ANA defines a healthy nurse as one who takes care of his or her personal health, safety, and wellness and lives life to its fullest capacity--physically, mentally, spiritually, and professionally. A healthy work environment is defined as one that is safe, empowering, and satisfying. This definition has its roots in occupational health and safety, but has expanded to embody the healthy nurse within the healthy work environment. A combination of worksite wellness and occupational health is needed to promote the health, safety, and wellness of the nurse and other health care workers, as well as patients and their families.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has trademarked this concept in their Total Worker Health[TM] program. This program integrates health protection and health promotion. Four key areas with twenty essential elements are identified: organizational culture and leadership, program design, program implementation and resources, and program evaluation. The purpose of the program can be summarized by the following statement from NIOSH's website:

   NIOSH believes that the safest and healthiest worker only evolves
   in an atmosphere where management is fully engaged in the wellbeing
   of its staff, where the environment is hazard-free and supportive,
   and where workplace policies and interventions encourage healthier
   choices--simply put, where the total health of the worker, in the
   broadest possible sense, is optimized. …