N.J. Admin. Code § 8:39-19.5

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 8, April 15, 2024

Section 8:39-19.5 - Mandatory staff qualifications; health history and examinations

(a) The facility shall require all new employees to complete a health history and to receive an examination performed by a physician or advanced practice nurse, or New Jersey licensed physician assistant, within two weeks prior to the first day of employment or upon employment. If the new employee receives a nursing assessment by a registered professional nurse upon employment, the physician's or advanced practice nurse's examination may be deferred for up to 30 days from the first day of employment. The facility shall establish criteria for determining the completeness of physical examinations for employees.

(b) Each new employee, including members of the medical staff employed by the facility, upon employment shall receive a two-step Mantoux tuberculin skin test with five tuberculin units of purified protein derivative. The only exceptions shall be employees with documented negative two-step Mantoux skin test results (zero to nine millimeters of induration) within the last year, employees with a documented positive Mantoux skin test result (10 or more millimeters of induration), employees who have received appropriate medical treatment for tuberculosis, or when medically contraindicated. Results of the Mantoux tuberculin skin tests administered to new employees shall be acted upon as follows:

1. If the first step of the Mantoux tuberculin skin test result is less than 10 millimeters of induration, the second step of the two-step Mantoux test shall be administered one to three weeks later.

2. If the Mantoux test is significant (10 millimeters or more of induration), a chest x-ray shall be performed and, if necessary, followed by chemoprophylaxis or therapy.

3. Any employee with positive results shall be referred to the employee's personal physician or advanced practice nurse and if active tuberculosis is suspected or diagnosed shall be excluded from work until the physician or advanced practice nurse provides written approval to return.

(c) The facility shall have written policies and procedures requiring annual Mantoux tuberculin skin tests for all employees, except those exempted under (b) above.

(d) The facility shall assure that all current employees who have not received the two-step Mantoux test upon employment, except those exempted by (b) above, shall receive a test. The facility shall act on the results of tests of current employees in the same manner as prescribed in (b) above.

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:39-19.5