Nurse Practitioners

May 10, 2023


This is National Nurses Week, and May 12 is International Nurse Day, the birthdate of Florence Nightengale. Although their work is appreciated daily, this is an opportunity to salute the three nurse practitioners who work at the Lab providing occupational health services that keep staff healthy and safe. These services range from treating on-the-job emergencies to partnering with employees to develop a health plan. Combined, they have 39 years of occupational nursing experience and over 56 years of nursing experience. 

Rangineh Bassir, Nurse Practitioner; MS, ANP-BC, COHN-S, is the Clinical Manager in Health Services, part of the Environment, Health & Safety Division. She has spent 17 years in nursing. Outside the Lab, Rangineh enjoys hiking, cooking, and socializing with friends and family.


What draws you to occupational health nursing?

Years ago, I initially decided to go into occupational health nursing after I injured my back as a bedside nurse. I wanted to be able to offer a better and more holistic approach for injured workers. I wanted to offer a more customized care plan for each injured worker, along with advocating for the employees and educating employees on many aspects of a work-related injury, including prevention. In the past decade or so, I’ve learned about many other roles of occupational health nurses, and have enjoyed the long-term professional relationships that I got to establish with different employees and managers to be able to contribute to a healthy and safe work environment for organizations. 


You’ve been at the Lab for about 18 months. What surprised you about the Lab?

I came to the Lab at the peak of a COVID surge, when many people were working remotely. Yet I still felt welcomed by various people outside and especially inside EHS. Despite the pandemic, I started feeling part of the EHS community shortly after I started. 


How does your work further the mission of the Lab?

The Lab’s mission is science solutions for the world. At Health Services, we support this mission by providing health care and safety education for the Lab community. Being trained as an occupational and environmental health nurse practitioner enables me to understand, anticipate, and plan for  the health and safety needs of the Lab. 

Lea Glick, Nurse Practitioner; MS, ANP-BC, is a Principal Occupational Health Nurse at the Lab.  She has been a nurse for 21 years before recently coming to the Lab. In her spare time, Lea likes gardening, hiking, and walking her Goldendoodle, Fozzie.  You’ll usually find her on the sidelines of a soccer or golf match for her three boys.


What draws you to occupational health nursing?

I was drawn to occupational health because it encompasses so many different areas; it is varied and never boring.  From preventative treatment such as ergonomics and wellness activities to screening for health effects from potential job exposures, to illness and injury care, there is never one day that is the same as the next.  I love taking the opportunity to address personal health and mental health during visits. Occupational health allows a clinician to establish long-term relationships with employees over the course of employment. 


You’ve been at the Lab for about four months. What surprised you about the Lab?

I have found colleagues within our organization to be approachable and sincerely supportive, making meaningful collaboration toward the goals of supporting our employees' health and safety.  I heard prior to my employment how wonderful it was to work at Berkeley Lab and I have been surprised in my short tenure at how much I agree with that sentiment.


How does your work further the mission of the Lab?

We provide care and practice the Lab’s mission of diversity and inclusion by recognizing that health and wellness are deeply personal, looking different from one person to the next.  We embrace individual health attitudes and take a holistic approach by promoting health and wellness for each person in a meaningful way to each employee.

Salena Quan, Nurse Practitioner; MS, ANP-BC, COHN-S is a Senior Occupational Program Manager at the Lab.  She has been a nurse for 22 years before recently coming to the Lab.  Outside the Lab, she enjoys hanging out with family and taking walks. You may see her on campus taking a walk during lunch.


What draws you to occupational health nursing?

While working as an RN in the hospital, I injured my back when lifting something heavy during my shift. This inspired me to specialize in Occupational Health nursing. I wanted to be an advocate for healthy workplace environments and help others who also encounter similar injuries. Since then, I have learned that Occupational Health nurses work in all types of industries! At the Lab, I have enjoyed collaborating with employees from various departments and getting to know other employees during medical surveillance and injury care.


You’ve been at the Lab for about six months. What surprised you about the Lab? 

The turkeys!

How does your work further the mission of the Lab?   

As a Nurse Practitioner and Lab employee, my goal is to help other Lab employees be able to do their work as healthy as possible so that they can continue their important work for the Lab. 

Area Nurses Tour Lab

Health Services recently hosted 40 occupational health nurses from the Bay Area at the Lab for a session that included a lecture on radiation by the Lab’s Medical Director, a tour of the ALS, and lunch. This session, the first hosted by the Lab, is a way to educate other nurses about the work done at the Lab and to interest them in careers in occupational nursing with the hope that several of the nurses would be interested in being a part of the Lab’s holistic approach to workplace safety and health.