AN120387 – Nursing Homes, &C., Nurses' (State) Award

30. MEDICAL EXAMINATION OF NURSES

On commencement of employment the employee shall be notified of the availability of the following provisions, which the employer shall provide at the request of the employee:

(i) For protection against tuberculosis:

(a) Before a nurse commences duty, a PA chest x-ray examination of the nurse, unless a radiologist's report of a normal chest x-ray taken within the previous six months is available.

(b) As soon as practicable after the nurse commences duty, a Mantoux test on the nurse, then

(i) where the Mantoux test is negative, immunisation with BCG vaccine;

(ii) where the Mantoux test is positive (otherwise than as a result of BCG vaccination), referral to a chest clinic for assessment.

(c) A Mantoux test annually to -

(i) previously Mantoux-negative nursing staff;

(ii) nursing staff whose Mantoux reaction has been converted by BCG vaccination.

(d) A chest x-ray annually to nursing staff whose Mantoux reaction is positive (otherwise than as a result of BCG vaccination).

(e) Where a nurse has been caring for open tuberculosis cases, a PA chest x-ray examination of the nurse one year after completion of employment.

(ii) For protection against other communicable diseases:

(a) where a nurse has not had a complete course of immunisation against diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps and hepatitis, immunisation against those diseases;

(b) booster immunisation against tetanus at ten-year intervals;

(c) a rubella antibody test and, where a nurse has a negative result, rubella immunisation.

(iii) For protection against radiation exposure, nurses required to work in close proximity to a source of ionising radiation should be provided with a film badge or personal radiation dosimeter, and a record should be maintained of the radiation exposure measured by such film badge or dosimeter.

(iv) The costs involved in the various screening and protection procedures should be borne by the employer.