BLOG 32: The Role of a Company Nurse: A Look Into Their Everyday Routine

In the current rapid workplace setting, the well-being and safety of employees have gained unprecedented significance. Central to this initiative is the company nurse, an essential individual responsible for safeguarding the health of employees and fostering a thriving and efficient work environment. But what exactly does a company nurse's everyday routine consist of? Their role is essential and constantly evolving, ranging from treating minor wounds to providing preventive care. The daily tasks of a corporate nurse will be covered in detail in this article, along with how they oversee medical care, health education, and administrative tasks to create a positive work environment for employees.

Hello everyone! Welcome to another episode of our blog for this week. Today, I’ll be sharing my daily routine as a company nurse. I hope you’ll connect with me as we go through my blog, and please show your support by upvoting and leaving some positive comments to keep me motivated every day.

To those of you who have been following my blog, you're already aware that I work as a company nurse at Bridge Culture Inc., an ESL company catering to Japanese students in Japan. I’ve been here for six months now, and so far, I’ve really enjoyed the experience.

As you enter the company, you’ll notice this door, which leads to our clinic. It’s quite simple, as expected, since most of our posters and announcements are printed on paper. Some may think the space is small and unorganized, but in reality, our clinic is well-staffed with two nurses, myself and my afternoon shift partner. We work hard to ensure that our clinic remains presentable and welcoming for all employees.

I’m the morning shift nurse, with a schedule from 9 AM to 6 PM. Every time I arrive, I immediately log in to our attendance system to avoid being late. After that, I check if there are any important emails that need a response, any unfinished tasks that require attention, and any medical endorsements that I need to hand over to the afternoon nurse.

Next, I check our medicines and refill them to ensure we have what’s needed for any employees who require treatment. I also disinfect the clinic bed to prevent any bed bugs, as we often have employees who are sick and need to rest. I make sure to update both our medicine log book and the clinic visit book regularly. I like to keep my desk organized so that any materials I need are easily accessible.

We also keep our supplies in the clinic drawers, and we’ve made it a priority to keep them organized. This is crucial for the smooth running of the clinic and ensures that we can provide what employees need right away. Every day, I arrange and check the supplies, making sure everything is in order and that any malfunctioning medical instruments are addressed. In short, we sort through everything daily to keep things running efficiently.

We also provide hot compresses to our employees, as our company consists entirely of female staff. We make sure to have hot compresses available whenever they experience menstrual cramps. Additionally, we keep cold compresses on hand for sprains or bruises, as well as a wheelchair for any emergencies.

For medications, we only provide over-the-counter options such as Biogesic, Rexidol, Saridon, Diatabs, Cetirizine, Domperidone, Mefenamic acid, Bioflu, Solmux, Decolgen, Nasatapp, Advil, Kremil-S, Hyoscine, and Buscopan Venus. We are not authorized to administer antibiotics, as we don’t have an on-duty physician in the clinic. In cases where antibiotics or other prescription medications are needed, we advise employees to visit a hospital or clinic to obtain the necessary prescriptions.

We also provide blood pressure checks for employees. Since we accommodate over 600 employees daily, we primarily use the digital blood pressure monitor. However, we also have a manual blood pressure cuff, which we use when only 2-3 employees visit the clinic and have a history of high blood pressure. In addition, we have a gun-type thermometer and a pulse oximeter. Many employees experience issues like palpitations, nausea, vomiting, loose bowel movements, and headaches, which is why we ensure our equipment is always ready and available.

We also provide liniments for employees who prefer not to rely on medications. We offer options such as Efficascent, Omega, and White Flower liniments. Additionally, we keep tissues, cottons and alcohol available for employees when needed.

We also have a lactation fridge in the clinic for employees who are actively breastfeeding. This is in compliance with regulations from the Department of Health and the Department of Labor and Employment, which mandate that lactating employees have a safe place to store their milk before heading home.

In addition to checking, arranging, and organizing the clinic every day, we also have a weekly meeting every Thursday with the Japanese section leaders. During this meeting, we report on the number of undertimes for the week, verify medical certificates, and address any clinic concerns. Every Thursday, we also provide updates on our tasks and any necessary work turnovers.

Behind every help we provide to employees, nurses can get sick too. As you can see in the picture, I remember that time when my health was really at risk. I had a cough, cold, and fever all at once. I couldn’t perform my duties properly because I felt so unwell. Being a nurse is truly challenging because we never know when we might catch something from the employees visiting the clinic. During those moments, our immune system is doing its best to fight off the illness.

Behind our colorful scrubs, we always make sure to stay hydrated and keep our health a priority. Being healthy is one of life’s greatest treasures, especially as we get older. While I’m still young, I do my best to stay as healthy as possible in many ways. While we’re busy taking care of employees’ health, it’s just as important to take care of ourselves so that we can care for others effectively.

By the way, this week, my afternoon nurse partner and I, along with the partner clinic, have been busy conducting the annual X-ray examination for all employees in the company. We’re accommodating over 600 employees in just three days. Together with the afternoon nurse, we’re responsible for verifying personal information and conducting employee interviews before they undergo the X-ray.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and connect with my thoughts today. I’m excited to continue sharing my journey with you, and I hope you found something here that resonated or sparked an idea. This blog is a space for growth, inspiration, and conversation, and I’d love to hear your thoughts, feedback, or experiences in the comments. Feel free to share if something stood out to you. Here’s to many more stories, lessons, and moments of connection ahead! See you in the next post!