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On the job: Greensboro, NC, Nurse Lori Chamberlain

Occupational Health Nurse Administrator Lori Chamberlain
Occupational Health Nurse Administrator Lori Chamberlain helps USPS screen job candidates.

I’m an occupational health nurse administrator at the Human Resources Shared Service Center in Greensboro, NC. I’m one of two nurses here who screen all job candidates who have indicated they have medical issues or concerns on their pre-employment forms.

My job is unique because of the role I play in hiring. If candidates indicate they take medications or have conditions or restrictions that could interfere with their ability to perform their jobs, I contact them for additional information so that I can complete a medical assessment.

Sometimes I need to involve their health providers. When I finish my assessment, the district then completes the hiring process and, if necessary, provides a reasonable accommodation.

When I come to work in the morning, I check my email and receive new cases. My workload varies depending on the time of year. On a typical day, I may work with eight or nine candidates over the phone or through email, whereas during peak season, I can process as many as 20. Last year, I helped complete medical assessments on more than 3,500 job candidates.

I also complete assessments on candidates who’ll need a commercial driver’s license to do their jobs. These are the people who will operate motor vehicles that weigh 26,000 pounds or more.

I held a variety of occupational health roles prior to joining the Postal Service in 2008 as a contract nurse in Colorado/Wyoming District. In 2011, I became a career employee and four years later, I moved into my current role.

What I love about my job is reassuring prospective employees who worry they may not get hired due to medical issues. I enjoy helping them understand that the Postal Service can work with them, especially our military veterans. I’m a veteran myself.

I’ve witnessed major changes in the USPS occupational health services program during the past 10 years. I went from dealing with medical paperwork to now having a centralized hiring process where I receive forms through eCareer and can generate automated emails to candidates, my colleagues and district staffers.

When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my family. I’m fortunate that my three sons all live in the area, including my youngest, a veteran who served in the Marine Corps. I get to see them and my two grandchildren — who are ages 1 and 3 — often.

I have a very nice yard and enjoy growing beautiful flowers. If I’m not with my family or in my garden, you can find me at my church, where I’m very active.

“On the job,” a series on individual employees and their contributions to the Postal Service, appears regularly in Link.

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