EXHIBIT A
NURSING PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS
The University of California, San Diego Medical Center system is a multi-site health system comprised primarily of two hospitals located 14 miles apart. The hospital in Hillcrest, which has 391 beds, is located adjacent to downtown San Diego and the Thornton Hospital facility, with 120 beds, is located on the University of California campus in La Jolla. It is a requirement that any supplemental staff being provided to UCSD Medical Center be available to work/float to other locations, as needed, during their contracted work term, providing they meet the qualifications and requirements for the position. Transportation between facilities is the responsibility of the contract personnel.
1. All nursing personnel referred to work at any UCSD Medical Center location must meet all health standards required by Title 22, JCAHO and must comply with UCSD Medical Center’s Immunity and Testing Requirements. In the event a worker assigned to UCSD Medical Center by a contract agency does not comply with these requirements and adverse consequences result (for example, a contract worker exposes patients and personnel to measles), the contract agency will be billed for the expenses associated with the follow-up evaluation necessitated by the exposure.
a. Such personnel shall be free from symptoms indicating the presence of infectious diseases.
b. The initial health examination will include a urine drug screen and Ishihara test for color blindness.
c. The initial health examination and subsequent annual health examination shall include, a purified protein derivative intermediate strength skin test for tuberculosis, or a chest x-ray. Positive reactions to the skin test shall be followed by a 35.56 cm x 43.18 cm (14” x 17”) chest x-ray. Subsequent follow up will include an annual respiratory health questionnaire and repeat chest x-ray every three to five years.
d. Proof of immunity to rubella based on immunization or titer.
e. Proof of immunity to measles/rubeola based on immunization with two doses of live measles vaccine given since 1979, positive titer.
f. Natural or acquired immunity to chickenpox (varicella) based on serologic titer or documentation of receipt of varicella vaccine.
g. Proof of Hepatitis B immunity status. Either, care provider provides documentation of receipt of hepatitis vaccine series (three doses) with immunity titer or signed a waiver stating that: “I understand that due to my occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials, I may be at risk of acquiring hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However I decline hepatitis B vaccination at this time. I understand that by declining this vaccine, I continue to be at risk of acquiring hepatitis B, a serious disease. If you are undecided or DO NOT want to receive hepatitis B vaccine, you must sign the declination statement declining to take the vaccine.”
h. The client shall maintain employees’ annual health records, including reports of all employment-related health examinations for each employee. Such records shall be kept a minimum of three (3) years following termination of employment.
2. All nursing personnel referred to work at any UCSD Medical Center facility shall have a minimum of one year work experience in the United States within their specialty, or the rate will be re-negotiated through UCSD Medical Center Nursing Administration and Purchasing. It is understood that the facility will provide basic unit orientation to ensure that Agency personnel are competent to perform nursing care. However, any unit orientation required beyond 30 minutes will be at the expense of the Agency. In addition, they must maintain current professional credentials and competencies as follows:
a. Current California Registered Nurse, LVN, or Certified Nursing Assistant Certification.
b. Current CPR Certification. BLS for Healthcare Providers, from either the American Heart Association or Red Cross for all RN’s, LVN’s, CNA’s and MHW’s. Online renewal certification will require additional documentation of hands on mannequin competency from the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross.
c. All personnel to have at lease one (1) year acute health experience.
d. Documentation of successful completion (>85% score) of a medication/ dosage calculation exam in the nurses specialty field.
e. Emergency Room Nurses: ACLS certified. In addition, CEN certification preferred.
f. ICU Nurses: ACLS certified.
g. Pediatric ICU Nurses: PALS certified.
h. Neonatal ICU Nurses: Neonatal Resuscitation certified.
i. All Labor and Delivery, and Post Partum nurses must also have Neonatal Resuscitation Certificate.
j. Psychiatric care units: Professional assault training course, such as P.A.R.T., M.A.B., or equivalent standard is preferred for RN, LVN, LPN, or MHW.
k. LVN’s must provide evidence/documentation that they have completed BVN/PT Board approved courses of IV therapy and blood withdrawal/phlebotomy.
l. The Center for Disease Control has recommended that healthcare professionals shall have no artificial nails or wraps. Nails are to be kept short, natural, and clean. All who provide direct patient care or have contact with patient care supplies, equipment or food are expected to be in compliance with the policy as a condition of continued employment throughout the organization.
m. See Exhibit F for competency tool to augment documentation of nursing qualifications and requirements.
3. Fit Testing: Respirator fit testing of all health care workers who have direct patient contact or even have a possibility of being exposed to patients with infectious tuberculosis is required by OSHA standard for respiratory protection for M. tuberculosis (29 CFR 1910.139). Arrangements must be made to have fit testing performed meeting standards using Client provided products, i.e. masks before providing patient care. An inability to be fit tested will result in non compliance and an ineligibility to accept assignments at UCSD Medical Center
4. Daily registry personnel will sign in on the Daily Log and receive Daily Time Cards (DTC) provided by the Staffing Office (Hillcrest) or Patient Administration Office (Thornton). UCSD Medical Center personnel/charge nurses must authorize sign-in and out times on the DTC. Agency staff is responsible for returning the completed DTC to the Staffing Office/Patient Administration Office at the end of their shift and before leaving the facility. Overtime and/or missed lunches must have signature approval before leaving the facility. Copies of the DTC’s will be faxed to the individual Agencies. If no DTC is received, no invoice will be generated for actual payment.
5. Staffing Office Supervisor will prepare the billing report on UCSD Medical Center Billing Report, one sheet per Agency (Sunday – Saturday, weekly). On Tuesday morning a copy of the billing report will be faxed to the individual Agencies. Accounts Payable will receive an email of the exact same Invoice. Registry payment is dependent upon this billing report. Discrepancies must be addressed in a timely manner (72hrs) to the Staffing Office Supervisor (619-543-6707). Copies of Billing Report must be sent with invoices. Note: Holiday schedules may impact the timing of the above process by 24-48hrs.
6. UCSD Medical Center requires all nursing personnel to show proof of valid license, picture identification badge, certifications and evidence of compliance with UCSD Medical Center Health Standards prior to start of shift. Personnel reporting to work without proof will be sent home and the registry will not be paid for that employee. In addition, the cancellation terms in paragraph #10 below of the main agreement will be applied, which will result in a 4-hour credit to Client.
7. All the above-required documentation must be faxed to the Staffing Office prior to shift as well as copies presented at time of arrival of shift.
8. For Traveling Nurses and Allied Health personnel:
a. Client is permitted to cancel one shift per two-week pay period due to low census. Client will cancel Healthcare Professionals in rotation with the Client’s full time personnel and Healthcare Professionals will be given the option to float to other units once they have been properly oriented.
b. Traveling nurses shall not have a local, permanent address, within a 100 mile radius. Client reserves the right to terminate an assignment if found to have a local permanent address. By definition, living in San Diego over one year, constitutes a permanent address.
c. With regard to each Traveler provided by agency and accepted by client, agency agrees to provide arrangements for 1) Lodging and travel to assignments, 2) Workers Compensation Insurance in accordance with the Laws in the State of California, 3) A contact person for direct communications concerning all aspects of the Traveler placement.
d. Client will accept Traveler assigned by agency for a minimum of 3-months based on a 36 to 40-hour workweek.
e. Client will provide Traveler with orientation to include, but is not limited to, hospital policies, procedures, and a medication/dosage calculation exam.
f. Exhibit D, Procedures for Traveling Nurses /or/ Exhibit D, Procedures for Traveling Allied Health Personnel is attached.
Rev. 3/22/2007 page 1