SCAOHN NEWS Winter 2025 Newsletter

President's FAREWELL Message

As I wrap up my term as President, I just want to say how proud I am of the growth we’ve seen in SCAOHN. It’s been amazing to watch our membership expand and our organization strengthen, but it can’t stop here. We’d love to see more members get involved with our committees and join us at our continuing education conferences. That’s where the real connections and learning happen. I’m thrilled to see Beverly Moody step into the role of President. SCAOHN is truly in excellent hands, and I’m confident she will lead us forward with vision and energy. I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our board members for their unwavering support, innovative ideas, and commitment to our profession. It has been a privilege to work alongside such a dedicated and talented team. Their contributions have been instrumental to everything we’ve accomplished together. Last, but certainly not least, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to each and every member of SCAOHN. Whether you’ve been part of this organization for more than 30 years or you just joined last month, your presence matters and your contributions make a difference. Every member brings unique experiences, perspectives, and passion that strengthen our community and advance our mission. It’s because of your dedication, engagement and commitment that SCAOHN continues to grow and thrive While I’m passing the torch, I’m not going anywhere. I look forward to staying active through committee work and attending future conferences. Serving you has truly been an honor and a privilege, and I am so grateful for the trust and support you’ve shown me throughout this journey. The future is brighter than ever for SCAOHN, and I can’t wait to see the incredible things we will accomplish together. Here’s to continued growth, collaboration, and the shared commitment that makes this organization so special.

Warm Regards,

Ashley Atchley, SCAOHN President

SCAOHN 2026 Spring Conference

SCAOHN's 1-day Spring Educational Conference will be held April 17th, 2026 at Midlands Technical College - Beltline Campus in Columbia, SC.

We have already secured some wonderful speakers on a variety of topics!

More information and registration coming soon!

Organization News

SCAOHN Nurse of the Year: Beverly Moody, BSN, RN, COHN

Each year at our Fall Conference, SCAOHN proudly recognizes an exceptional occupational health nurse with the SCAOHN Nurse of the Year Award. This award, generously sponsored by Mr. Doug Wilson of Publicom, honors a nurse who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to advancing the health and well-being of employees across South Carolina. The recipient is celebrated for excellence in areas such as organizational leadership, education, community engagement, and work-site health initiatives while reflecting the highest standards of competence in occupational health nursing. To be eligible for SCAOHN Nurse of the Year, candidates must exemplify these attributes, hold full-time employment in occupational health nursing, and be an active member of SCAOHN.  This year’s recipient is Ms. Beverly Moody. Beverly’s nomination states “Beverly exemplifies excellence in occupational health nursing. She consistently goes above and beyond, working tirelessly to support employees not only with occupational injuries but also with personal medical challenges. Her caring and compassionate approach shines through in even the most difficult cases.” The nomination goes on to include that Beverly started a new role at a new company after many years with her previous employer while also serving as SCAOHN President-Elect all while demonstrating resilience and professionalism and investing countless hours to ensure SCAOHN continued to grow and thrive. “Her unwavering commitment to occupational health, the well-being of employees and the advancement of SCAOHN truly set her apart. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of the SCAOHN Nurse of the Year Award than Beverly.”  Beverly is one of three nurses at Savannah River Mission Completion which employs over 3,700 workers in a variety of occupations. She helps manage on-site occupational injury care, occupational injury case management, non-occupational injury or illness case management, short-term disability management, inventory management and more. Beverly has also served for the past 2 years as President-Elect for SCAOHN and will begin serving as President in January of 2026. She has also previously served as Membership Director for SCAOHN. 

Congratulations Beverly on your well-deserved Nurse of the Year Award!

Member News

We want to continue to highlight professional and personal news of our members! Whether you are obtaining a certification, completing a degree, or any other professional related news, please let us know so we can feature your accomplishment! Also, if you have any exciting personal news [engagements, weddings, baby (or grandbaby), volunteer work, etc.], please feel free to share that news with us. We hope that this Member News section helps us learn more about each other and brings us closer together.

Join us in congratulating and celebrating these members accomplishments and news!

Professional Achievements

SCAOHN Member Published in AOHP: Tabatha Carter, BSN, RN, COHN, COHC

SCAOHN is proud to spotlight one of our dedicated members, Tabatha Carter, whose story was recently featured in the national newsletter of the Association of Occupational Health Professionals (AOHP). Her article, which reflects on her experience attending the AOHP National Conference, shares not only the educational value of the event but also the passion and purpose that have shaped her career in occupational health nursing. Tabatha says she felt pulled to write about her experience because she had never attended a conference like that. She says the pre-conference workshop she attended really blew her away. In the feature, she describes how the AOHP conference has become a meaningful part of her professional development—offering opportunities to learn, connect, and grow with nurses from across the country. From impactful sessions to memorable peer networking moments, her story captures the spirit of continuing education and the powerful role these gatherings play in strengthening our specialty. Her reflections also highlight the unique pathway that led her into occupational health and the experiences that have kept her committed to promoting worker health and safety. Whether gaining new insights, exchanging best practices, or finding renewed motivation to advocate for employees, her narrative stands as an inspiring example of how ongoing engagement in professional organizations enhances practice. Tabatha says she is passionate about occupational health because of "the people. I am there for them. Everything that I do, I do for them. I want to keep them safe at work. I want to teach them how to stay health at home. I want to be the person they come to for anything, whether it be work-related or not." We are thrilled to see one of our own recognized on a national level and grateful for the way she represents SCAOHN and the wider occupational health community. Her story encourages all of us to stay curious, stay connected, and embrace opportunities to share our voices and experiences. SCAOHN celebrates her achievement and looks forward to seeing more South Carolina occupational health nurses' step into the spotlight—whether through conference participation, article submissions, or leadership roles. In asking Tabatha what she would say to encourage other members to submit stories, abstracts or articles to publications, Tabatha says "Write it! Write the article or story as you never know who needs to hear what you have to say. They may relate to your situation, and your information or insight may be helpful to them."

Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition Tabatha!

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Do you volunteer with an organization, charity, church, etc.? Please reach out to us to share the news.

Also, please don't forget to share any career/job related or personal achievements or accomplishments as well!

Scholarship & Reimbursement Opportunities

SCAOHN Conference Scholarships

Don't forget scholarships are available SCAOHN Conferences! Click the link below for more information.

ABOHN Certification Reimbursement

If you have newly obtained your COHN, COHN-S or CM certification, click the link below for more information on ABOHN Certification Reimbursement! You may be eligible for $250 for COHN/COHN-S or $50 for CM.

Winter Wellness: Small Habits That Make a Big Difference

During the winter months, shorter days, colder weather, and increased isolation can take a toll on mood and emotional well-being. The article below emphasizes the importance of intentional self-care to help counter seasonal dips in energy and motivation. Simple actions, when practiced consistently, can have a meaningful impact on mental health during this time of year.   Key strategies include staying physically active indoors to boost endorphins, engaging in creative activities that bring joy and relaxation, and maintaining social connections while still honoring the body’s need for rest. By balancing movement, creativity, and connection, individuals can support their mood, reduce stress, and navigate the winter season with greater resilience and emotional wellness.

Occupational Health News

**Reminder: OHN's giving immunizations at a work site (even flu shots) should be registered with SIMON and recording vaccinations in the state registry. For more information, visit: https://dph.sc.gov/professionals/simon.

SCAOHN wishes you all a happy holiday season and a happy new year!

Certification Resources

For more information on obtaining COHN, COHN-S and CM certification, visit the ABOHN website by clicking the button below:

ABOHN offers a Certification Self-Assessment Tests (CSATs) that conform to the current exam blueprints and core contents:

AAOHN offers resources to help prepare for certification. For more information, visit the Online Education center by clicking the button below:

DataChem Software offers a COHN and COHN-S program to help prepare for ABOHN exams:

*ABOHN nor SCAOHN can recommend any specific course(s) or other resources that may prepare you for the examination. Additionally, the purchase of any products is NOT REQUIRED to apply or take ABOHN examinations.

Continuing Education

Looking for continuing education units (CEUs) or continuing nursing education (CNEs)? Check out the resources below!

Want to learn more about our mentor program?

Click the link below to contact us about the Mentor Program. Please be sure to include Mentor Program in your message.

Board of Directors

President: Ashley Atchley (ashley.atchley@milliken.com)

President-Elect: Beverly Moody (beverly.moody@srs.gov)

Secretary: Rebecca Howard (rebecca.howard@magna.com)

Treasurer: Ida Crosby (icrosby@ups.com)

Vendor Coordination Director: Karen Owens (karen.owens@milliken.com)

Membership Director: Melinda Green (melinda.green@milliken.com)

Communications Director: Felicia Delk (felicia.delk@srs.gov)

Nominations Chair: Angela Day (angela.day@magna.com)

Benefits of Membership: Quarterly Newsletters, Local Conferences (discounts for members), Benchmark Information (as requested and shared with members), Access to Members Only content on our website, and amazing networking opportunities with other OHNs.

We would like to thank our Partners and Friends for their sponsorship of SCAOHN!

Partners:

Willson Jones Carter & Baxley provides results-focused legal representation (specializing in Workers Compensation, Liability Litigation and Mediation) across the Carolinas and Georgia.

Friends:

Publicom is a great source for public health screening services and self-attended computerized monitoring products. Publicom has proudly sponsored SCAOHN's Nurse of the Year Award for many years.
Occupational Sound Solutions specializes in hearing conservation training and hearing conservation programs.

Credits:

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