualization of nursing practice in an occupational health setting.
It may be a useful framework for understanding the role of the occupational health nurse in
many different work environments.
It may prove valuable as a research tool, for if an organization is not producing goods or
services efficiently, the researcher can look carefully at the components of the system to
evaluate for deficits
Contributions
The occupational health nurse may function in varied roles while practicing alone or as a
staff member, a manager or corporate director, a consultant, a nurse practitioner, or a
researcher. The Wilkinson Windmill Model-with its core, hub, base, blades and windssymbolically represents a conceptualization of nursing practice in an occupational health
setting. It may be a useful framework for understanding the role of the occupational health
nurse in many different work environments. It may prove valuable also as a research tool,
for if an organization is not producing goods or services efficiently, the researcher can look
carefully at the components of the system to evaluate for deficits.