AgriSafe Learning

Summary

Agriculture across the country constantly faces challenges that impact production, business economics, community engagement, and the health and safety of operators and their families. In addition to those anticipated challenges that seem to part of the business of ag, extreme weather, animal-borne diseases, and wildfires are a few of the issues that have demanded attention, increase injury risk, and challenge coping strategies across the industry. Demographic studies indicate the impact of land access and security on minority populations and the relationship to employment and access to healthcare.

Objectives

1. Define public health tools and strategies used to improve agricultural health and safety outcomes.
2. Discuss common threats and emerging issues found in agricultural health and safety.
3. Share evidence-based resources applicable to rural healthcare professionals.

Summary

Prescription opioids are often the first-line therapy to treat chronic and acute pain among farmers. Prescribing opioids to farmer populations that may not seek regular treatment or have access to alternative therapies increases the risk for potential opioid misuse. Properly assessing for these characteristics among other abuse or addiction risk factors, is critical in providing treatment that is both appropriate and effective. The training module will seek to provide insight on misuse risk factors among farmers to better inform healthcare providers on warning signs in this specific cohort.

Objectives

1. Identify potential risk factors for opioid misuse among agricultural workers.
2. Identify evidence-based opioid misuse assessment strategies.
3. Identify effective alternatives for treating chronic and acute pain among agricultural workers.

Summary

Farm operators, as well as farm youth, experience frequent exposure to high noise and have among the highest prevalence rates of hearing loss among all categories of workers. Additionally, noise exposure impacts multiple organ systems, contributing to cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity, and other highly prevalent diseases. This section of the Nurse Scholar program will address methods of assessing worker exposure to hazardous noise and evidence-based nursing approaches to protect workers from the negative effects of noise on hearing and worker well-being.

Objectives

1. Discuss risk factors for noise-induced health problems common among farmers.
2. Apply methods of assessing the use of hearing protection.
3. Discuss best practices for evidence-based approaches to protect farmers from the negative effects of noise on hearing and well-being.

Summary

The average age of a farmer in the U.S. is over 57 years old, indicating a high number of active farmers and ranchers working well past the usual perceived retirement age. This section of the Nurse Scholar program introduces the unique aspects of health and safety for aging farmers and their families using a Total Worker Health/Total Farmer Health lens including how health relates to work, family, and all aspects of the farmer’s life. It will provide a skill set for clinicians to apply to older farmers and provide resources that can improve quality of life.

Objectives

1. Determine the difference between "normal" and "abnormal" aging processes.
2. Apply a skill set to determine the health needs of the aging farmer.
3. Identify resources and make appropriate referrals to assist aging farmers in their activities.
4. Utilize new knowledge to guide and assist family units in making good health behavior decisions.

Summary

Exposure to high and moderate heat conditions is a part of the workplace environment in production agriculture. For workers unprepared for intense or long-term exposure or workers with specific health challenges, there is a potential for serious heat related illness. This section of the Nurse Scholar program will address the pathophysiology of heat related illness and critical intervention steps to keep workers well.

Objectives

1. Explain the pathophysiology of heat-related illnesses including heat stroke, heat exhaustion, syncope, heat rash, and heat cramps.
2. Recognize the dangers of a minimum of three pre-existing health conditions that contribute to heat-related illnesses.
3. Identify at least three medications that may require additional risk counseling while working in extreme heat conditions.
4. Identify action steps to prevent heat stress and evidence-based resources recommended to use in patient/client teaching.

Summary

Agricultural producers are exposed to a variety of respiratory hazards in their day-to-day work environment. Because it is not always possible to eliminate these exposures, acute and chronic illnesses can and do occur. This section of the Nurse Scholar program will address the major exposure hazards, identify symptoms and preventive measures, and discuss the value of obtaining an occupational health history.

Objectives

1. Review rural healthcare challenges for providers.
2. Identify the importance of an occupational health history and a respiratory-specific health assessment tool.
3. Discuss the respiratory hazards and symptoms associated with agricultural activities.
4. Implement the respiratory health assessment tool.

Summary

In addition to the high prevalence rate of skin cancer among agricultural workers, there are multiple dermatological exposures and infections resulting from close and persistent contact with animals, vegetation, and chemicals. This section of the Nurse Scholar program will address the stages of skin cancer and identifying markers, common dermatological infections and diseases and the respective signs and symptoms, and preventative measures and treatment modalities.

Objectives

1. Identify at least three signs of potential skin cancer.
2. Recognize at least two symptoms of dermatological responses to chemical exposures.
3. Recognize at least four dermatological symptoms of exposure to animals and vegetation common in agricultural areas.
4. Locate at least four evidence-based resources for clinical practice and patient education.
5. Integrate knowledge gained into identification, patient education, and treatment modalities for skin diseases common to the agricultural industry.

Summary

Agriculture as an occupation has one of the highest rates of chronic and acute musculoskeletal pain and injury – especially back pain. This section of the Nurse Scholar program is intended to help nurses practicing in rural/agricultural communities identify ergonomic issues leading to musculoskeletal injuries in farm and ranch patients as well as discover resources to aid in injury treatment and prevention.

Objectives

1. Identify at least four aspects of agricultural work that can impact ergonomic health and
   safety of workers.
2. Explain a minimum of three strategies that can prevent injury in the agricultural work
   arena.
3. Locate four resources that apply to ergonomic well-being for agricultural workers.

Summary

Rural mental health care is a challenge on several fronts – fewer qualified and licensed providers, distance from care, workplace demands, and the stigma that remains. This section of the Nurse Scholar program will highlight behavioral issues seen in rural communities, especially areas that have reduced access to mental health care providers who cover large geographical regions. Clinicians will have access to resources and receive contact information for rural mental health care specialists across the country.

Objectives

1. Identify a minimum of three common stressors prevalent among agricultural producers.
2. Describe at least four signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety.
3. Describe a minimum of four population-based and individual-based behavioral health interventions.
4. Locate three current evidence-based resources in the field of agricultural behavioral health.

Summary

Healthcare providers in agricultural communities attend to workers presenting with exposures to commonplace allergic and non-allergic respiratory diseases. This section of the Nurse Scholar program will cover a general overview of allergic and non-allergic respiratory diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypersensitivity pneumonia, and organic dust toxic syndrome.

Objectives

1. Recognize and determine allergic respiratory diseases and their relevance within the farming community.
2. Discuss the diagnostic evaluation of occupational induced asthma.
3. Recognize the common causes of non-allergic respiratory disease among farmers including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, organic dust toxic syndrome, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
4. Discuss treatment options for respiratory disease in farmers.

Summary

There are over 250 infectious diseases we share with animals. About two dozen of them are significant occupational hazards for agricultural workers and their families. This section of the Nurse Scholar program will address signs, symptoms, treatment, and prevention. It will be delivered in a storytelling context by case example.

Objectives

1. Identify evidence-based references and resources that provide information on zoonotic infections.
2. Recognize which zoonotic infections present a risk in farm operations./li>
3. Identify recommendations for the prevention of zoonotic infections in a livestock production operation.

Summary

Nearly 300,000 women serve as principal operators on farms and ranches across the U.S. and countless more women live and work in an agricultural environment. This section of the Nurse Scholar program will review some of the women’s issues related to life in agriculture, the impact on their health and safety., and the intersect with rural healthcare providers.

Objectives

1. Identify at least four factors related to women’s health and safety in agriculture.
2. Discuss solutions including health approaches that address the safety and health challenges faced by women in agriculture.
3. Review at least three clinical and community health resources that can be used to prevent farm & ranch related illness and injuries among women.

Summary

Lack of access to mental health care in rural communities; Rural nurses and communities are unaware of evidence-based programming to address mental health disparities that are relevant to the agrarian culture. Farmer suicides are 1.5 X the rate of the regular population, and lack of access and mental health services requires that communities mobilize available resources and programming specific to their needs and concerns.

Objectives

1. Identify three barriers in agricultural communities regarding mental health services and conversations among rural residents.
2. Identify two potential rural stakeholders that could partner with a mental health initiative in an agricultural community.
3. Name at least two community-based mental health trainings to develop a community network of mental health neighbors.
4. Develop a plan for the implementation and evaluation of a mental health initiative in agricultural communities.

Summary

Migrant and immigrant farmworkers, particularly Latino workers, comprise a large share of the agricultural workforce. As the demographic composition of many rural communities changes, it will be imperative for health professionals to understand the unique health and cultural challenges associated with serving their changing patient population. This section of the Nurse Scholar program will define who are migrant and immigrant farmworkers, discuss physical, behavioral, and social health characteristics of these workers, discuss available resources, and assist participants in working with diverse patient populations.

Objectives

1. Describe the population of migrant and immigrant farmworkers in the U.S.
2. Identify the physical, behavioral, and social health challenges found among migrant and immigrant farmworkers.
3. Locate evidence-based resources to serve migrant and immigrant farmworkers.

Summary

In addition to respiratory protective equipment, hearing, vision, torso, head and skin protection is critical to agricultural health and safety. This section of the Nurse Scholar program will provide examples of recommended and evidence-based personal protective gear with discussion on appropriate use, wear, and maintenance.

Objectives

1. Describe multiple types of personal protective equipment appropriate for agricultural workers.
2. Identify work scenarios where personal protective equipment is important.
3. Review evidence-based resource material for use in clinical and community education settings.

Summary

Health care providers in agricultural communities frequently are not aware of the equipment, chemical, and animal-related opportunities for injuries and fatalities to youth. Injuries are the most common cause of death for children and adolescents, and farms and ranches present many unique hazards to youth that result in illness, injury, and death. Nurses will be better equipped to understand the types of injuries that too often occur to youth living and working in agriculture and have an increase in background knowledge to assess and treat youth in clinical environments.

Objectives

1. Name at least four specific safety hazards on farms and how one might counsel families to prevent injuries from those hazards.
2. Describe what a PTO is and how one avoids injuries associated with them.
3. State at least two ways to prevent injury when operating tractors.
4. Convey how one would attempt rescue of someone caught in a grain bin, or manage an extremity caught in an auger.
5. Explain at least three reasons why off-road vehicles like all-terrain vehicles and utility task vehicles are not designed to be used on roads.

Summary

While most health education tends to focus on nutrition and activity, sleep is arguably the single most important factor in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and lack of it causes a significantly reduced quality of life. The National Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now identify sleep deficiency as a public health problem. The result of prioritizing helpful daytime behaviors and sleep hygiene improves every facet of overall well-being.

Objectives

1. Identify at least two functions of sleep and how lack of it affects physical and mental health.
2. Explain the differences in sleep needs for children vs. adults.
3. List at least three daily habits that interfere with a good night of sleep.
4. Describe 30 sleep tips and tricks to customize a plan to impact overall well-being.

Summary

Pesticide exposures in agriculture can have a far-reaching impact, not only on workers but also on their families. This section of the Nurse Scholar program will focus on the major agricultural pesticides that have been associated with toxic health effects in agricultural families. Exposure pathways will be described along with measures to reduce exposure, using examples from research programs. Major health effects according to chemical type will be discussed and prevention will be stressed and implications for nursing interventions will be emphasized.

Objectives

1. Identify a minimum of three types of pesticides used in agriculture in the U.S.
2. Discuss exposure pathways and interventions to prevent exposure in susceptible populations.
3. Integrate the use of biomarkers to identify exposure and health effects in agricultural research.
4. Discuss the clinicians' role in pesticide safety education and exposure surveillance